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Happy Valley, EastEnders big winners at UK's National Television Awards

The Happy Valley team celebrated three awards on the night
The Happy Valley team celebrated three awards on the night

Happy Valley and EastEnders were the big winners at the UK's National Television Awards at London's O2 Arena on Tuesday night.

The awards, which are voted for by the viewing public, include categories such as Best Serial Drama, Best Talent Show, and Best Daytime Show.

Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire won Best Drama Performance and the Special Recognition Award, and the BBC series was also named Best Returning Drama.

Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire

Receiving her Best Drama Performance award, Lancashire said: "Thank you so much for this. I have adored every scene, every moment of Happy Valley, and I know I will never forget it."

She praised the show's creator, Sally Wainwright, saying that she is "what makes Happy Valley" and that you are the "luckiest actor in the world" if you are in receipt of her words.

The BBC's EastEnders was named Best Continuing Drama, with stars Danielle Harold and Bobby Brazier winning Best Serial Drama Performance and the Rising Star Award, respectively.

EastEnders star Danielle Harold

Other winners on the night included The Graham Norton Show (Best TV Interview), Strictly Come Dancing (Best Talent Show), and Ant & Dec (Best TV Presenter) - the duo's 22nd consecutive win in the presenter category.

Norton appeared on a video link to collect his award, saying: "I'm so sorry I can't be there. Finally, I win a National Television Award and I'm not there."

He added: "This award, winning it means so much. Mostly, it means that Ant and Dec don't have a talk show... yet. Don't do it to me, boys."

The late Paul O'Grady, who died earlier in the year, was posthumously honoured in the Best Factual Entertainment category for his show For the Love of Dogs.

The late Paul O'Grady

ITV's This Morning lost its Best Daytime Show title as BBC's The Repair Shop claimed the prize.

The result comes as the ITV morning programme, which had been on a winning streak in the daytime category for the last number of years, continues to face backlash amid the furore of the Phillip Schofield affair.

Happy Valley and EastEnders are both available on the RTÉ Player.

The winners:

Serial Drama
EastEnders

Talent Show
Strictly Come Dancing

New Drama
Wednesday

Daytime
The Repair Shop

Comedy
Young Sheldon

Special Recognition Award
Sarah Lancashire

Authored Documentary
Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now

Rising Star
Bobby Brazier, Freddie Slater, EastEnders

Factual
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs

TV Presenter
Ant & Dec

TV Interview
The Graham Norton Show

Graham Norton - "This award, winning it means so much. Mostly, it means that Ant and Dec don't have a talk show... yet. Don't do it to me, boys"

Quiz Game Show
The 1% Club

Drama Performance
Sarah Lancashire, Catherine Cawood, Happy Valley

Serial Drama Performance
Danielle Harold, Lola Pearce-Brown, EastEnders

Reality Competition
The Traitors

Returning Drama
Happy Valley

The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
Gogglebox

Source: Press Association

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