THE small screen is honouring girl power at this year’s National Television Awards because, for the first time ever, the shortlist for Best Drama Performance is all-female.

Male titans of the acting world including , and have lifted the gong in the past.

Stacey Solomon attends the NTA's National Television Awards.Stacey Solomon secures a hat-trick of nominations for her BBC reality series with partner Joe Swash, her gig Sort Your Life Out and also solo in the TV Presenter category Credit: Getty Claudia Winkleman on the red carpet at the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show.Claudia Winkleman will fight it out in the TV Presenter category Credit: Getty

This year’s contenders are Gavin & Stacey’s , who has been nominated for her turn in gritty thriller Run Away.

could take the award for the second time thanks to her run as Ann Ming in ITV true crime drama I Fought The Law, having first won in 2015 playing another real-life role, .

has got the nod for the third time — and her second nom as Trigger Point’s Lana Washington.

Ella Bruccoleri is shortlisted as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister and Judy Parfitt for Sister Monica Joan in .

One of these will join the handful of women who have lifted the gong since 2015 — with Sheridan, and the only female winners to date.

The shortlist, revealed today by The Sun after a month of viewer voting, champions a string of other top women on TV.

secures her place as one of TV’s biggest stars with a hat-trick of nominations for her BBC reality series with partner , her factual entertainment gig and also solo in the competitive TV Presenter category.

That category caused ruffled ­feathers last year when broke Ant and Dec’s 23-year winning streak, and this year they face even fiercer competition.

Queens of primetime Stacey, and will also vie for the title, while beloved naturalist has been included in the category for the first time.

Elsewhere Claudia and could round off leaving their hosting roles on Strictly by taking the Talent Show gong.

BBC smash hits and The Celebrity Traitors are nominated in Reality Competition. Only and stand in their way.

Meanwhile Gladiators is ­celebrating with its first recognition since the show’s BBC reboot in 2024.

The muscle-clad monsters are up for The Entertainment Award against The Show, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Would I Lie To You? and — which NTA ceremony host also presents.

Classics lead the New Drama category, including The Other Bennet Sister and A Woman Of Substance along with raunchy ice hockey series Heated Rivalry and with ITV’s take on the John Worboys case, Believe Me, and I Fought The Law.

The full National Television Awards shortlists is revealed here ahead of the glittering night at London’s O2 on September 8, when the results will be announced live.

A Special Recognition Award will also be revealed on the night.

HOW TO VOTE:

Vote free at nationaltvawards.com

Votes must be in by midday on September 8, 2026.

All new votes will be added to those already submitted in the first round of voting.

The results will be revealed at the NTA ceremony live on ITV from The O2 London on Tuesday, September 8, from 8pm.

DRAMA PERFORMANCE

British actress Ella Bruccoleri poses for a photo call for the TV series "The Other Bennet Sister" at the 65th Monte-Carlo Television Festival.Ella Bruccoleri for her role as Mary Bennet, The Other Bennet Sister Credit: AFP Vicky McClure at the London premiere of Stormzy's debut short film "Big Man".Sheridan Smith is nominated for her role as Ann Ming, I Fought The Law Credit: Getty Vicky McClure smiling while wearing a black Adidas tracksuit and white sneakers.Vicky McClure, as Lana Washington, Trigger Point Credit: Getty Actress Judy Parfitt posing for a photoshoot.Judy Parfitt is up for her role as Sister Monica Joan, Call The Midwife Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Ella Bruccoleri, as Mary Bennet, The Other Bennet Sister

Judy Parfitt, as Sister Monica Joan, Call The Midwife

Ruth Jones, as Elena Ravenscroft, Run Away

Sheridan Smith, as Ann Ming, I Fought The Law

Vicky McClure, as Lana Washington,

TV PRESENTER

Alison Hammond, Simon Pegg, and Dermot O'Leary posing for a photo on the set of 'This Morning'.Alison Hammond will fight it out with the big guns for the TV Presenter gong Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Alison Hammond

Ant & Dec

Claudia Winkleman

David Attenborough

FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT

24 Hours In Police Custody

Secret Garden

Sort Your Life Out

The Money Show Live

SERIAL DRAMA PERFORMANCE

Aaron Thiara, Ravi Gulati,

Gareth Pierce, Todd Grimshaw,

Jeff Hordley, Cain Dingle,

Paul Bradley, Nigel Bates, EastEnders

Sue Devaney, Debbie Webster, Coronation Street

COMEDY

Amanda (Lucy Punch) sips from a coffee cup.Amandaland is up for the Comedy award Credit: BBC

Amandaland

Changing Ends

Last One Laughing

Mrs Brown’s Boys

Not Going Out

NEW DRAMA

David Fynn as DS Warrilow and Daniel Mays as John Worboys in the TV Show 'Believe Me'.Daniel Mays as John Worboys. ‘Believe Me’ Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

A Woman Of Substance

Believe Me, above

Heated Rivalry

I Fought The Law

The Other Bennet Sister

THE BRUCE FORSYTH ENTERTAINMENT AWARD

Steel battles Contender Andrew in the "Duel" event from Gladiators.Gladiators is fighting it out for the The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award Credit: BBC

Gladiators

Michael McIntyre’s Big Show

The Graham Norton Show

The Masked Singer

Would I Lie to You?

QUIZ SHOW

Lee Mack, presenter of The 1% Club, smiling at the camera.Lee Mack’s The 1% Club Credit: ITV

Ant & Dec’s

Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel

Richard Osman’s

The 1% Club

SERIAL DRAMA

Elaine Knight, supported by Ross and Chelsea Fox, confronts an unknown man.EastEnders goes head to head with the other major soaps Credit: BBC

Coronation Street

EastEnders

Emmerdale

RETURNING DRAMA

Benedict and Sophie look at each other at a masked ball.Bridgerton is back and is shortlisted for the Returning Drama contest Credit: PA

Blue Lights

Call The Midwife

Trigger Point

REALITY COMPETITION

Three people seated around a formal dining table, with a man in a leopard print cardigan at the center.The Celebrity Traitors has captivated audiences Credit: BBC

I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!

I’m A Celebrity . . . South Africa

Race Across the World

The Celebrity Traitors

The Traitors

AUTHORED DOCUMENTARY

Ozzy Osbourne in an interview for his new documentary.Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home Credit: Paramount Plus

Caroline Flack: Search For The Truth

Jesy Nelson: Life After

Our Girls: The Southport Families

Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home

Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage And Me

DAYTIME

Kaye Adams, GK Barry, Denise Welch, and Lisa Riley posing on a television set.Kaye Adams, GK Barry, Denise Welch and Lisa Riley hosting Loose Women Credit: Shutterstock

James Martin’s Saturday Morning

Scam Interceptors

REALITY DOCUSERIES

Jeremy Clarkson, wearing a jacket, standing in a field with his arms outstretched while Kaleb Cooper stands on a tractor behind him.Clarkson’s Farm Credit: PA

At Home With The Furys

Fletchers’ Family Farm

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing

Stacey & Joe

TALENT SHOW

A man in glasses wearing an apron works on a clay pitcher, while two women work on smaller clay vases in the background.The Great Pottery Throw Down Credit: Channel 4

Britain’s Got Talent

The Great Celebrity Bake Off For      Stand Up To Cancer

The Great Pottery Throw Down

Jezza grows for second win

Excl by

JEREMY CLARKSON could top off a tumultuous year by ­lifting a second NTA gong for Clarkson’s Farm.

The Prime Video hit has this year been shortlisted in the Reality Docuseries ­category.

In 2025, Sun columnist ­Jeremy ­dedicated his Factual Entertainment win to the ­agricultural ­industry, saying: “I’d like to think that this is for farming because it demonstrates that people who watch the show go, ‘Bloody hell, farming’s difficult’, and have voted for this show.”

Series five, featuring Jeremy’s prostate cancer drama, aired earlier this year to rave reviews.

THIS year’s Serial Drama performance gong ­honours Paul Bradley’s return to ­EastEnders for Nigel’s tragic goodbye.

He’s up against castmate Aaron Thiara (for Ravi’s mental health crisis), Emmerdale’s Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle), plus two from Corrie – Sue Devaney (for Debbie’s sad decline) and Gareth Pierce (as coercive control victim Todd Grimshaw).