I don't rate the National Television Awards very highly. Having all the awards voted for by the public makes the NTAs a good indicator of what's popular (or what's marketed the best?), but not always what's truly deserving of praise. Voting is also open to abuse these days, and I refuse to believe Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway would win anything if the NTAs weren't so ingrained in the nation's consciousness as an "ITV event". I'm willing to bet the majority of NTA voters are loyal ITV viewers, thus conditioned to see Simon Cowell as a demi-God. It also irritates me that emphasis is placed on the "serial drama" category, as it's usually a two-horse race between EastEnders and Coronation Street, and the result is generally a toss-up...
This year's 15th anniversary show gained an extra 2 million viewers over last year's ceremony, possibly because charisma vacuum Sir Trevor MacDonald was replaced him with Dermot O'Leary[*]. The only downside now is that the NTAs feel like an episode of The X Factor, complete with book-ending appearances by Joe McElderry and Jedward (feat. Vanilla Ice). Or should that be Vanilla Ice (feat. Jedward)?
The big winners were: David Tennant ("Outstanding Drama Performance"), Doctor Who ("Most Popular Drama"), Ant & Dec ("Most Popular Entertainment Programme" for Saturday Night Takeaway and "Most Popular Entertainment Presenter"), Gavin & Stacey ("Most Popular Comedy Programme"), The X Factor ("Most Popular Talent Show"), Lacey Turner ("Outstanding Serial Drama Performance" for EastEnders), Craig Gazey ("Best Newcomer" for Coronation Street) and Stephen Fry ("Most Popular Documentary" for Stephen Fry In America and the "Special Recognition" award.)
So, pretty much the same results as every year. EastEnders, Doctor Who, X Factor, Ant & Dec, Gavin & Stacey and Coronation Street -- the staple TV diet of mainstream Britain today. Coincidentally, all shows that have huge marketing muscle. I'm just glad the NTAs put "popular" in their award titles, and not "best". Even if "most popular" could be decided a lot quicker using the BARB ratings.
I wonder, though; will Matt Smith continue to help Doctor Who dominate the NTAs next year? Will soaps ever release their stranglehold of British primetime? I feel the tide is slowly turning, as I know quite a few people that have stopped watching soaps. Is X Factor's Joe really that irritatingly twee off-camera? Is it wrong that I enjoyed Jedward's mash-up of Under Pressure and Ice Ice Baby? They were terrible (bad singing, poor timing, weak dancing), but the spirit of fun was there, and I found it funny when they were reduced to gesticulating puppets halfway through, when Ice took to the stage...
[*] The only downside is that O'Leary's succession has denied us the annual cringe-fest of Sir Trev reading jokes off an autocue like they were terrorist demands.
