National Television Awards pick first all-female shortlist for drama acting award

National Television Awards voters have selected an all‑female shortlist for the Best Drama Actress category, marking the first time such a list has been composed entirely of women. The five nominees include former winner Sheridan Smith, who portrayed campaigner Ann Ming in ITV’s crime drama I Fought the Law, and Gavin & Stacey’s Ruth Jones for her role in the Netflix thriller Run Away. Vicky McClure is recognised for her performance as Lana Washington in Trigger Point, Ella Bruccoleri appears on the list for the period drama The Other Bennet Sister, and Judy Parfitt is nominated for her portrayal of Sister Monica Joan in Call the Midwife. The nominees were selected via a national ballot from an original longlist that also featured David Tennant, Gary Oldman, Idris Elba, James Norton and Tom Hiddleston. A second round of voting is now open to determine the winners across the NTAs’ 15 categories. Elsewhere on this year’s shortlists, Stacey Solomon has earned a hat‑trick of nominations, including one for Best TV Presenter. That particular award was won last year by then‑outgoing Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, breaking Ant and Dec's singular 23‑year winning run. Solomon will go up against the Geordie duo for this year’s accolade, as well as Sir David Attenborough in his 100th year, the series Traitors, and chat show hosts Claudia Winkleman and Alison Hammond. In the inaugural celebrity‑led world docuseries award, Solomon and her husband Joe Swash face competition from boxer Tyson Fury, Jeremy Clarkson, and Emmerdale actor‑turned‑farmer Kelvin Fletcher, as well as comedic fishermen Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. Mrs Brown’s Boys – which this week officially cancelled its festive specials due to creator and star Brendan O'Carroll's broken jaw – has a nomination for Best Comedy. Other nominated shows include the Canadian breakout romance Heated Rivalry (for Best New Drama) and Winkleman and Tess Daly’s final series of Strictly Come Dancing (for Best Entertainment Show). The NTAs, which honour the best in British television over the past 12 months, were first launched in 1995; the winners will be decided by a public vote between now and midday on 8 September, the day of the ceremony. Hosted again by comedian Joel Dommett, the ceremony will take place at London’s O2 Arena and will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX from 20:00 BST.