Strictly Come Dancing scoops major prize at National Television Awards despite its year of scandal

Despite a year plagued with scandals and controversy, Strictly Come Dancing scooped the prize for Talent Show at the National Television Awards on Wednesday night.  

Amid fears for the show’s future over accusations of abuse aimed at professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, the BBC show beat out Britain’s Got Talent, The Great British Bake Off, Masterchef and The Voice to take one of the night’s big prizes.

The NTAs are voted for by the public, with the win for Strictly a clear sign that viewers are still rooting for the show as it prepares to return for its 20th series on Saturday night.

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were joined on stage by the show’s professional dancers and the creative team as they accepted the gong at London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday. 

Despite a year plagued with scandals and controversy, Strictly Come Dancing scooped the prize for Talent Show at the National Television Awards on Wednesday night

The presenting duo singled out the show’s ‘wonderful’ crew as they gushed that the win ‘meant everything.’    

The win comes amid claims that BBC bosses are full of ‘panic and worry’ regarding the publication of a report into Amanda Abbington and her former Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice.

The actress has accused the dancer of bullying, which he denies. But the Mail can reveal that there are concerns at the Corporation about how the two parties will react when the results of the investigation are revealed.

There have been high-level meetings among bosses as they navigate how to deliver their findings as they fear the looming possibility of legal action from either Ms Abbington, 52, or Mr Pernice if either is disappointed by the outcome.

One source told the Mail: ‘This is an absolute mess and the BBC don’t know what to do for the best.

‘There is a lot of panic and worry that whoever it does go in favour of will really go for the BBC, so every single word of whatever is released doesn’t give anyone the chance to complain.

‘They literally don’t know what to do so it is being delayed and delayed. [Director-General] Tim Davie is a good guy but this is impossible to navigate.’

Elswhere at Wednesday’s NTAs Claudia missed out on the best TV Presenter gong — which went to Ant and Dec. 

Ant and Dec were awarded the Best Presenter honour for a record 23rd time as they led the big winners .

The pair were once given the coveted prize, and joined big winners on the night such as Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, The Chase and Strictly Come Dancing.

During their speech, Ant and Dec also offered insight into how their ‘lives have changed’ in recent years since becoming parents.

In April, Ant welcomed his first child with wife Anne-Marie, a son named Wilder, while Dec has daughter Isla, six, and son Jack, two, with his wife Ali.

Dec said: ‘Our lives have changed so unbelievably, over the last six years since we got very small children.

‘Now we’re going back to dirty nappies and the school run. My little girl Isla she said ”good luck Daddy I hope you win the trophy, take my lip balm it may give you good luck,” before holding up the balm his daughter had given him.’

While Ant and Dec continued their record-breaking winning streak, it was Mr Bates Vs The Post Office who were the big champions of the night, with three prizes.

Toby Jones was awarded the prize for Serial Drama Performance for his critically-acclaimed performance in the series.

In his speech, the actor offered his congratulations to the real-life Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates, after he tied the knot with his longtime partner Susanne on Richard Branson’s private island at the weekend.

He added: ‘This is an extraordinary project, brilliantly commissioned, directed with flare, and the best actors I could possibly hope to work with. I’m really honoured.’

Amid fears for the show’s future over accusations of abuse aimed at professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, the BBC show beat out Britain’s Got Talent, The Great British Bake Off, Masterchef and The Voice to take one of the night’s big prizes

Mr Bates vs The Post Office drew renewed public attention to the subpostmasters who were wrongly prosecuted during the Horizon IT scandal, and this was also recognised with the ceremony’s Impact Award later in the evening.

Sub-postmaster Jo Hamilton took to the stage, and during the speech slammed the government’s response to the scandal.

She said that despite the appointment of a new Labour government, ‘nothing has changed,’ and sub-postmasters are yet to receive compensation.