The Royal Television Society has unveiled the shortlist for its prestigious annual awards, with the Netflix drama Adolescence emerging as the standout contender. The series, starring Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, has secured a remarkable six nominations, the highest number for any single show this year.
Adolescence Leads the Pack
Adolescence has been nominated in the Limited Series and Single Drama category, highlighting its critical acclaim. The show, which follows the turbulent life of teenager Jamie Miller, has captivated audiences and critics alike with its raw storytelling and powerful performances.
Breakthrough and Supporting Actor Nods
Sixteen-year-old Owen Cooper, who portrays Jamie Miller, is nominated for the Breakthrough Award, recognising his exceptional talent. Additionally, he is in contention for the male Supporting Actor award, a testament to his compelling performance in the series.
His co-star, Stephen Graham, aged 52, is nominated for male Leading Actor. Graham faces stiff competition from Anthony Boyle for House of Guinness, Bobby Schofield for Unforgivable, and Malachi Kirby for A Thousand Blows.
Female Acting Categories
Irish actress Erin Doherty, fresh from her Golden Globes win last month, is nominated for female Supporting Actor for her role in Adolescence. She competes against Saskia Reeves from Slow Horses, Anna Friel for Unforgivable, and Aimee Lou Wood for Toxic Town.
Doherty, 33, is also nominated for female Leading Actor for A Thousand Blows. She is joined by former EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis for Code of Silence, Narges Rashidi for Prisoner 951, and Tamara Lawrance for Get Millie Black.
BBC Tops Network Nominations
The BBC has garnered the most nominations overall, with 47 nods across 29 categories. This underscores the broadcaster's continued dominance in the UK television industry.
Comedy and Entertainment Highlights
In the male Comedy Performance category, nominees include Steve Coogan, Oliver Savell, Jon Pointing, and Adjani Salmon. The female Comedy Performance category features Lucy Punch and Philippa Dunne from Amandaland, alongside Jordan Gray for Transaction and Katherine Parkinson for Here We Go.
Celebrity Traitors leads the Entertainment and Reality shortlist, competing with Married at First Sight and Race Across the World. Claudia Winkleman is nominated for best Entertainment Performance for Celebrity Traitors, up against Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan for their collaborative series and Ranganathan's solo programme, Can't Knock the Hustle.
Presenter and Soap Categories
Davina McCall is the prominent name in the Presenter category, joined by Martin Lewis for his ITV consumer series and Hamza Yassin for Hidden Wild Isles. Notably, ITV soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale have been omitted from the Soap and Continuing Drama category, with only Casualty, EastEnders, and Hollyoaks nominated.
Best Drama and Host Announcement
The Best Drama category features Blue Lights, Code of Silence, Slow Horses, and This City Is Ours. Comedian and presenter Tom Allen will host the awards ceremony for the fifth consecutive year, scheduled for Tuesday, March 24.
Industry Praise
Kenton Allen, Chair of the RTS Programme Awards and CEO of Big Talk Studios, commented on the nominations. He stated, "The RTS Programme Awards celebrate the extraordinary depth of creative talent that defines the UK television industry. Across every genre represented in this year's nominations, we see the craft, originality, and ambition that continue to make Britain one of the most admired creative markets in the world."
Allen added, "From writers and performers to producers, directors, and the many brilliant teams on and off camera, these programmes demonstrate the power of British storytelling to inform, entertain, and resonate with audiences at home and around the globe. On behalf of the Royal Television Society, I congratulate all nominees and thank them for their imagination, skill, and hard work."
Full Nominations List
The nominations span various categories, including Arts, Breakthrough Award, Children’s Programme, Comedy Drama, and more. Key highlights include Ellis Howard, Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie, Maximilian Fairley, and Owen Cooper for the Breakthrough Award, and dramas like Blue Lights and Slow Horses for Drama Series.
Other notable categories include Documentary Series, Formatted Popular Factual, History, Live Event, Science & The Natural World, Scripted Comedy, Single Documentary, Sports Presenter, and Writer awards for both comedy and drama.
