Strictly Come Dancing has won the National Television Award for Best Talent Show, capping a turbulent 18 months marred by misconduct allegations and backstage drama. Last year's celebrity cast accepted the prize, with Pete Wicks and JB Gill delivering a speech praising the show's crew and thanking viewers.
Wicks joked that the theme tune gave him 'PTSD' but emphasised that Strictly remained 'one of the best things' he had done. Gill highlighted the historic win of Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, and thanked the judges and fans for their support. The BBC series was the only one from the corporation in the category, beating ITV's Britain's Got Talent and The Voice UK, as well as Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off and The Great Pottery Throw Down.
The victory came after a difficult period for the show. Professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima both left in 2024 following accusations of misconduct. Pernice was accused of bullying by former partner Amanda Abbington, though an internal investigation found he was not abusive or threatening, while Di Prima was axed after claims he kicked and spat at Zara McDermott. More recently, contestant Wynne Evans apologised for a lewd comment caught on camera, and 2025 star Thomas Skinner sparked controversy by snatching a reporter's phone during an interview, later saying he felt compelled to step away after seeing personal messages.
