Britain’s television stars turned London’s O2 Arena into a fashion showcase on Tuesday evening as Olivia Attwood, Rochelle Humes and Cat Deeley joined a packed celebrity guest list for the 2026 National Television Awards.

The annual ceremony brought together some of the biggest names from reality television, soaps, daytime programming and entertainment, with stars arriving in an eclectic mix of dramatic gowns, sleek tailoring and statement eveningwear.

Olivia Attwood was among the standout arrivals, stepping onto the carpet in a pale blush-pink satin gown built around a structured corset-style bodice. The strapless design fell into a long, fluid skirt, while the television personality completed the look with layered jewellery and loose blonde waves.

Her appearance also attracted attention because she attended alongside Pete Wicks. The pair were photographed sharing an affectionate moment as they made their way into the ceremony, adding another talking point to an already busy night on the carpet.

Rochelle Humes opted for a softer, classically glamorous look. She wore an ivory-toned halterneck gown with an open back and flowing silhouette, arriving alongside husband Marvin Humes. Her hair was styled into a long plait, with loose strands framing her face.

Cat Deeley, meanwhile, embraced colour in a striking orange-and-purple patterned gown. The This Morning presenter paired the dress with a bold gold necklace and posed on the carpet before joining co-host Ben Shephard inside the arena.

Amanda Holden also ensured she would not go unnoticed. The presenter chose a vivid pink gown featuring daring cut-out sections and knotted detailing, creating one of the evening’s more provocative fashion moments.

A Wide Range of Styles on the NTA Carpet

The arrivals were not dominated by a single fashion trend.

Ashley James adopted a monochrome approach in a floor-length black Karen Millen gown enhanced with a dramatic white cape-like detail and embellishment. She later explained that the original store-bought dress had been customized to give it a more individual finish.

Stacey Solomon went in a very different direction, choosing a strapless black PVC dress while arriving with husband Joe Swash, who kept his look traditional in a black tuxedo.

Tana Ramsay joined husband Gordon Ramsay in a metallic midnight-blue Victoria Beckham dress. The silhouette had already become a favourite for her, as she had previously worn the same style in another colour for daughter Holly Ramsay’s wedding to swimmer Adam Peaty.

Paris Fury also embraced classic evening glamour, wearing a ruby-red satin gown with an expansive train after travelling to London for the ceremony.

Laura Hamilton chose a pink strapless dress with a prominent bow at the waist, while Call the Midwife actress Laura Main appeared in a champagne-coloured, jewel-covered gown.

Vicky McClure kept her red-carpet look relatively compact by comparison, choosing a sparkling black mini dress with lace detailing before going on to enjoy one of the biggest professional moments of her evening.

Josie Gibson arrived in a fitted black gown contrasted with a sweeping white draped panel across the upper body, while other stars experimented with everything from metallic fabrics to sharply tailored evening suits.

Holly Willoughby Makes a Late Arrival

Holly Willoughby was another high-profile attendee, although she arrived relatively late in the evening.

The presenter wore a strapless black gown decorated with silver embellishments and styled her blonde hair in polished Hollywood-inspired waves.

Her arrival came after several of her former This Morning colleagues had already walked the carpet. Inside the arena, the ITV daytime programme went on to win the Daytime award, with Cat Deeley, Ben Shephard, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary among those celebrating the victory.

Joel Dommett Returns as Host

The ceremony took place at The O2 in London, with Joel Dommett returning to oversee proceedings.

The National Television Awards are particularly significant within the British television industry because most of the major prizes are determined by public vote rather than by a jury of industry professionals.

The 2026 event covered categories spanning drama, factual television, reality programmes, entertainment, talent shows, soaps and presenting.

The evening also featured a notable first: every nominee in the Drama Performance category was a woman.

Sheridan Smith, Ruth Jones, Vicky McClure, Ella Bruccoleri and Judy Parfitt were among those competing, with McClure ultimately winning for her performance as Lana Washington in ITV thriller Trigger Point.

Sir David Attenborough Wins Presenter Award

One of the night’s biggest results came in the TV Presenter category.

Sir David Attenborough, who turned 100 in 2026, took the prize ahead of Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

Attenborough was not present at The O2, and producer Mark Brownlow collected the award on his behalf.

The result continued a dramatic change in a category once dominated almost completely by Ant and Dec. The presenting duo had previously won for 23 consecutive years before that streak came to an end in 2025.

Their difficult night did not stop there.

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! lost the Reality Competition award to The Celebrity Traitors, while Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win was beaten by The 1% Club in the quiz category. Britain’s Got Talent also missed out as Strictly Come Dancing took the Talent Show prize.

Alan Carr Receives Emotional Special Recognition Award

Alan Carr provided one of the ceremony’s most emotional moments when he received the Special Recognition Award.

The comedian was surprised by a tribute involving several friends and fellow television personalities, including Amanda Holden, Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church, Kate Garraway and David Olusoga.

Holden and other performers took part in a musical tribute before Carr accepted the honour, visibly moved by the reception.

A video package also celebrated his television career, including his years hosting Chatty Man and his more recent success on The Celebrity Traitors.

Carr would return to the stage later in the evening when The Celebrity Traitors won the Reality Competition award.

Emmerdale Enjoys a Strong Night

Emmerdale was another major winner.

The ITV soap took the Serial Drama award, while Jeff Hordley won Serial Drama Performance for his portrayal of Cain Dingle.

Elsewhere, Call the Midwife secured the Returning Drama prize.

Sheridan Smith-led drama I Fought the Law won New Drama, while Clarkson’s Farm added another award to its growing collection of television honours.

This Morning maintained its long-running success in the Daytime category, and Strictly Come Dancing continued its dominance in the talent-show field.

Fashion and Television Share the Spotlight

As ever, the NTAs operated as two events in one.

Inside the arena, the focus was on the programmes and personalities that had connected most strongly with British viewers over the previous year.

Outside, the red carpet provided its own spectacle.

From Attwood’s soft-pink corseted satin and Humes’ flowing ivory gown to Deeley’s vivid colour palette and Holden’s daring pink design, there was little evidence of a single dominant dress code.

Instead, the 2026 carpet ranged from traditional Hollywood glamour to PVC, bold colour, embellished gowns and minimalist tailoring.

The mixture reflected the wider character of the National Television Awards themselves: a ceremony where soap actors, reality stars, veteran broadcasters, comedians and primetime presenters all share the same stage.

And while the trophies ultimately belonged to names including Sir David Attenborough, Vicky McClure, Alan Carr and the casts of some of Britain’s biggest shows, the celebrity arrivals ensured that the spectacle began well before the first award was handed out.