IT’S BEEN delayed for nine months, so stars were itching to get their glad rags on for tonight’s National Television Awards.
Leading the way was Emily Atack who proved that orange and red don’t clash when it comes to red carpets.
The actress stepped out in a figure-hugging tangerine velvet dress as she upped the sartorial stakes this evening.
Giovanna Fletcher stunned onlookers in an all-white ensemble, complete with a white feathered cape, completing her angelic look.
Love Island’s Chloe and Toby proved that romance was still strong back on British soil as they arrived hand-in-hand in matching monochrome ensembles.
Ashley James looked as though she had stepped straight out of a fairy tale, arriving on the red carpet in a full-skirted blue gown.
Television presenter Zoe Hardman was pretty in pink in a frilly ball gown as she put her best foot forward while flashing some thigh.
Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were an impossibly chic pairing this evening, with Eamonn dressed to the nines in a tux while his wife showed off her incredible figure in a form-fitting black number.
Talia Storm made sure all eyes were on her, arriving in a full length red gown and thigh high boots.
DJ Lilah Parsons had fellow red carpet attendees green with envy over her sparkling emerald maxi dress.
And Meghan Markle’s former pal Lizzie Cundy proved that you don’t have to be subtle to be stylish in her frilly white ballgown and feathered heels.
Michelle Heaton proved that red carpets and hot pink go hand in hand in her figure-hugging dress.
Angelica Bell proved that sequins never go out of style in her floor-sweeping dress.
First Date’s Fred Spendolini-Sirieix looked impossibly dapper, arriving with his Olympic diving daughter Andrea.
Jayne Torvill proved she was just as glamorous off the ice in a tiered blue frock.
Janette Manara oozed elegance in her coral coloured party dress.
But before they hit the red carpet, the stars put themselves through hours of pampering, bringing in the glam squad to sort hair and makeup.
Read our National Television Awards 2021 blog for the latest updates
Emily Atack showed off her camera-worthy pout as she had her golden tresses tamed into Hollywood waves.
Meanwhile Love Island’s Liberty Poole looked set to turn heads thanks to her sleek smoky eye, the work of make-up artist Melissa Sophia.
And Chloe Burrows got the party started early – sipping on champagne while she indulged in a watermelon face mask ahead of the awards.
Holly Willoughby looked relaxed and casual as she prepared to swap her jeans and t-shirt for what’s sure to be a seriously elegant ensemble.
Chloe Ferry did not disappoint, putting in her usual effort into her full face of makeup.
A telly insider said: “The NTAs produce surprises year in, year out. Just when you think a show or a TV star is a shoo-in, the voters deliver a shock.
This year sees Ant and Dec nominated for the National Television Awards’ TV Presenter gong for the 20th year in a row, but it remains to be seen whether the duo will take home the crown.
Three of their shows are up for silverware too: Saturday Night Takeaway, I’m A Celebrity and Britain’s Got Talent, which they front alongside judge Alesha Dixon.
Also in the running for accolades are This Morning’s Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond, though co-host Phillip Schofield misses out.
Piers Morgan is shortlisted despite storming off Good Morning Britain in an on-air row over Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s sensational interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“Changing viewing habits throw a few curveballs into the nominations too. Some of the biggest shows in the running are coming from Netflix.”
Joel Dommett will make his debut hosting the bash at London’s O2 Arena on September 9.
From 2010 to 2019 Dermot O’Leary presented the awards — which are decided by the public — before David Walliams took the reins last year. ITV’s Saturday-night smash The Masked Singer, which Joel presents, is nominated for Talent Show.
BBC1 cop thriller Line Of Duty is up for a Drama award in the wake of its explosive sixth season. Stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar will go head to head for the Drama Performance gong.
Netflix period bonkbuster Bridgerton is in the running for New Drama while The Crown, off the back of its fifth season, is nominated for Returning Drama.
The streaming giant has two of the four Comedy nominees, with Sex Education and Ricky Gervais’s After Life.
A surprise New Drama nomination comes for It’s A Sin, Channel 4’s examination of the emerging Aids crisis in the Eighties. Its star Olly Alexander, the musician who performs as Years & Years, is up for Drama Performance.
He takes on telly heavyweight David Tennant for his turn as serial killer Dennis Nilsen in ITV’s Des.
Bosses added two new awards this year. The Authored Documentary category includes nominations for former model Katie Price, for Harvey And Me, and campaigning England footballer Marcus Rashford for Feeding Britain’s Children.
The shortlist for Quiz Game Show includes Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel and Beat The Chasers.
Its host Bradley Walsh is up for TV Presenter.
Now viewers who whittled down the longlist can vote to decide which shows and their stars are worthy of bagging an award.
For more celeb news, from Kim Kardashian to Zendaya & Kylie Jenner – how the wet t-shirt look has made its way from car wash to red carpet.
And the celebs who got ‘normal’ jobs after shunning TV fame, including the EastEnders star who now works in B&M.
Plus we revealed how celebs rocking the daring new ‘curtain reveal’ trend – from Kendall Jenner to Megan Barton-Hanson.
