This Morning presenter Dermot O'Leary swigged white wine from a plastic bottle as he dedicated the show's Best Daytime victory at the National Television Awards to crew members affected by brutal ITV job cuts.
The 53-year-old broadcaster led co-hosts Cat Deeley, Ben Shephard, and Alison Hammond in celebrating the win at the annual ceremony in London following a challenging year marked by studio moves and mass redundancies across the network.
Addressing the gathered audience, O'Leary described the difficult transition the production team faced after ITV reduced its workforce, praising their continued dedication despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil.
Tribute to Redundant Crew Members
Speaking after receiving the trophy, O'Leary paid an emotional tribute to the off-screen staff who lost their jobs during the recent network restructuring.
O'Leary said: "The team have done so well, especially given that we've moved studios, we've lost a huge part of our workforce who lost their job from no fault of their own, and, it took quite something."
He continued: "It was a real gear change and for our team to sort of come in day on day out and keep that level of professionalism and good nature and just so supportive and so."
O'Leary added: "Like I always say, we get to dance in the light because they're working in the shadows. They're so good at what they do and it's a real privilege and a pleasure to work with them."
His remarks left several gathered staffers visibly emotional before fellow presenter Ben Shephard, who joined the flagship morning program in 2024, stepped forward to add his praise for the wider daytime team.
Shephard said: "As Dermot said, there's been some big changes through the whole of ITV daytime, not just to us at This Morning, but affecting Lorraine, Loose Women and our friends and family at GMB as well."
Shephard added: "For everybody to bounce back and just with such enthusiasm and with such grace and want to make the best show we possibly can, they're really special."
The award marks the second consecutive year that This Morning has won the Best Daytime category, following the end of its 12-year winning streak in 2023 after the controversial exits of former presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
ITV Daytime Restructuring and Studio Relocation
The tributes follow significant cost-cutting measures enforced by ITV executives over the past year, which saw the broadcaster move its daytime portfolio out of its former headquarters at Television Centre in West London.
As part of the major overhaul, ITV halved its 400-strong daytime workforce and reorganized production logistics across its main shows.
Production for Good Morning Britain was transferred to ITN, the independent news organisation that also produces news bulletins for ITV and Channel 4.
Meanwhile, production for Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women moved to the Hospital Club facility in Covent Garden, central London.
All three programmes now share a single studio space alongside small backstage dressing rooms, a setup that has reportedly generated friction among high-profile presenters.
Schedule changes were also introduced for 66-year-old presenter Lorraine Kelly's self-titled show, which was shortened to 30 minutes and now broadcasts for only 30 weeks of the year. Loose Women was subjected to the same 30-week broadcasting schedule, with Good Morning Britain extended during the 22 weeks of the year when Lorraine is off the air.
Red Carpet Glamour and Returning Stars
Despite the workplace challenges, the stars of daytime television dressed up for the prestigious industry event.
Cat Deeley, 49, arrived in a couture pink-and-white gown created by Italian fashion house Giambattista Valli Resort.
Her predecessor on the sofa, 45-year-old Holly Willoughby, also returned to the National Television Awards red carpet after taking a hiatus last year due to safety concerns surrounding a foiled plot to kidnap her.
Willoughby, who launched a new YouTube series this summer, wore an £18,500 gown by Vietnamese designer Hua Le Duc Anh.
Attenborough Wins as Drama History Made
Elsewhere at the ceremony, veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough secured the Best Presenter award for his nature documentary series Secret Garden, having celebrated his 100th birthday in May.
The BBC natural historian beat Traitors host Claudia Winkleman to the award, leaving ITV presenting duo Ant and Dec without the title for a second consecutive year after their 23-year winning streak was ended by former BBC host Gary Lineker last summer.
History was also made in the Best Drama Performance category, where all nominees were women for the first time in NTA history.
Vicky McClure took home the award for her portrayal of Lana Washington in ITV's bomb disposal drama Trigger Point.
McClure won against fellow nominees Sheridan Smith for her role as Ann Ming in I Fought The Law, Ruth Jones as Elena Ravenscroft in Run Away, Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister, and Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan in Call the Midwife.
Full List of NTA 2026 Winners
The 2026 National Television Awards recognized top programming across reality, drama, comedy, and entertainment categories.
The Celebrity Traitors won the Reality Competition category, beating I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, I'm A Celebrity... South Africa, Race Across the World, and The Traitors.
The 1% Club claimed the Quiz Show trophy ahead of Ant & Dec's Limitless Win, Michael McIntyre's The Wheel, Richard Osman's House of Games, and The Chase.
Call the Midwife took home the Returning Drama award, prevailing over Blue Lights, Bridgerton, Stranger Things, and Trigger Point.
Clarkson's Farm was named Best Reality Docuseries, winning over At Home With The Furys, Fletchers' Family Farm, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, and Stacey & Joe.
Emmerdale won the Serial Drama category against Casualty, Coronation Street, EastEnders, and Hollyoaks, while Jeff Hordley won Serial Drama Performance for his role as Cain Dingle in Emmerdale. Hordley beat Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati in EastEnders, Gareth Pierce as Todd Grimshaw in Coronation Street, Paul Bradley as Nigel Bates in EastEnders, and Sue Devaney as Debbie Webster in Coronation Street.
Gogglebox won Factual Entertainment over 24 Hours in Police Custody, Secret Garden, Sort Your Life Out, and The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.
I Fought The Law won Best New Drama against A Woman of Substance, Believe Me, Heated Rivalry, and The Other Bennet Sister.
Our Girls: The Southport Families took the Authored Documentary award over Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth, Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, and Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me.
Mrs Brown's Boys won the Comedy award against Amandaland, Changing Ends, Last One Laughing, and Not Going Out.
Michael McIntyre's Big Show received The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award over Gladiators, The Graham Norton Show, The Masked Singer, and Would I Lie to You?.
Strictly Come Dancing claimed the Talent Show award, beating Britain's Got Talent, The Great British Bake Off, The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, and The Great Pottery Throw Down.
In the Daytime category, This Morning won against Good Morning Britain, James Martin's Saturday Morning, Loose Women, and Scam Interceptors.
