NTAs 2021: EXCLUSIVE: Olly Alexander celebrates It’s a Sin winning New Drama award as creator Russell T Davies reveals a TV executive referred to show as ‘that miserable AIDS drama’
Olly Alexander said making It’s a Sin was ‘one of the greatest experiences of his life’ after it won the New Drama Award at the National Television Awards.
Show creator Russell T Davies told MailOnline selling the show was not easy and one unnamed TV executive even referred to it as ‘that miserable AIDS drama’.
Speaking after the drama won, show star Olly said: ‘It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It’s created a conversation that I’m amazed to be a part of. A global conversation.’
Proud: Olly Alexander said making It’s a Sin was ‘one of the greatest experiences of his life’ after it won the New Drama Award at the National Television Awards
It’s a Sin was turned down by both the BBC and ITV before it eventually found a home at Channel 4.
Asked why he kept persisting to have the show aired after being rejected, Russell said: ‘It’s my job to persist if something doesn’t get made you keep going. I believed in it.
‘One television executive referred to it as “that miserable AIDS drama”. He won’t be able to lick my trophy now!’
He added: ‘It’s a drama about aids about a minority subject so it’s astonishing that it won on a mainstream show. A lot of it was based on my life jill (who’s here)
Show: Creator Russell T Davies told MailOnline selling the show was not easy and one unnamed TV executive even referred to it as ‘that miserable AIDS drama’
‘It’s nice to say that behind us are so many charities and activists and fundraisers so we’re aware of the privilege of being their spokespeople.’
It’s a Sin was nominated alongside Bridgerton, Normal People and Des.
Elsewhere, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donelly scooped the Best Presenter gong for an epic 20th time in a row at the NTAs, with a visible emotional Ant seen clutching his new wife Anne-Marie as the news was delivered.
Olly said: ‘It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It’s created a conversation that I’m amazed to be a part of. A global conversation’
Pitch: It’s a Sin was turned down by both the BBC and ITV before it eventually found a home at Channel 4
Important: Asked why he kept persisting to have the show aired after being rejected, Russell said: ‘It’s my job to persist if something doesn’t get made you keep going. I believed in it’
The great and the good of British television gathered at London’s 02 Arena for the star-studded awards show, which also saw Kate Garraway choke back tears as her Finding Derek documentary bagged the inaugural authored documentary award.
Meanwhile, This Morning triumphed once again in the Best Daytime category as they led the other big winners on the night including Line Of Duty, Gogglebox and It’s A Sin.
The Geordie duo beat off competition from the likes of Piers Morgan, Holly, Alison Hammond and Bradley Walsh to win the coveted gong once more.
Taking to the stage with his co-star, Ant said: ‘Thank you very much indeed’, before going on to recall that the first time they won the award in 2001, Tony Blair was Prime Minister and Newcastle United were qualifying for the Champion’s League.
Russell added: ‘One television executive referred to it as “that miserable AIDS drama”. He won’t be able to lick my trophy now!’
Thrilled: Olly looked on cloud nine after the show took home the award
Winners: Olly gave his co-star Nathaniel Curtis a hug after their win
Success: It’s a Sin was nominated alongside Bridgerton, Normal People and Des
He went on to add: ‘I’m shaking. You have no idea how special this is.’
Meanwhile, Kate Garraway looked simply stunned as the documentary about her husband Derek Draper’s Covid battle won the authored documentary.
The Good Morning Britain host received a standing ovation from the audience including her ITV pals Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield and Ruth Langsford as she made her way to the stage.
We did it! Ant and Dec scooped the Best Presenter gong for an epic 20th time in a row at the National Television Awards on Thursday, with a visible emotional Ant seen clutching his new wife Anne-Marie as the news was delivered
Shock: Kate Garraway looked simply stunned as the documentary about her husband Derek Draper’s Covid battle won the authored documentary.
But things became a bit too much as she choked back tears and asked one of her team to say something while she composed herself.
Earlier this year, it was announced the NTAs, which usually takes place in January, had been rescheduled for September 9, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kim said at the time: ‘The NTAs will return to The O2 London in September to mark the UK’s best, boldest and most beloved TV shows with a surprise-packed event – and we look forward to seeing you on the night for a celebration like no other.’
NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS 2021: THE WINNERS
Challenge Show
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Love Island
WINNER: The Great British Bake Off
The Great British Sewing Bee
New Drama
Bridgerton
Des
WINNER: It’s A Sin
Normal People
Talent Show
Britain’s Got Talent
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
WINNER: Strictly Come Dancing
The Masked Singer
Tasty! Bake Off won the Challenge Show prize
Authored Documentary
WINNER: Kate Garraway: Finding Derek
Katie Price: Harvey and Me
Marcus Rashford: Feeding Britain’s Children
Rob Burrow: My Year With MND
Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency
Touching: The Authored Documentary winner was Kate Garraway: Finding Derek
Returning Drama
Call the Midwife
WINNER: Line of Duty
The Crown
Unforgotten
TV Presenter
Alison Hammond
WINNER: Ant and Dec
Bradley Walsh
Holly Willoughby
Piers Morgan
Factual
Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death
WINNER: Gogglebox
Gordon, Gino and Fred: American Road Trip
Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs
Drama Performance
Adrian Dunbar, Ted Hastings, Line of Duty
WINNER: David Tennant, Dennis Nilsen, Des
Martin Compston, Steve Arnott, Line of Duty
Olly Alexander, Ritchie Tozer, It’s A Sin
Vicky McClure, Kate Fleming, Line of Duty
The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
WINNER: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Taskmaster
The Graham Norton Show
You lose some, you win some! Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway was up for a prize, but the duo’s other show, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! scooped the gong
Serial Drama
WINNER: Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Serial Drama Performance
Billy Price, Sid Sumner, Hollyoaks
Danny Dyer, Mick Carter, EastEnders
WINNER: Mollie Gallagher, Nina Lucas, Coronation Street
Sally Carman, Abi Franklin, Coronation Street
Quiz Game Show
WINNER: Beat The Chasers
Celebrity Catchphrase
In For A Penny
Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
Newcomer
Emile John, Ethan Anderson, Emmerdale
WINNER: Jude Riordan, Sam Blakeman, Coronation Street
Olivia D’Lima, Paramedic Fenisha Khatri, Casualty
Rhiannon Clements, Summer Ranger, Hollyoaks
Rose Ayling-Ellis, Frankie Lewis, EastEnders
Winner! Mollie Gallagher, who plays Nina Lucas in Coronation Street, bagged herself a gong
Daytime
Loose Women
The Chase
The Repair Shop
WINNER: This Morning
Comedy
WINNER: After Life
Friday Night Dinner
Sex Education
The Vicar of Dibley
Source: Read Full Article