Hannah Waddingham was overcome with emotion on Tuesday as she won best entertainment presenter at the Royal Television Society Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The Ted Lasso star won the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, which she presented alongside Graham Norton, Alesha Dixon and Julia Sanina.
Upon receiving her award, the 49-year-old actress shared, “I feel like I’m going to look back at pictures like, ‘Can you stop grinning like a Cheshire cat?’ I am very satisfied. It’s a bit overwhelming.
“As a newcomer to live TV, BBC Studios got me involved, and I don’t mean to be cheesy, they absolutely made me believe I could do this.
“When we finally went up, I can’t tell you how supported we felt. I wouldn’t be here if BBC Studios hadn’t contacted me.’
Another big winner of the evening was Hannah Waddingham, who took home the Entertainment Presenter Award for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023
The Ted Lasso star co-hosted the competition alongside Graham Norton (pictured), Alesha Dixon and Julia Sanina
Hannah looked radiant in a black figure-hugging mini dress with a plunging neckline as she walked the red carpet at the awards ceremony
It wasn’t the only gong to win the competition, as the competition also received the Live Event award.
The night’s top TV winners went to BBC dramas Time and Happy Valley.
The three-part series Time starred Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance and Bella Ramsey, as three prisoners who all arrive at a Liverpool prison on the same day.
Tamara, 30, took home the prize for lead actor – female for her role in the prison drama, with the judges praising her ‘profound, layered performance’.
Bella, 20, was also recognized, winning the Supporting Actor – Female Award from fellow nominees Jasmine Jobson for Top Boy and Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo.
The actor, who identifies as non-binary, opened up about the difficulty they had breaking away from the role after work.
“I definitely got too caught up in some scenes,” they said.
‘I would go home and sometimes watch fun children’s films to get away from it all and eat my vegan chicken from the fridge. I’m not very good at disconnecting, but I tried anyway.’
Happy Valley, starring Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood and James Norton as murderer Tommy Lee Royce, beat The Gold and Top Boy for the Drama award.
“It is groundbreaking drama of top class,” said the jury. ‘Sometimes opera on scale, but with attention to the smallest detail.’
Bella Ramsay – who identifies as non-binary – won the Supporting Actor – Female award for their work in the BBC prison drama Time
Bella’s Time co-star Tamara Lawrance (pictured) won the Leading Actor – Female award for her role in the prison drama
Happy Valley, starring Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood (pictured) and James Norton as murderer Tommy Lee Royce, beat The Gold and Top Boy for the Drama award
Stacey Solomon took home the Formatted Popular Factual show award for her BBC series Sort Your Life Out, in which the presenter and her team transform people’s homes.
The Loose Women star beat fellow nominees Banged Up and The Piano, both on Channel 4.
After her win, Stacey said: “It’s a massive team helping us. There are so many runners, researchers and even our executives involved to make sure the floor pattern is in the right place and to make sure it’s a fun experience for the whole family.
‘The crew spends hours painstakingly working on everything you see. I love them so much.’
Alex Scott was honored with the Sports Presenter Award, where she was nominated against Gabby Logan and Nasser Hussain.
She was praised as ‘a broadcaster that offers balance, objectivity and truly exceptional expert analysis.’
Chris Packham received the Presenter Award for his program Inside Our Autistic Minds, with the jury praising him for his ‘charisma and directness’.
Stacey Solomon took home the Formatted Popular Factual show award for her BBC series Sort Your Life Out
Top Boy star Kane Robinson beat Gary Oldman and Timothy Spall for the Leading Actor – Male award
Disney+ series Extraordinary won the Scripted Comedy award
Chris Packham received the Presenter Award for his program Inside Our Autistic Minds, with the jury praising him for his ‘charisma and directness’
The Comedy Drama award went to BBC’s Juice, while Disney+ series Extraordinary won the Scripted Comedy award.
Hammed Animashaun received the Comedy Performance – Male gong for his role in Black Ops, while his co-star Gbemisola Ikumelo won the Comedy Performance – Female award.
Top Boy star Kane Robinson beat Gary Oldman and Timothy Spall for the Leading Actor – Male award, while the Supporting Actor – Male award went to Eanna Hardwicke.
It was a good night for the true crime drama The Sixth Commandment, which also received the Limited Series Award and the Writer – Drama Award for Sarah Phelps.
The BBC had further success with EastEnders beating Casualty and Waterloo Road to receive the Soap and Continuing Drama award.
