Blue Lights Confirmed as Best Drama as 2026 RTS Programme Awards Unfold
blue lights won best drama on a night that reshaped the awards ledger at the 2026 Royal Television Society Programme Awards in London. The ceremony delivered a string of outcomes across drama, comedy, factual and entertainment categories, with several programmes and performers taking multiple honours.
What Happens When Blue Lights Wins Best Drama?
Blue Lights securing best drama was one of the headline outcomes of the evening. The win for blue lights sat among a broader run of successes by a single broadcaster that led the night with 16 RTS wins. The awards recognised established and breakout talent alike, underscoring the variety of work celebrated across limited series, continuing drama and scripted comedy.
Who Were the Night’s Big Winners?
Adolescence dominated several categories, picking up four awards including best limited series. Its 16-year-old star Owen Cooper collected both the male breakthrough award and supporting actor in the male categories for his role as Jamie Miller. Stephen Graham, a co-star in Adolescence, won best writer in the drama category alongside Jack Thorne.
Other major winners included the drama that won best drama, EastEnders taking the award for soap and continuing drama, and Prisoner 951 earning the leading actor in the female category for Narges Rashidi. In comedy, Steve Coogan won best male performance for How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), while Philippa Dunne picked up the female comedy performance award for Amandaland; her co-star Lucy Punch was also nominated in that category. The factual drama about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, which earned recognition in the factual drama space, contributed to the night’s serious storytelling honours.
Additional individual awards highlighted on the night included Gabby Logan winning the sports presenter award for coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, and the stars of Unforgivable—Bobby Schofield and Anna Friel—taking leading actor (male) and supporting actor (female) awards respectively. Sir Michael Palin was given the Outstanding Achievement Award. The ceremony was hosted by Tom Allen at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel.
What Comes Next for the Key Talent?
The evening reinforced momentum for several careers and programmes: Adolescence added multiple awards to its season tally, its young lead achieving dual acting honours and senior creatives receiving writing recognition. The success for blue lights as best drama placed that production among the night’s definers. Philippa Dunne’s win for her performance in Amandaland and the nominations roster in comedy underscored the category’s competitive field.
On the red carpet and in acceptance remarks, performers reflected on recognition and collaboration. Stephen Graham attended with his wife Hannah Walters for a special awards outing; among the night’s personal acknowledgements were remarks of gratitude and partnership from winners who credited collaborators and family. The RTS Programme Awards presented a concentrated snapshot of the current programme landscape in London, with multiple programmes and performers now carrying the distinction of RTS recognition into the year ahead.
