TALKING POINTS | National Television Awards, Corrie and Ricky Gervais
- Elliot Gonzalez
- Sep 14
- 5 min read
Here's what's got me talking this week...
It's that time of the week again where I take a look back at the last 7 days to see what has got me talking the most.
From Steve McFadden's deserved NTAs win to Ricky Gervais' new project and more, here are my 4 telly talking points of the week...
1
STEVE MCFADDEN
winning a National Television Award
If ever there's been an actor overdue recognition at awards cermeonies, it's Steve McFadden, who for 35 years has consistently delivered outstanding performances as Phil Mitchell in EastEnders, rarely with recognition or reward.
That all changed earlier this year when the British Soap Awards panel awarded him Best Dramatic Performance, but sadly Steve was away when the awards were happening, and wasn't there to accept the award in person.
But in some ways, his win at this year's National Television Awards, for Best Serial Drama Performance, was an even bigger win for Steve as it was entirely voted for by the viewing public and the incredible crowd reaction in the O2 arena on Wednesday proved just how loved he is.
From the moment Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan revealed him to be the winner, the emotion on Steve's face was evident and you could see how much winning this award meant to him. Not just to him, but also co-star Adam Woodyatt who appeared to be just as emotional.
During his acceptance speech, Steve thanked the audience for "giving Phil Mitchell 35 years of stupidity" before thanking all his team at EastEnders and revealed he was "touched and over the moon" at winning the award.
It might have been decades overdue, but to have won his two biggest awards ever as a result of a storyline about men's mental health, which has had such an impact on audiences, almost makes the win more meaningful.
2
BECKY SWAIN
returning from the dead in Corrie
After months of speculation surrounding the identity of DS Lisa Swain's wife, Becky Swain, and the truth behind her supposed killing in the line of duty, all was revealed on Monday night in Coronation Street, when the wife Lisa thought was dead, turned up in her living room.
Following a dramatic 18th birthday for daughter Betsy Swain who witnessed a horrific hit and run, Lisa and new fiancee Carla Connor were looking forward to a quiet night in. But when Carla nipped out to investigate an alarm going off at the factory Lisa was stunned to be confronted by the ghost from her past.
Thanks to the National Television Awards, we had to wait until Friday, to see the fall out of Becky's return and what that means for Swarla and Betsy.
On Friday, Carla returned to the house to find her shocked fiancée demanding answers from her wife, as we discover she wasn't in a coma, but rather living under witness protection in Spain, and it was the real Tia Wardley whose body was used to pretend to be hers.
What exactly her return means for Swarla remains to be seen, and as of yet, Betsy is oblivious to her mum's return. But when the inevitable happens, how will Betsy cope with discovering the mother she thought was dead for the last four years was actually alive and in hiding? How long is Becky back for? And can she win back the family she lost?
For a storyline that at times felt like it had overstayed its welcome and didn't appear to be heading anywhere, this week's developments have piqued my interest once more and I can't wait to see the rest of it unfold.
It has also shown off how brilliant an actor Vicky Myers is. On Friday, she was able to in just one single episode, portray a number of different emotions, such as trauma, anger, love and confusion with such effortlessness. It was already clear to see why she is a fan favourite, but Friday really showed off Vicky's capabilities and where she's able to take Lisa.
A special mention too to Alison King, who is consistently brilliant and now finds herself torn over how to react to Becky being back in Lisa - and soon Betsy's life once again. And from what we've seen so far of Amy Cudden, who plays Becky, the next few weeks and months are set to be unmissable as the storyline continues to unfold.
3
GARY LINEKER
winning a National Television Award
Another huge talking point on Wednesday night at the National Television Awards, was Gary Lineker putting an end to Ant and Dec's unbroken 23-year winning streak to win Best TV Presenter.
His win follows him stepping away from Match of the Day after 26 years after his comments online, came under fire from bosses, around the then-government's immigration policy back in 2023 and more recently for voicing his opinion on Israel's
In March 2023, Lineker was suspended from the BBC following comments he made on social media, criticising the then-government's immigration policy, and more recently for his comments surrounding the Israel-Gaza war.
Accepting the award to huge cheers in the room, Gary joked how he'd "won the Ant and Dec trophy" and acknowledged how it's not lost on him why he might have won this award and that "perhaps it's OK, sometimes, for us to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice."
The last person to win the award before Ant and Dec was Michael Barrymore in 2000, and every year since the awards began in 1995, except in 1999 when the award was won by Lily Savage.
4
RICKY GERVAIS
reuniting After Life cast for his new Netflix animation
Since After Life ended in January 2022 after three series, the world has been watching to see what Ricky Gervais' next move on television would be and this week we finally got confirmation about the animation series we knew he was working on.
Titled Alley Cats, the six-part original adult comedy will air on Netflix in 2026 and each 15-minute episode will follow the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats who seek companionship while ruminating about the struggles of everyday life, and features a bold 2D animation style being produced by Blink Industries.
What's most exciting, is that the voice cast for Alley Cats, reunites Ricky with so many of his After Life co-stars, such as Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley, Diane Morgan and Tony Way. Plus, Natalie Cassidy will also lend her voice to the new series.
Speaking about his new series, Creator and Director Ricky Gervais said "I play a fat, lazy, rude, opinionated creature with fangs, who’s not as smart or brave as he thinks he is. So quite a stretch."
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