National Television Awards: Strictly Come Dancing and Mr Bates vs the Post Office win

The BBC’s flagship Saturday night show has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent months, after two professional dancers were dropped following complaints about their behaviour and teaching methods in rehearsals.

But days before it returns to screens for its new series, Strictly proved it has not lost its shine with viewers, who voted it best talent show over competitors including The Great British Bake Off and Britain’s Got Talent.

The recent scandal was not referenced on stage, but its hosts were clearly overjoyed to win.

“My heart is beating, Claude,” Tess Daly said to her co-host.

“It means the world, genuinely, to all of us.”

Winkleman added: “This means everything. We’re so grateful. We’re going to do the conga.”