AceShowbiz - The 2026 Royal Television Society (RTS) Program Awards celebrated the finest in U.K. television on Tuesday night at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Among the standout winners was Adolescence, which dominated the event by securing four awards, including two for actor Owen Cooper.

Hosted by comedian-presenter Tom Allen, the ceremony gathered a star-studded audience featuring notable talents such as Erin Doherty, Dylan Llewllyn, Steve Coogan, Mawaan Rizwan, Stephen Graham, Katherine Parkinson, Lucy Punch, Davina McCall, Gabby Logan, Alison Steadman, Jack Thorne, and Malachi Kirby, all coming together to honour excellence in television programming.

Across 29 competitive categories, the BBC led the pack with 16 awards. Highlights included wins for The Celebrity Traitors, the drama series Blue Lights, and acting honors for Bobby Schofield and Anna Friel in the leading actor and supporting actress categories for Unforgivable. Additionally, Kat Sadler earned best writer for the drama Such Brave Girls.

Netflix followed with five awards, four of which were claimed by Adolescence. The breakout star Owen Cooper won both the breakthrough award and supporting actor prize, underscoring his rising prominence. His co-star Erin Doherty presented the prestigious judges’ award to producers Stephen Graham, Hannah Walters, and Matriarch Productions, recognizing their dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices.

Doherty praised the producers for their commitment to telling stories that give a voice to those often overlooked, especially narratives grounded in working-class experiences. She stated, "They wanted to produce work that offered a voice to the voiceless, work that told the neglected narratives of people who'd grown used to their life experiences and struggles being overlooked—or just plain ignored."

In comedy categories, Prime Video's Last One Laughing secured the comedy entertainment award, while Steve Coogan was honored for his performance in How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge). Channel 4's Big Boys won the comedy drama award, and the BBC’s Things You Should Have Done, fronted by comedian and online personality Lucia Keskin (also known as Chi With A C), took the scripted comedy prize.

The RTS Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Monty Python legend Michael Palin, adding a celebrated milestone to the evening’s accolades.

Below is a full list of the 2026 RTS Program Awards winners:

• Arts: The Last Musician of Auschwitz
• Breakthrough Award: Owen Cooper, Adolescence
• Children's Program: Crongton
• Comedy Drama: Big Boys
• Comedy Entertainment: Last One Laughing
• Comedy Performance - Female: Philippa Dunne, Amandaland
• Comedy Performance - Male: Steve Coogan, How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge)
• Daytime Program: BBC Breakfast - Our Girls: The Southport Families
• Documentary Series: Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park
• Drama Series: Blue Lights
• Entertainment & Reality: The Celebrity Traitors
• Entertainment Performance: Rob Beckett & Romesh Ranganathan, Rob & Romesh Vs
• Formatted Popular Factual: The Assembly
• History: Flight 149: Hostage of War
• Leading Actor - Female: Narges Rashidi, Prisoner 951
• Leading Actor - Male: Bobby Schofield, Unforgivable
• Limited Series and Single Drama: Adolescence
• Live Event: Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 (BBC Studios Events for BBC)
• Presenter: Hamza Yassin, Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles
• Science & The Natural World: Underdogs
• Scripted Comedy: Things You Should Have Done
• Single Documentary: Grenfell: Uncovered
• Soap and Continuing Drama: EastEnders
• Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit: Gabby Logan, Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
• Sports Program: 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Sky Sports)
• Supporting Actor - Female: Anna Friel, Unforgivable
• Supporting Actor - Male: Owen Cooper, Adolescence
• Writer - Comedy: Kat Sadler, Such Brave Girls
• Writer - Drama: Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham, Adolescence
• Judges' Award: Stephen Graham, Hannah Walters, and Matriarch Productions
• Outstanding Achievement Award: Michael Palin

The 2026 RTS Program Awards highlighted Adolescence as a key cultural work committed to reflecting diverse social realities through compelling storytelling. The show’s multiple wins, especially for Owen Cooper, alongside the recognition of its producers, underscore the industry's growing focus on inclusivity and the value of giving voice to historically marginalized perspectives.