Behind the scenes at the NTAs

On Wednesday 25 January the National Television Awards 2017, which are voted for by the public, were presented at a ceremony at the O2 in Greenwich. BBC One's Call The Midwife won the award for Best Period Drama, beating stiff competition from Poldark, Victoria, Peaky Blinders and Stranger Things. Actor Jack Ashton who plays Tom Hereward in Call The Midwife gives us an insight into what it is like to accept an NTA and what happens afterwards.

Well, what a surreal night it was. I remember after I received my invite, speaking to a friend on the phone about going and them saying “just be prepared, it’s a long one, and theres no booze until after!’

Firstly, nothing prepares you for the gladiatorial set up at the O2, it’s a vast place but it’s grandeur is enhanced by the way they seat the ticket buying public around the outside (and up into the gods) and the nominees/celebs/production companies on the ground in the middle. Walking in you are hit with a wall of noise and there are people it seems everywhere including directly above your head.

Anyway, we were sat at the very front (a good sign I thought until I spotted all others in our category also on the same row) which meant we had great seats to watch Dermot and Sir Tom absolutely smash the opening number.

And so onto our win! It genuinely was surprising to win our category against such stiff and popular competition. I was clearly that surprised that I went into common sense rejection mode and decided as I was sat nearest the stage i’d get on up there and not hang around, which meant when I actually arrived at the top of the stairs I had to change direction as I certainly wasn’t going to accept the award and do the speech! So I headed over to the safety of Dermot O’leary and shook his hand instead.

After your win you are ushered into the vortex of the O2’s tunnels and you go from room to room, from mini stage to mini stage, to talk to various press about the show and how you feel about your award, but there’s now booze! Which obviously helps you to find more inventive ways of answering the same question over and over again.

We also bumped into the legend that is Mary Berry, and she’s a fan of the show! Which means everything. What a lovely lady she is. I got a selfie of course.

The media circus takes so long that you don’t really get a chance to go back into the awards which is a shame, but they have these brilliant students who are all dressed to impress and they sit in your vacant seats so the ceremony always looks well attended.

Anyway at some point the awards end and the now fairly thirsty crowd gets to go bonkers on the dance floor surrounded by free food and refreshment, and this is the part where stories are made,

Thank you to everyone who voted for us so we could enjoy a memorable night and we are very proud that Call the Midwife got some of the Kudos it richly deserves.

Jack Ashton is an actor and plays Tom Hereward in Call The Midwife.

• Series 6 of Call The Midwife is broadcast on Sundays on BBC One and availbale to watch on BBC iPlayer.
• Listen to Jack Ashton speaking to Lucy Tegg about his Bristolian roots on BBC Radio Bristol.
• Other BBC wins at the National Television Awards 2017:

Best Drama - Casualty

Serial Drama Performance - Lacey Turner, Eastenders

Best Comedy - Mrs Brown's Boys

Best TV Judge - Mary Berry, Great British Bake Off

 Special Recognition Award - Graham Norton

Best Drama Performance - Sarah Lancashire, Happy Valley

Best Talent Show - Strictly Come Dancing