The lucky winners were announced at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Monday 12th February 2024.
A round-up of the winners and pictures from the evening will be featured in TV Choice magazine, on sale Tuesday 20th February.
BEST COMEDY: MRS BROWN’S BOYS
It’s 13 years since Mrs Brown – aka writer and star Brendan O’Carroll – made his debut as Mammy Agnes in the raucous sitcom featuring several members of Brendan’s own family. The show has been a Christmas stalwart ever since the first series proved a hit. But fans had a while to wait for a full run of the show, with series four in 2023 – in which Mammy tried her luck at speed dating - coming 10 years after the last one.
BEST DAYTIME SHOW: ANIMAL PARK
They’ll be celebrating at Longleat as Ben Fogle and Kate Humble’s wildlife series scoops its first TV Choice award after 18 series, seeing off tough competition from the likes of This Morning and Loose Women. Since the series debuted back in 2001, new names have joined the presenting line-up, with Megan McCubbin and Strictly champion Hamza Yassin among the latest stars sharing animal exploits with daytime viewers.
BEST DRAMA SERIES: HAPPY VALLEY
Fans were delighted when Sally Wainwright took viewers back to Hebden Bridge as her acclaimed and multi-award-winning series returned for a third and final outing. Seven years after we last saw Sarah Lancashire and James Norton face off, Tommy Lee Royce was on the run putting Catherine Cawood in danger. Scores were settled and the ending didn’t disappoint as the must-see drama bowed out in style.
BEST ENTERTAINMENT SHOW: GOGGLEBOX /CELEBRITY GOGGLEBOX
In December our favourite couch potatoes got together to celebrate a decade of viewing and snacking, and highlights of a decade of Studio Lambert’s hit show featured in a 10th anniversary special. This is the 5th TV Choice win, and the current roster of Goggleboxers include the likes of Giles and Mary, the Malones and Jenny and Lee, with the Siddiquis as the only cast present for every series since the show’s 2013 debut.
BEST FACTUAL SHOW: WINTER ON THE FARM/SPRINGTIME ON THE FARM
It’s two wins in a row for Daisybeck’s Farm shows, based at the Nicholson family’s Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley. Regular hosts include Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson, with brothers Rob and Dave Nicholson at the centre of the action. Guest stars over the years have included former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher who was inspired to then take on his own farm.
BEST FAMILY DRAMA: CALL THE MIDWIFE
It seems that as long as Heidi Thomas wants to write about the nuns and nurses at Nonnatus House, viewers will relish spending their Sunday nights bathed in nostalgia, as Call The Midwife wins an incredible ninth Best Family Drama prize at our Awards. Show stalwart Jenny Agutter made the shortlist as Best Actress once again and fans are currently enjoying series 13, following another ratings-winning Christmas outing.
BEST FOOD SHOW: JAMES MARTIN’S SATURDAY MORNING
TV chef James hasn’t looked back since quitting BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen to launch a rival morning food show for ITV and since then there have been more than 200 episodes of the weekend programme which mixes recipes and chat. It’s clearly a recipe for success, as this year it’s three in a row for James, who also triumphed in this category in 2021 and 2022.
BEST GAME SHOW: THE CHASE
While showbiz all-rounder Bradley Walsh has recently added Gladiators to his CV, he stays loyal to the hit show that he’s been involved with since the planning stage. The programme, featuring quiz champs including The Beast, The Governess, The Dark Destroyer and The Vixen, has racked up a number of wins as Best Daytime show and tonight becomes the first winner as Game Shows are rewarded with their own new category.
BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: THE MARTIN LEWIS MONEY SHOW LIVE
He’s the man many viewers wish was Chancellor of the Exchequer, thanks to his no-nonsense advice on savvy saving and spending. The show, launched in 2012, has become a must-watch thanks to tips on shopping around events like Black Friday and Christmas and this year sees Martin clinch victory for a second time, following a win in 2020.
BEST TALENT SHOW: THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF/ BAKE OFF: THE PROFESSIONALS/THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF FOR STAND UP TO CANCER/JUNIOR BAKE OFF/THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF: AN EXTRA SLICE
British viewers clearly don’t think this format has gone stale, as The Great British Bake Off and its spin-offs rise to the occasion and take the prize yet again. Since the original show launched in 2010 there have been around 40 international versions. Bakers have been hoping for a Hollywood handshake from judge Paul throughout the main show’s 14 series, with many, including John Whaite and Nadiya Hussain, rising to the challenge of new careers after their time in the tent.
BEST NEW DRAMA: BEYOND PARADISE
Former EastEnders writer Tony Jordan’s series scoops the prize for the show that saw Death In Paradise’s DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) swap sweltering Saint Marie for sunny Devon, to fight crime on a new patch. The stellar cast for the feelgood favourite includes Sally Bretton, Felicity Montagu and Barbara Flynn. Viewers were treated to a Christmas special in 2023 with series two on its way this year.
BEST REALITY SHOW: I’M A CELEBRITY … GET ME OUT OF HERE!/I’M A CELEBRITY … SOUTH AFRICA
I’m A Celeb has won this award more than any other programme, but this time round the prize is split between two shows. Former England footballer Jill Scott was named Queen of the Jungle when Ant and Dec’s perennial hit returned to Australia for its 22nd run after two series in Wales. Then in a twist to the format, former campmates were united for a pre-recorded spin-off in South Africa, which saw 2006 runner-up Myleene Klass triumph.
BEST SOAP: EMMERDALE
This really is a golden era for the Yorkshire soap, whose recent cast signings include former Corrie star Paula Lane. For having not won a TV Choice Best Soap award until 2017, it’s gone on to triumph in 2018, 2019, 2022 and again this year. Big dramas over the last year that have kept viewers gripped include the Charity-Mack-Chloe love triangle, Caleb’s shocking family reveal and Paddy’s ongoing mental health crisis.
BEST SOAP ACTOR: JEFF HORDLEY, CAIN DINGLE, EMMERDALE
He’s been playing the Dales’ brooding hard man since 2000, but this is a first TV Choice win for Jeff, who acts alongside real life wife Zoe Henry (Rhona) in Emmerdale. Having taken a break from the show in 2006, Jeff returned to play garage boss Cain in 2009 and he’s been at the centre of some of the show’s most dramatic storylines since, thanks to Cain’s tangled love life and explosive temper, as he’s battled enemies like Al Chapman.
BEST SOAP ACTRESS: MAUREEN LIPMAN, EVELYN PLUMMER, CORONATION STREET
Longtime Coronation Street viewers will remember that Dame Maureen played snooty relief manager of the Rovers Lillian Spencer for a few episodes back in 2002. But the TV star whose late husband Jack Rosenthal was an early writer on the show has triumphed since arriving as waspish Evelyn, Tyrone’s grandmother in 2018. We saw a softer side when Evelyn lost her beloved dog Cerberus in 2023 but recent months have seen her square up to Tyrone’s wayward mother Cassie following her arrival in Weatherfield.
BEST ACTOR: MARTIN CLUNES, DOC MARTIN
Fans were gutted to say goodbye to Martin Clunes’ beloved Cornwall-based drama, the smash hit that inspired remakes in France, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Spain and Slovakia. But Martin Ellingham’s loyal home fans didn’t want to miss honouring the show’s star with another Best Actor award, for the show’s 10th and final series. Martin’s upcoming projects include Out There, a thriller about the impact of county lines drug dealing on a family.
BEST ACTRESS: SARAH LANCASHIRE, HAPPY VALLEY
Tonight’s victory means Sarah has won a TV Choice award for all three series of Happy Valley, adding to the 2001 trophy she won for Seeing Red and Clocking Off. Undoubtedly Catherine Cawood has become one of the most important roles in the career of the actress who found fame as Corrie’s Raquel. Aside from Happy Valley, Sarah has recently been seen playing US TV chef Julia Child in the HBO comedy drama Julia.
FAVOURITE CHANNEL/STREAMING SERVICE: NETFLIX
US streaming service Netflix becomes the first winner of the award celebrating where TV lovers choose to view content, and the on-demand streaming site now has nearly 240m paid memberships in more than 190 countries. Recent big hits have included Wednesday, The Night Agent and The Diplomat, while fans of The Crown have just been treated to the royal drama’s final run. Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Queer Eye and Heartstopper all feature among this year’s TV Choice nominees.
TV Choice magazine, on sale Tuesday 20th February 2024 , will feature a round-up of the winners and pictures from the evening – one not to miss!