David Tennant has won the National Television Award for Best Drama Performance for his role in serial killer drama Des
Former Doctor Who star David Tennant picked up the National Television Award for Best Drama Performance at last night’s ceremony. He was nominated for his outstanding portrayal of real life serial killer Dennis Nilsen in Des. The three part ITV drama detailed the arrest and trial of the narcissist who killed at least twelve men and boys in 1980s Scotland, with Tennant receiving rave reviews.
Tennant received the award from his Good Omens co-star Michael Sheen. Though Sheen momentarily did pretend to be accepting it on Tennant’s behalf. And there probably can’t be a much better sign of the end being in sight then the stars of Staged hugging!
This is David Tennant’s fifth Best Drama Performance NTA, including two wins as Best Actor. It’s his first, however, since his remarkable run of four wins in five years for Doctor Who. He also received a Special Recognition Award in 2015.
In his acceptance speech, Tennant spoke of the long development period for Des, and their concern to not glamorize Nilson. He also thanked his wife, Georgia Tennant, and his family for their support at a difficult time when he had gone to “a very dark place” to play the serial killer just as their new baby was born.
Russell T Davies’ It’s A Sin was also a winner in the Best New Drama category
It was also a good night for Tennant’s former Doctor Who boss, Russell T Davies. The writer’s latest project, It’s A Sin, won the National Television Award for Best New Drama. Like Des the five part Channel 4 drama was set in the 1980s, this time among the London LGBT community during the rise of AIDS. The series’ star Olly Alexander, however, was among the nominees who missed out to Tennant in the acting stakes.
