Matt Smith & Karen Gillan Win Best Actor NTA Awards(Updated)

It would seem that the British public has grown to love Matt Smith. At least that’s how things would appear because this evening the actor picked up the Best Actor Award in our National Television Awards, which as I write are still airing live on ITV1.

The actor beat of competition from some pretty stiff competition, which included John Barrowman (Torchwood Miracle Day), David Threlfall (Shameless) and Martin Clunes (Doc Martin).

In his acceptance speech the Doctor Who actor acknowledged the genius of Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat and thanked the British public for making the series the success it has become.

Also taking home an award for her work on Doctor Who was Karen Gillan who has won the hearts and minds of many UK viewers with her portrayal of Amy Pond. The actress beat of competition from Eve Myles (Torchwood: Miracle Day), Suranne Jones and Jaye Jacobs from Waterloo Road. She becomes the first Who companion since Billie Piper to win a National Television Award, both Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate both received nominations.

During an interview backstage with Radio Times Matt Smith hinted that he’d be around for at least one more season and added that he has no idea who his new companion is on the series.

The NTA’s have been going since 1995 and are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are not given the title “Best”, but rather ‘Most Popular’.

Doctor Who was also up for the Best Drama category, but lost out to the massively successful Downton Abbey. Other shows in the Best Drama Category were ‘Waterloo Road’ and ‘Merlin.’

Follow Us On Twitter @SciFiPulse

Join Us On Facebook At: www.facebook.com/scifipulse