Line of Duty star Tommy Jessop ‘steals the show’ while accepting NTA gong for returning drama

Line of Duty star Tommy Jessop converted a whole new legion of fans as he joined the show’s team in collecting their award for returning drama at tonight’s National Television Awards.

Putting on a jubilant display as he wiggled his hips and soaked up the crowd’s applause, the actor then played along with his adoring audience in the room, as he took to one knee in a joke strongman pose, just like TV legend Sir Bruce Forsyth.

The 36-year-old actor, who played Terry Boyle on the sixth series of the hit police drama, making him the first actor with Down’s syndrome to have starred in a prime-time BBC drama, also had plenty of fans watching from home.

‘The winner of the whole of the #NTAs is, without a doubt, Tommy Jessop #LineofDuty,’ tweeted one viewer.

‘Tommy has just made the #NTAs ngl [sic],’ wrote another.

A third simply put: ‘Tommy Jessop is just wonderful #NTAs.’

The consensus certainly seemed to be that Tommy had stolen the show, making him an early highlight of the evening’s proceedings.

One viewer declared: ‘Tommy Jessop has stolen the show on the #NTAs’, while another wrote that seeing him ‘stealing the limelight’ had ‘made my night’.

He was also praised as ‘a joy to watch’ by one, and ‘an absolute king’ by another as they continued: ‘Seeing his joy on the stage has made my day!’

One fan was also ready to canvas on Tommy’s part for Strictly Come Dancing 2022, writing: ‘Line of Duty’s Terry for Strictly! #NTAs.’

This NTA win represented Line of Duty’s first success at the annual awards ceremony, which is voted for by the public.

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It comes hot on the heels of the programme’s triumph at the TV Choice Awards 2021, where it bagged best drama series as well as acting gongs for the show’s leads Martin Compston, who plays Steve Arnott, and Vicky McClure, who plays Kate Fleming.

Vicky, Martin and their co-star Adrian Dunbar, who plays AC-12 stalwart Ted Hastings, are all also nominated for drama performance at tonight’s NTAs.

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