Ashley James dazzles in a stunning dress as she leads the stars on the red carpet at the National Television Awards

Ashley James dazzled in a stunning dress as she led the stars down the red carpet at the National Television Awards tonight.

Television favorites gathered The O2 Arena in London for a star-studded ceremony, with comedian Joel Dommett back as host for the sixth time.

This Morning star Ashley, 39, stunned in a black Karen Millen dress with a dramatic white scarf as she posed up a storm.

Rochelle Humes, 37, oozed elegance in an off-white backless dress alongside her dashing JLS star husband Marvin Humes, 41.

Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, 36, donned a glitzy lilac fishtail dress for the occasion.

Rival TOWIE reality star Amy Childs, 36, stunned in a thigh-high green slit dress with an embellished corset.

Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks looked dapper as they led the early arrivals to host the red carpet for the third year in a row.

Fresh off the Britain’s Got Talent stage, The Hawkstone Farmers Choir beamed with pride.

This year’s NTAs have proven to be historic, even before the first winners were announced, as they feature the first ever all-female Drama Performance shortlist.

Contenders include Gavin & Stacey’s Ruth Jones, who is nominated for her role in the gritty Netflix thriller Run Away.

Sheridan Smith was able to pick up the award for the second time thanks to her role as Ann Ming in ITV true crime drama I Fought The Law, after first winning in 2015 playing another real-life role, Cilla Black.

Vicky McClure is nominated for the third time – and her second nomination as Trigger Point’s Lana Washington.

Ella Bruccoleri is shortlisted as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister and Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan in Call The Midwife.

Two of TV’s biggest franchises go head-to-head in the Reality Competition category.

I’m A Celebrity… takes on its South African spin-off, while The Celebrity Traitors takes on its civilian version, with BBC hit Race Across The World also in the running.

In the TV presenter category, Ant and Dec will be on a mission to reclaim their crown and claim their 24th win after being nominated against Sir David Attenborough. Alison Hammond, Claudia Winkleman and Stacey Solomon.

In the new Reality Docuseries category, which recognizes the popularity of star-led entry series, the trophy could grace the mantelpiece of Pickle Cottage or Diddly Squat as Stacey Solomon and husband Joe Swash take on Jeremy Clarkson.

Fly-on-the-wall BBC series Stacey & Joe is about the agricultural saga Clarkson’s Farm. They also get to tackle the domestic dramas of At Home With The Furys and Fletchers’ Family Farm, as well as the cozy hit Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

Five big hits compete for the New Drama trophy. A fresh take on Pride & Prejudice, The Other Bennet Sister charmed viewers and boosted the Jane Austen industry.

Another classic got an update with Barbara Taylor Bradford’s epic retelling of A Woman of Substance.

These contenders couldn’t contrast more sharply with the hard-hitting true crime dramas Believe Me and I Fought the Law, or the racy ice hockey melodrama Heated Rivalry.

There are powerful stories, expertly told in Authored Documentary – a search for answers in Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth, career candor in Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, moving tributes in Our Girls: The Southport Families and Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, and courage in the face of a devastating diagnosis in Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me.

Returning Drama honors the shows whose comebacks are always welcome, from Blue Lights, Bridgerton, Call the Midwife, Trigger Point or Stranger Things.

In Comedy, Amandaland goes up against Alan Carr’s coming-of-age gem Changing Ends, as well as Mrs Brown’s Boys, Not Going Out and Last One Laughing.

In the Serial Drama category, defending champion EastEnders aims to retain its crown, while Coronation Street and Emmerdale have their eyes on the prize after a high-profile year that saw the two ITV soaps team up for the Corriedale crossover.

Hollyoaks celebrated its big anniversary by catching up on events at Brookside Close and a tough shortlist is completed by medical stalwart Casualty in its 40th anniversary year.

Competing for the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award are Gladiators, The Graham Norton Show, The Masked Singer, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show and Would I Lie To You?

The Quiz Show category is a hard-fought battle of deserving hits, with Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win, Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, Richard Osman’s House of Games, The 1 percent Club and The Chase highlighting the diversity of our own game shows.

In Serial Drama Performance, EastEnder’s Paul Bradley is nominated (for Nigel’s tragic farewell), as is his castmate Aaron Thiara (for Ravi’s mental health crisis).

Meanwhile, Emmerdale’s Jeff Hordley is rewarded for imbuing Cain Dingle with a new-found vulnerability.

In Coronation Street, Sue Devaney earns a nomination for portraying Debbie’s sad decline and Gareth Pierce is singled out for his powerful portrayal of Todd Grimshaw, the victim of coercive control.

Diaries continued to be set during the day, with Good Morning Britain, This Morning and Loose Women providing endless talking points.

Elsewhere, there was plenty of culinary inspiration for the weekend in James Martin’s Saturday Morning, while Scam Interceptors did valuable work to arm us against internet fraud.

It’s another hard-to-call clash in Factual Entertainment as Sort Your Life Out takes on The Martin Lewis Money Show Live’s money-saving consumer campaigns.

Sir David Attenborough’s Secret Garden revealed the hidden wild world of Britain’s backyards, 24 Hours in Police Custody continues to deliver gripping true crime stories, and beloved Gogglebox couch potatoes should never be left out.

Talent Show continues to be a top viewership category as millions of viewers come together to cheer on their favorites.

Glitzy favorites Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent take on The Great British Bake Off, The Great Pottery Throw Down and, for the first time, The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.