| 2nd National Television Awards | |
| Presenter: | Various |
| Host: | Trevor McDonald |
| Location: | Royal Albert Hall, London |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Website: | http://www.nationaltvawards.com/ |
| Network: | ITV |
| Previous: | 1995 |
| Main: | National Television Awards |
| Next: | 1997 |
The 2nd National Television Awards ceremony was held at the Royal Albert Hall on 9 October 1996 and was hosted by Trevor McDonald.[1]
| Category | Winner[2] | Also nominated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Popular Actor | David Duchovny (The X-Files) | Robbie Coltrane (Cracker) Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice) David Jason (A Touch of Frost) Ross Kemp (EastEnders) | |
| Most Popular Actress | Dervla Kirwan (Ballykissangel) | Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice) Sarah Lancashire (Coronation Street) Jacqueline Pirie (Emmerdale) | |
| Most Popular Drama Series | The Bill (ITV) | Band of Gold (ITV) Heartbeat (ITV) London's Burning (ITV) | |
| Most Popular Serial Drama | EastEnders (BBC1) | Brookside (Channel 4) Coronation Street (ITV) Emmerdale (ITV) Home and Away (ITV/Seven Network) Neighbours (BBC1/Network Ten) | |
| Most Popular Talk Show | The Ricki Lake Show (Channel 4/Syndicated) | The Clive James Show (ITV) Des O'Connor Tonight (ITV) Esther (BBC2) | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Programme | Stars in Their Eyes (ITV) | The Generation Game (BBC1) Noel's House Party (BBC1) 40 Years of ITV Laughter (ITV) | |
| Most Popular Entertainment Presenter | Michael Barrymore | Noel Edmonds Chris Evans Lily Savage | |
| Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme | Animal Hospital (BBC1) | ||
| Most Popular Quiz Programme | They Think It's All Over (BBC1) | ||
| Most Popular Comedy Programme | Men Behaving Badly (BBC1) | Father Ted Keeping Up Appearances Nelson's Column (BBC1) | |
| Most Popular Comedy Performer | David Jason | Rowan Atkinson Martin Clunes Dawn French Nicholas Lyndhurst | |
| Most Popular Newcomer | Lisa Riley (Emmerdale) | ||
| Most Popular Children's Programme | Top of the Pops (BBC1) | ||
| Most Popular Broadcaster | Trevor McDonald | Michael Buerk Martyn Lewis John Suchet | |
| Special Recognition Award | David Jason | ||