The Netflix series Adolescence has secured six nominations at the 2026 Royal Television Society Programme Awards, continuing its success after winning eight Emmys last September. Apple TV+'s Slow Horses, Channel 4's Big Boys and ITV's Code of Silence each received three nominations. The awards highlight the depth of creative talent in the UK television industry.
The Royal Television Society (RTS) announced the nominations for its 2026 Programme Awards, with Adolescence topping the list with six nods. The series earned recognition in acting categories for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty, as well as for limited series, drama writing and breakthrough talent.
Owen Cooper's breakthrough nomination pits him against Ellis Howard for What It Feels Like for a Girl, Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie for Just Act Normal and Maximilian Fairley for Unforgotten. Erin Doherty, who portrayed a therapist in the Netflix hit, is also nominated for best female leading actor for her role in Disney+'s A Thousand Blows.
Following closely are Slow Horses, Big Boys and Code of Silence, each with three nominations. Other notable entries in the drama series category include Blue Lights, This City Is Ours and Slow Horses. In limited series and single drama, Adolescence competes with Get Millie Black, I Fought the Law and What It Feels Like for a Girl.
Leading actor nominations feature Stephen Graham for Adolescence alongside Anthony Boyle for House of Guinness, Bobby Schofield for Unforgivable and Malachi Kirby for A Thousand Blows. Supporting roles highlight Erin Doherty and Owen Cooper for Adolescence, with others like Saskia Reeves for Slow Horses and Christopher Chung for Slow Horses.
Drama writing nods go to Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham for Adolescence, among Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn for Blue Lights, Catherine Moulton for Code of Silence and Sally Wainwright for Riot Women.
RTS Programme Awards chair Kenton Allen, CEO of Big Talk Studios, stated: “The RTS Programme Awards celebrate the extraordinary depth of creative talent that defines the U.K. television industry. Across every genre represented in this year’s nominations we see the craft, originality and ambition that continue to make Britain one of the most admired creative markets in the world. From writers and performers to producers, directors and the many brilliant teams on and off camera, these programmes demonstrate the power of British storytelling to inform, entertain and resonate with audiences at home and around the globe. On behalf of the Royal Television Society, I would like to congratulate all of this year’s nominees and thank them for the imagination, skill and sheer hard work that keeps our industry at the very forefront of global television.”
