Martin Compston’s wife Tianna Flynn stole the show at the National Television Awards, held at the 02 on Thursday night.
The aspiring American actress became a viral sensation as viewers watched in astonishment at her very public display of affection towards her husband, 37.
Line Of Duty fans looked on in disbelief, as when the BBC police drama accepted the Special Recognition Award, Tianna took centre stage- despite only having a blink and you’ll miss it cameo in the first episode of series five.
Centre: Martin Compston’s wife Tianna stole the show as she got up on stage when Line Of Duty accepted their gong at the National Television Awards, held at the 02 on Thursday night
During Martin’s speech on behalf of the cast, a teary-eyed Tianna clung onto the award as she poignantly rested her head on her shoulder.
Twitter was soon awash with comments, accusing her of ‘stealing the limelight’ and joking Tianna ‘definitely wants us all to know she’s Martin Compston’s wife’.
One wrote: ‘Martin Compston’s wife going up on stage with him to collect the award wtf- ya don’t see Georgia going up with David when he collected his awards because it’s not about Georgia it’s about David. Bonkers!’
Tianna’s brief cameo happened in episode one, where she popped up as ‘Tina Watts’ on DI Steve Arnott’s dating app.
Blink and you’ll miss it: Tianna’s brief cameo happened in episode one, where she popped up as ‘Tina Watts’ on DI Steve Arnott’s dating app
Hilarious: Twitter was soon awash with comments, accusing her of ‘stealing the limelight’ and joking Tianna ‘definitely wants us all to know she’s Martin Compston’s wife’
Another added: ‘Can’t work out if Martin Compston’s wife is marking her territory or if she’s just an attention seeker. Either way I don’t think she should be on stage (never mind front and centre)’.
While a third viewer chimed: ‘Martin Compston’s wife trying to steal all of the limelight when he’s on camera… was she in Line Of Duty? Did she need to be on the stage too?’
Posing as a singleton with their pet Staffie, her character sent Steve a message asking to go for a drink – to which he denies as he is too focused on work.
And the couple’s very public display of affection seemed to gain the attention of viewers during the ceremony, with many joking the pair needed to sneak off and find a ‘broom cupboard’.
Hilarious: And the couple’s very public display of affection seemed to gain the attention of viewers during the ceremony, with many joking the pair needed to find a ‘broom cupboard’
‘Martin and his wife practically going at it in their seats. They should find a broom cupboard somewhere and get it out of their systems,’ said one viewer.
While another added: ‘Jesus Christ @martincompston and his wife?! Get a god damn room, even sneak to the toilet or something. Sure 02 has a broom cupboard handy. We get it, he is married…’
‘Can Martin Compston’s wife leave him alone?,’ typed a different Line Of Duty fan.
While a fourth typed: ‘Totally here for @martincompston and his wife being obsessed with each other’.
After the awards speech, the smitten couple continued kissing as Martin proudly clutched their two trophies.
Pucker up! After the awards speech, the smitten couple continued kissing as Martin proudly clutched their two trophies
The actor looked dapper in a tuxedo suit while his wife displayed her lithe figure in a black velvet dress.
The happy couple have been married since 2016 and share a son called Brodie who was born in 2019.
Despite their romantic moment, all eyes were on Martin’s co-star Tommy Jessop -who played Terry Boyle in series five and six – during the acceptance speech.
Success! The cast and the crew of the popular BBC crime drama took to the stage to accept the gongs for Returning Drama and the Special Recognition Award
Feeling the love: And celebrating their success, Martin, 37, and Tianna couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they shared a smooch to mark the occasion
Tommy, 36, sashayed his way up the steps of the stage, showing off some moves, with the crowd going wild for it.
Once on stage, Tommy continued to dance, swinging his hips and striking a muscle man pose on the ground, as the rest of the cast and crew watched on delightedly.
Elliott Rosen played the part of Terry Boyle in series one, but Jessop took it over in series five and became the first actor with Down’s syndrome to appear in a BBC primetime drama
Martin – who played Detective Inspector Steve Arnott – said in the winner’s room afterwards: ‘Thank you to everyone who voted for us. Tommy was fantastic. I think he’s going to take the award!’
High spirits: The handsome couple appeared the picture of happiness while Martin’s co-stars were overjoyed as the show was awarded the two NTA gongs
Plenty to smile about: After the awards speech, the smitten couple continued kissing as Martin proudly clutched their two trophies
Glowing: The actor looked dapper in a tuxedo suit while his wife displayed her lithe figure in a black velvet dress
He added, of the potential return of the series: ‘People ask me every two mins if there will be another season. These people love what we do so I never take it for granted.
‘It means it’s going well. It means people are so invested and the fact the audience keeps getting bigger over 10 years so who knows?’
Comedian Joel Dommett kicked off the 2021 ceremony, celebrating the return of live in-person shows amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sure to launch the show on a light-hearted yet poignant note, Joel, 36, quipped: ‘It’s been a great year for soaps thanks to all the hand-washing!’
The broadcast kicked off with a VT of Joel frantically trying to find someone to open the show, with the likes of Simon Cowell, Oti Mabuse, Ant & Dec, Holly Willoughby and Mo Gilligan joining in for the skit.
Parents night out! The happy couple have been married since 2016 and share a son called Brodie who was born in 2019
Busting a move: Despite their romantic moment, all eyes were on Martin’s co-star Tommy Jessop – who played Terry Boyle in series five and six – during the acceptance speech
Stealing the show! Tommy, 36, sashayed his way up the steps of the stage, showing off some moves, with the crowd going wild for it
The task ended up being taken on by singer HRVY, who was joined on stage with characters from The Masked Dancer and his former Strictly Come Dancing pro Janette Manrara.
Joel also joked in his speech at he had to stay two metres away from Ant & Dec (‘not because of the pandemic, because they’ve asked me to’) and referenced the awkwardness of watching racy drama Bridgerton with his mother.
He then joked that he wouldn’t be making a gag about Ricky Gervais, who was in the audience, because ‘he’s my idol and I’m scared of him’.
Ricky was soon on the stage, accepting the award for his Netflix show After Life, which won the Comedy prize.
Celebrating the win! Once on stage, Tommy continued to dance, swinging his hips and striking a muscle man pose on the ground, as the rest of the cast and crew watched on delightedly
Star: Elliott Rosen played Mr Boyle in series one, but Jessop took it over in series five and became the first actor with Down’s syndrome to appear in a BBC primetime drama
Proud: Martin – who played Detective Inspector Steve Arnott – said in the winner’s room afterwards: ‘Thank you to everyone who voted for us. Tommy was fantastic. I think he’s going to take the award!’
‘I’m really surprised by this – I thought it’s not my demographic this show. It’s lovely thank you,’ he said afterwards. ‘This made the two hour car journey here worth it! The cast are great but I take all the credit!’
He updated those eager to know about the third series, saying: ‘Season three will be as close to Christmas as we can. It’s the best one yet. It’s nearly finished. Very pleased with it. We did it through Covid so was a double pleasure.’
He quipped: ‘The dog does not die, everyone else does!’
He went on: ‘I’m still surprised how well the show does around the world. It’s a show about a guy who kills himself because his wife died from cancer. People who are grieving approach me on the street and say how much the show helped them.’
Tease: He added, of the potential return of the series: ‘People ask me every two mins if there will be another season. These people love what we do so I never take it for granted’
Accomplished: He continued: ‘It means it’s going well. It means people are so invested and the fact the audience keeps getting bigger over 10 years so who knows?’
Gentle nod: Comedian Joel Dommett kicked off the 2021 National Television Awards at London ‘s O2 Arena on Thursday night, celebrating the return of live in-person shows amid the COVID-19 pandemic
NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS 2021: THE WINNERS
Challenge Show
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Love Island
WINNER: The Great British Bake Off
The Great British Sewing Bee
New Drama
Bridgerton
Des
WINNER: It’s A Sin
Normal People
Talent Show
Britain’s Got Talent
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
WINNER: Strictly Come Dancing
The Masked Singer
Tasty! Bake Off won the Challenge Show prize
Authored Documentary
WINNER: Kate Garraway: Finding Derek
Katie Price: Harvey and Me
Marcus Rashford: Feeding Britain’s Children
Rob Burrow: My Year With MND
Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency
Touching: The Authored Documentary winner was Kate Garraway: Finding Derek
Returning Drama
Call the Midwife
WINNER: Line of Duty
The Crown
Unforgotten
TV Presenter
Alison Hammond
WINNER: Ant and Dec
Bradley Walsh
Holly Willoughby
Piers Morgan
Factual
Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death
WINNER: Gogglebox
Gordon, Gino and Fred: American Road Trip
Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs
Drama Performance
Adrian Dunbar, Ted Hastings, Line of Duty
WINNER: David Tennant, Dennis Nilsen, Des
Martin Compston, Steve Arnott, Line of Duty
Olly Alexander, Ritchie Tozer, It’s A Sin
Vicky McClure, Kate Fleming, Line of Duty
The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
WINNER: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Taskmaster
The Graham Norton Show
You lose some, you win some! Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway was up for a prize, but the duo’s other show, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! scooped the gong
Serial Drama
WINNER: Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Serial Drama Performance
Billy Price, Sid Sumner, Hollyoaks
Danny Dyer, Mick Carter, EastEnders
WINNER: Mollie Gallagher, Nina Lucas, Coronation Street
Sally Carman, Abi Franklin, Coronation Street
Quiz Game Show
WINNER: Beat The Chasers
Celebrity Catchphrase
In For A Penny
Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
Newcomer
Emile John, Ethan Anderson, Emmerdale
WINNER: Jude Riordan, Sam Blakeman, Coronation Street
Olivia D’Lima, Paramedic Fenisha Khatri, Casualty
Rhiannon Clements, Summer Ranger, Hollyoaks
Rose Ayling-Ellis, Frankie Lewis, EastEnders
Winner! Mollie Gallagher, who plays Nina Lucas in Coronation Street, bagged herself a gong
Daytime
Loose Women
The Chase
The Repair Shop
WINNER: This Morning
Comedy
WINNER: After Life
Friday Night Dinner
Sex Education
The Vicar of Dibley