The British drama Adolescence emerged as one of the biggest winners at the 2026 Royal Television Society (RTS) Programme Awards, securing four major prizes, including standout honours for its young star Owen Cooper.
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The 16-year-old actor won both the breakthrough and supporting actor awards for his portrayal of teenage murder suspect Jamie Miller. Judges praised his performance as exceptionally natural and emotionally powerful, highlighting his ability to handle a complex and demanding role with maturity beyond his years.
The series also claimed the award for best limited series, while co-creator Stephen Graham shared the best writer award in the drama category with Jack Thorne.
Despite the strong showing by Adolescence, BBC led overall with 16 wins across categories. Among its notable successes were Celebrity Traitors in entertainment, Things You Should Have Done in scripted comedy, Blue Lights for best drama, and EastEnders in the soap category.
The ceremony, hosted by Tom Allen in London, also recognised other standout performances. Narges Rashidi won the leading actress award for her role in Prisoner 951, while Bobby Schofield and Anna Friel were honoured for their work in Unforgivable.
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Veteran broadcaster Michael Palin received the Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of his long-standing contribution to television.
Adolescence, a four-part drama exploring the consequences of online influence and toxic masculinity, had already drawn attention for earning a record number of nominations ahead of the awards.