10 Things You Need to Know About… The National Television Awards

The National TV Awards are live this Wednesday and have become an institution in the 20 years they've been dished out. We check out some fascinating facts and figures about UK TV's big night out...

1. A whopping 271 awards have been presented since the awards began in 1995. Lined up, they'd look like this:

2. EastEnders is the most award-winning television show with 28 wins including 10 awards for Most Popular Serial Drama.

Cast members form Eastenders including Steve McFadden (center), Perry Fenwick (Left), and Rita Simons (Right) with the Most Poular Serial Drama award in the press room at the 2011 National Television Awards at the O2 Arenea, London. (Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

3. No awards were presented in 2009, as the burgeoning event made the switch from the Royal Albert Hall to the O2 Arena.

A general exterior view before the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball 2014 held at The O2 Arena, London (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

4. The National Television Awards 2010 was the first primetime TV event to be broadcast live from the O2 Arena.

5. Three serving Prime Ministers have presented awards: Tony Blair in 2003, Gordon Brown in 2004 and David Cameron in 2012.

David Cameron and David Davis in the press room for the National Television Awards, at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Doug Peters/allactiondigital.com (Image credit: Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)

6. Sam Aston is the youngest winner of an award, winning Best Newcomer in 2004 at the age of just 10 for his role as Chesney in Coronation Street.

Coronation Street actor Sam Aston with his award for Best Newcomer, at the 10th Anniversary National Television Awards 2004, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. (Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

7. The first ever award was presented to Robson Green & Jerome Flynn for Soldier, Soldier, which won Best Drama Series in 1995.

JEROME FLYNN AND ROBSON GREEN, ON RIGHT, CELEBRATING THEIR NO 1 HIT RECORD, UNCHAINED MELODY, TAKEN FROM THE ITV PROGRAMME SOLDIER SOLDIER. (Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

8. This year will be Dermot O'Leary's fifth ceremony as host. He'll need to host another eight ceremonies to match Sir Trevor McDonald's record in charge.

Trevor McDonald at the 2008 National Television Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7. (Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

9. Ant & Dec have won the Entertainment Presenters Award a staggering 13 times in a row. Can they do it again? Well, you wouldn't want to be nominated against them.