Two hit TV shows based in Essex were among the standout winners at last night’s TV Choice Awards.
An evening dedicated to celebrating the best in popular television saw voters crown Gavin & Stacey: The Finale and For Dogs’ Sake as favourites in comedy and lifestyle.
Both programmes have strong Essex connections, bringing an extra sense of pride to the region and its audiences.
Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake, filmed at the Dogs Trust Centre in Basildon, picked up the award for best lifestyle show.
Former TOWIE star and dog lover Pete Wicks leads the UKTV series, spending time with dogs in need of new homes and helping to share their individual stories with viewers.
This marks the first TV Choice Award win for UKTV.
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Dogs Trust posted the following on their Instagram: "We want to thank all of the amazing staff involved (there were a lot of you!) as well as the U/U&W and BBC Studios team and of course our good friend Pete Wicks.
"Together you have helped share so many important, emotional stories.
"Most importantly we are grateful to all of you who tuned in every Monday night to watch!"
Pete has recently become known for his campaigning work around mental health in addition to his television career and award-winning podcast, Staying Relevant, which he co-hosts with Sam Thompson.
In the comedy category, Gavin & Stacey: The Finale was named best comedy show.
Gavin & Stacey features the town of Billericay as the home of Gavin, played by Mathew Horne.
The one-off finale episode marked the end of the hugely popular BBC series, and was followed by a documentary about the end of a TV era and a bestselling book chronicling how the programme came about.
Ruth Jones also took home the award for best comedy performance for her role in the finale.
She attended the ceremony alongside Smithy actor, James Corden.
Elsewhere during the evening, Essex-born broadcaster Denise Van Outen made an appearance on stage.
She presented the award for best new drama with Duncan James to hit Netflix show Adolescence.
The 2026 TV Choice Awards brought together stars and creators from across the industry to recognise shows that have made a lasting impression over the past year.
For audiences in Essex, however, it was the triumph of two locally connected shows that gave extra cause for celebration.
Whether through heartfelt tales of rehomed dogs or long-running TV nostalgia, the awards highlighted how stories set in or inspired by the county continue to strike a chord with viewers nationwide.
It was a reminder of the enduring impact that Essex has had—and continues to have—on UK television, with a strong showing at one of the industry’s most high-profile public awards nights.
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