STARS PARADED in the sunshine on a British flag-themed red, white and blue carpet at last night’s TV Baftas.
They were joined by some of the biggest names from the small screen, including Holly Willoughby, Dominic West and the cast of Coronation Street who posed for pictures and signed autographs on a blazing hot day outside the Royal Festival Hall by the Thames in London.
The ceremony, hosted by comedian Dara O’Briain, is one of the biggest showbusiness events of the year.
Substitute host O’Briain told the audience he was only there because he sounded “exactly the same” as Graham Norton who hosted Saturday night’s coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The first award, for a drama series, was presented by The Wire star West and Emilia Fox, with the actor having to pass autocue duties to Fox when he forgot his glasses.
The award went to BBC3 show The Fades which was cancelled recently by the corporation.
Scriptwriter Jack Thorne said he was “amazed and shocked” and put his success down to the “lucky socks” he was wearing.
Newsreader Kate Silverton then presented the single documentary award to BBC2’s Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die – the best-selling author’s examination of euthanasia.
Pratchett, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, thanked the BBC for “allowing us to tackle this rather strange subject for a documentary”.
The award for new media went to Psychoville and Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle picked up the comedy programme gong.
The award for news coverage was presented by Clare Balding to Channel 4 News for coverage of the Japanese earthquake.
The award for single drama went to Channel 4’s Random and the current affairs gong was given to BBC1’s Panorama: Undercover Care – The Abuse Exposed.
The factual series award went to BBC3’s Our War which followed British troops on the ground in Afghanistan.
BBC1’s Mrs Brown’s Boys won the situation comedy category, beating competition including Rev and Fresh Meat.
Its star, Brendan O’Carroll, said: “All we wanted to do was make people laugh and it seems to have worked.”
The international award was handed out by actress Vicky McClure and actor Sam Claflin to Danish political drama Borgen.
Actor Timothy Spall presented Monica Dolan with the supporting actress Bafta which he described as the gong for “Best Upstager”.
Coronation Street scooped the award for soap and continuing drama.
Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, accepted the award.
The award for supporting actor went to Andrew Scott who played the villainous Moriarty in Sherlock. – (PA)