BAFTA triumphs for Norton and Ali G

Irish comic and chat show host, Graham Norton joined his fellow Channel 4 comedian Ali G in triumphant evening at the British…

Irish comic and chat show host, Graham Norton joined his fellow Channel 4 comedian Ali G in triumphant evening at the British TV awards this evening with both men taking two trophies each.

First coming to attention as the irritatingly chirpy Father Noel Furlong in Father Ted, Norton repeated last year's success by landing the Best Entertainment Performance award as well as adding the Best Entertainment Programme title for his hilarious chat show So Graham Norton.

His wins helped Channel 4 to an astonishing 11 prizes at the star-studded British Academy Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

Norton beat hotly-tipped shows The Weakest Linkand Who Wants to be a Millionaire?to the entertainment programme title.

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Ali G regularly makes it on to TV prize shortlists but has rarely landed any awards. But tonight there was double victory.

Sacha Baron Cohen, who created the spoof character, landed the Best Comedy Performance and Comedy Programme titles.

The comic's alter ego has been one of the station's biggest successes of recent years and graduated from a slot on The 11 O'Clock Showto his own series, while a film is in the pipeline.

ITV's Emmerdalepulled off a coup by beating EastEndersand Coronation Streetto the title of Best Soap.

However, there will still be drinks at the Rovers Return toasting another special award for its contribution to TV shortly after it celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Sir Michael Gambon was named Best Actor for the second year running for his performance in the Channel 4 epic Longitude- a show which was also named Best Drama Serial.

And the BBC 1 film Last of the Blonde Bombshellslanded Dame Judi Dench the title of Best Actress.

Veteran TV astronomer Sir Patrick Moore was acknowledged with a special award for his contribution to British television. The broadcaster has turned millions of viewers on to the heavens with his long-running show The Sky at Night.

Other winners included BBC 2's Louis Theroux who saw off heavyweight competition from Michael Parkinson and Jeremy Paxman to pick up the Best Presenter title for his Weird Weekend Seriesand one off specials with Sir Jimmy Savile and Paul Daniels.

And the Channel's hugely successful cookery show The Naked Chef, presented by Jamie Oliver, picked up the Bafta for Best Feature.

PA