PALIN MITENK BLOG

By Lizzie Smith

One each: Anthony McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly scooped two gongs, to their surprise


It was a close battle, but ITV narrowly triumphed over the BBC at tonight's National Television Awards.

Gongs for the X Factor, Coronation Street and star presenters Ant and Dec helped the channel bank six of the viewer-voted awards - one more than the BBC.

The night proved full of glamour and star-power, as the channels brought out their biggest names to celebrate TVs achievements over the last year.


Good work: Simon Cowell congratulates double winners Ant and Dec, who star on Britain's Got Talent


And with cameo appearances from Prince Charles, who waxed lyrical about Stephen Fry, and Sarah Brown, who made a passionate appeal on behalf of the Haitian people, it was a night to remember.

ITVs comedy duo Ant and Dec celebrated after scooping two awards - best entertainment programme for Saturday Night Takeaway and Most Popular Entertainment Presenters.

Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly said they could not believe they were still winning awards for their work.

McPartlin said: 'In the car on the way here we said the winning streak's got to end soon and thought it would be tonight, we really did.'

Referring to Britain's Got Talent, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, he said: 'They're three massive shows... we love making them and we'll continue to make them as long as you enjoy them.'


Winner: The cast of Corrie got to their feet as Gazey celebrated winning the award for Best Newcomer


He's the man: Winner of the best newcomer award Craig Gazey with Katherine Kelly (left) and Kym Marsh


Donnelly said: 'We're just so pleased, so honoured and so touched that you still think we're worthy of receiving this award.'

Hit BBC show Gavin and Stacey scooped the award for best comedy programme.
Accepting the award, the show's co-writer and star James Corden said: 'Thank you very, very much. It means the world.'

He said his co-writer and star Ruth Jones could not be at the awards because she can't be a**ed'.

The award for best serial drama performance went to Lacey Turner for her portrayal of troubled EastEnders siren Stacey Slater.


Show starter: X Factor winner Joe McElderry sang Journey's Don't Stop Believin' to open the show


Thrilled: Stephen Fry celebrates with the Special Recognition award and award for Star Travel Documentary, while James Corden kisses the trophy after his show Gavin and Stacey is named best comedy programme


The now former Dr Who, David Tennant, presented Stephen Fry with the award for Star Travel Documentary.

The comedian thanked the 'tasteful and perspicacious British public' for voting for his show Stephen Fry in America.

Craig Gazey received the award for best newcomer from EastEnders stalwart Barbara Windsor for his performance as the hapless Graeme Proctor in Coronation Street.

Doctor Who scooped the award for Most Popular Drama and the team were presented with the award by footballer John Terry.


Winners: The Loose Women trooped up on stage to accept their awa


We're winners! The Loose Women celebrate winning the award for Most Popular Factual Programme, before hitting the free bar


David Tennant, June Whitfield and Catherine Tate looked on as fellow cast member Bernard Cribbins said, pointing at Tennant: 'This is absolutely wonderful and I know how pleased he must be as he's been at it for four years and I think everybody who gets involved will be just as pleased as him, and I know that he will want to pay tribute to the team down in Wales.'

X Factor finalists John and Edward, or Jedward, then took to the stage to sing a mash up of Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice Baby and Queen's Under Pressure, which they had previously performed on the talent show.

Then, to loud gasps from the audience, the pair were joined on stage by rapper Vanilla Ice.


Triumphant: David Tennant collects the best drama performance award


ITV's Loose Women picked up the award for Most Popular Factual Programme.

Several of the rotating panel, including Coleen Nolan, Kate Thornton, Lynda Bellingham and Carol McGiffin got on stage to accept the award from The One Show presenters Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley.

Nolan said: 'Thank you to all our husbands and partners who put up with us slagging them off every day - although they do deserve it.'


Winners: Sarah Brown presented Doctor Who star David Tennant with his award, while Lacey Turner with the award for Serial Drama Performance for her work as Stacey in EastEnders


Stephen Fry was presented with a special recognition award.

He said: 'I really am completely staggered by this, I had no idea it was going to happen and I feel so unworthy of the most remarkable tribute I've ever seen.

'I wish I were worthy of 10per cent of it but one thing I hope it got across is how unbelievable lucky I have been to live and work in British television during an age which people will look back on as a blessed age in which people were allowed to try out new ideas and to entertain and to inform to enlighten - to be silly.'


She's got the moves: Former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips danced onto the stage

Most Popular Talent Show award went to the X Factor.

The award for Best Serial Drama - traditionally a battle of the soaps between EastEnders and Coronation Street - went to Weatherfield.

Coronation Street, celebrating its 50th year, won the award which was voted for by the public.

William Roach, who has starred as Ken Barlow in the soap since the first episode, said: 'We might be 50 years old but we have a heartbeat like a cannon.'


We did it: Coronation Street was voted best soap by viewers


We beat EastEnders: The cast of Coronation Street celebrate winning the live audience vote for Serial Drama

The full list of this year's winners:
Entertainment Presenters - Ant and Dec
Comedy Programme - Gavin and Stacey
Outstanding Serial Drama Performance - Lacey Turner, EastEnders
Most Popular Star Travel Documentary - Stephen Fry in America
Most Popular Newcomer - Craig Gazey, Coronation Street
Most Popular Entertainment Programme - Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
Most Popular Drama - Dr Who
Most Popular Factual Programme - Loose Women
Most Popular Talent Show - X Factor
Outstanding Drama Performance - David Tennant, Dr Who
Best Serial Drama - Coronation Street


source: dailymail