TV stars come out in force for annual awards

Some of the biggest names in showbusiness took to the red carpet last night for the National Television Awards.

Stars from soap operas EastEnders and Coronation Street met fans and signed autographs outside the O2 Arena in south-east London.

Gavin and Stacey comic actresss Ruth Jones annouced the first winner, ITV1's Benidorm, which took the award for Most Popular Comedy Programme.

Accepting the award, actor and comedian Steve Pemberton said: "They'll be dancing in the streets of Benidorm tonight."

He teased viewers about what to expect from the new series and joked: "We have Cilla Black, we have Banarama, we've already had Louie Spence. We have Melvyn Hayes, and Danyl Johnson from last year's X Factor."

The award for Most Popular Entertainment Programme went to I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here.

David Jason, who won the Most Outstanding Drama Performance, had said earlier in the evening that he was looking forward to the night but did not expect to win.

The Touch of Frost star said: "I've been coming to these for years and they are always a good night. The fans enjoy it. But I don't expect to win – I'm up against Dr Who."

Matt Smith as The Doctor and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch competed for best drama performance with Jason and Philip Glenister for his role in Ashes to Ashes.

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Luis Urzua, one of the miners saved from the pit disaster in Chile last year, received a standing ovation as he came on stage to present the award for Most Popular Drama.

The winner, school drama Waterloo Road, saw off competition from much-fancied Sherlock and Doctor Who. Its cast and crew, including Amanda Burton, came on stage to accept the award. The BBC1 series is made by Shed Production for BBC Scotland.

Awards host Dermot O'Leary was up for his first National Television Award, as best entertainment presenter, for his work on The X Factor.

However, the award went to Britain's Got Talent stars Ant and Dec – their tenth consecutive win in the category. Davina McCall and Paul O'Grady were also in the running.

Two of Simon Cowell's shows, The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, were in the running for the talent show category – and The X Factor took the prize, seeing off competition from BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing, which has been a hit and ITV1's Dancing On Ice.

Coronation Street, which last month celebrated its 50th anniversary, was up for best serial against EastEnders, which last year marked its 25th birthday.

Stephen Fry presented the special recognition award to showbusiness veteran Bruce Forsyth, who he described as "a legend".

Forsyth joked: "This would be a good night to announce my retirement but I'm not bloody going to."

Winners of the awards, screened live on ITV1, are chosen by viewers' votes.