AFP/London
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| Actor Matt Smith and model Daisy Lowe attend the 2011 Bafta television Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London |
Detective series Sherlock was a double winner at the TV Baftas, winning the best drama series title and best supporting actor prize for Martin Freeman, who plays Watson.
Writer and co-creator Mark Gatiss told the audience at the ceremony in London’s Grosvenor House: “It’s a huge honour and a fantastic surprise. Thank you so much - it’s a huge thrill.” The BBC1 show, an updated version of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories, was launched last summer and became a huge hit, despite running to only three episodes.
Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the title role, missed out on the best actor Bafta, which was won by Daniel Rigby for his portrayal of Eric Morecambe.
Rigby was stunned by the honour, which he said he believed he won for “hanging on the coat tails of a giant” by playing the comedy legend in BBC drama Eric and Ernie.
The actor, who also beat Doctor Who’s Matt Smith, said: “I’m absolutely gobsmacked. This is unbelievable.” Ceremony host Graham Norton found himself on the receiving end of one of the most prized awards, taking the honour for best entertainment performance.
Despite being one of the biggest shows on TV, The X Factor missed out on the entertainment programme prize to its fellow ITV show The Cube, presented by Phillip Schofield.
The high-tension challenge show also beat Norton’s chat show and Have I Got News For You.
ITV2’s The Only Way Is Essex won the YouTube Audience Award, the only prize chosen by viewers. Mark Wright, who appears in the reality show, said it felt “incredible” to win.
The best actress prize title went to This Is England ‘86 star Vicky McClure, who played Lol in the gritty drama. “This is what I dreamed of since I can remember,” McClure said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”