Baftas return to Enders
By SARA NATHAN
and EMMA COX
EASTENDERS staged a brilliant comeback last night by trouncing rival Corrie at the Baftas. The BBC1 soap grabbed the Best Continuing Drama prize after failing even to be nominated for the past two years. Coronation Street stars, who won three years in a row, could only look on as EastEnders capped a great night for the BBC at TV?s Oscars.
Jessie Wallace, who played Kat Moon in the Beeb show, looked stunning as she arrived at the London bash. ITV Corrie?s Kate Ford, who plays Tracy Barlow, hid her disappointment as she turned heads in a shimmering red dress.
Ex-EastEnder Shane Richie, who played Alfie Moon, said of the win: ?It feels like this is a vote from the public.? And he hinted at a comeback ? with Jessie. He said: ?We?re just having a long break before we hopefully turn back up in the Square.?
The BBC?s Doctor Who was named Best Drama Series and won the Pioneer Audience Award for best programme of 2005. Even a Dalek turned up to c-e-le-brate, c-e-le-brate. One arrived on stage with star Billie Piper, who was wearing a black dress, to collect the award. Current Doctor David Tennant hugged his co-star when the award was read out.
Sir Alan Sugar smiled ? a rare sight to viewers of The Apprentice ? when his show beat Dragon?s Den, Ramsay?s Kitchen Nightmares and Top Gear to the Best Feature award. He said: ?I never in my life thought I would be sitting in a TV awards ceremony. I?m just a hired hand.?
The Beeb?s adaptation of Charles Dickens? Bleak House won Best Drama Serial. There were also gongs for its cast, with Anna Maxwell Martin named Best Actress, beating co-star and former X Files actress Gillian Anderson. Best Entertainment Performance went to Jonathan Ross for his Friday night show. The X Factor ? featuring acid-tongued Simon Cowell ? provided ITV with its ONLY award of the night, for Best Entertainment Programme.
Jamie Oliver?s Channel 4 show Jamie?s School Dinners won Best Factual Series. The TV chef also won the Richard Dimbleby award for outstanding presenter.
There were two awards for BBC 4 satire The Thick of It. Chris Langham ? who is on bail after strenuously denying child porn allegations ? won Best Comedy Performance and the show took the Best Sitcom gong.
Style gurus and Sun columnists Trinny Woodhall and Susannah Constantine were cheered up the red carpet. Emmerdale star Patsy Kensit also looked stunning in a black Versace dress. She was joined by Corrie?s Samia Ghadie (Maria Sutherland), That?s Life?s Esther Rantzen, Countdown?s Carol Vorderman, Wild At Heart?s Amanda Holden and This Morning host Fern Britton.
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I've no idea how eastenders got this award - it's been a year of shaky scripts, shaky sets and wobbly acting... again.
