Brand wins top performer award

Russell Brand has scooped an award for best UK performer in a non-acting role.

The Brits host, 31, got the gong for The Russell Brand Show and Russell Brand’s Got Issues, both on Channel 4, as well as Big Brother’s Big Mouth and his MTV show.

Helen Mirren continued her winning streak at the Broadcasting Press Guild’s 33rd annual Television and Radio Awards.

The Oscar-winning Queen star won the best actress title for her performance in ITV1’s Prime Suspect: The Final Act as Det Supt Jane Tennison.

Jim Broadbent was named best actor for his role as Lord Longford in the Channel 4 drama Longford, about the campaigner’s relationship with Myra Hindley.

Longford also won the award for best single drama.

Time-travelling BBC1 show Life On Mars took two awards – for best drama series and the writer’s award. Planet Earth, on BBC1, was named best documentary/factual series and scooped the innovation in broadcasting award, for its new filming methods. The BBC won eight of the 14 non-performance categories.

Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather, for Sky One, won the award for best multi-channel programme.