‘EastEnders’, Carr and Norton scoop TV Baftas

Some of the biggest names of the British small screen gathered at TV Baftas in London last night.

Winners of the ceremony’s major awards included chat show host Alan Carr, actress Olivia Colman and the cast of Eastenders.

Host Graham Norton introduced the show with a series of gags about the spate of recent celebrity arrests, saying the show had to start before “any of our presenters or guests are unavoidably detained’.

Damian Lewis was then joined by his Homeland co-star David Harewood to present the evening’s first award — for best drama series — to Last Tango in Halifax.

The show, about a pair of pensioners who rekindle a romance late in life, beat competition including ITV cop show Scot and Bailey.

One of its stars, Anne Reid said it was the “most fantastic series to be a part of” and added: “I am so happy the BBC has decided to do love stories about people who are over 35 because some of us do have quite interesting lives when we get to 70”.

BBC Two’s Murder was named the best single drama, while 7/7: One Day In London won the award for single documentary.

The award for soap and continuing drama went to EastEnders, with one of its stars Shane Richie thanking viewers, saying: “This is especially to each and every one of you for supporting EastEnders for what is close to 30 years”.

Olympic satire Twenty Twelve won the sitcom award.

The award for supporting actress was presented by The Hobbit star Martin Freeman to Olivia Colman for her role as the mother of a murdered son in Accused (Mo’s Story).

Accepting her award, she joked: “Turns out it does mean a lot...and I’m not going to cry”.

She said she accepted it on behalf of herself and her co-star Duff, saying: “We did it together”.

Colman won her second Bafta for female in a comedy for her role in Twenty Twelve.

Speaking backstage, Colman said she was “thinking there has been a mistake” after winning her second award.

She joked: “I’m a bit doomed now, I’m never going to work again” and said her appeal was down to people thinking she was “safe”, saying: “I’m never going to take anyone’s husband”.

The award for entertainment programme went to Norton’s chatshow with the Irish comic accepting his own award before returning to hosting duties.

He joked: “It’s funny how that can cheer an evening up”.

The award for reality and constructed factual show went Made in Chelsea.