I thought Graham Norton was superb hosting the show, certainly better than Jonathan Ross or Stephen Fry have been in recent years.
The winners were:
BEST ACTOR
Jim Broadbent - Longford (CH4)
BEST ACTRESS
Victoria Wood - Housewive, 49 (ITV1)
BEST ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE
Jonathan Ross - Friday Night With Jonathan Ross (BBC1)
BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE
Ricky Gervais - Extras (BBC2)
BEST SINGLE DRAMA
Housewife, 49 (ITV1)
BEST DRAMA SERIES
The Street (BBC1)
BEST DRAMA SERIAL
See No Evil: The Moors Murders (ITV1)
BEST CONTINUING DRAMA
Casualty (BBC1)
BEST FACTUAL SERIES
Ross Kemp On Gangs (Sky One)
BEST SPECIAL FACTUAL
Nuremburg: Goering's Last Stand (CH4)
BEST SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
Evicted (BBC1)
BEST FEATURE
The Choir (BBC2)
BEST SPORT
Hungarian Grand Prix: Jensen's First Win (ITV1)
BEST INTERNATIONAL
Entourage (HBO/ITV2)
BEST NEWS COVERAGE
Granada Reports: Morecambe Bay (Granada/ITV)
BEST INTERACTIVITY
Hogfather (Sky One)
BEST ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
The X Factor (ITV1)
BEST SITCOM
The Royle Family: Queen Of Sheba (BBC1)
BEST COMEDY PROGRAMME
That Mitchell & Webb Look (BBC2)
THE PIONEER AUDIENCE AWARD
Life On Mars (BBC1)
THE ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
Richard Curtis
THE SPECIAL AWARD
Andy Harries
Some thoughts on the results:
It was great the big soaps didn't get a look-in for once, but I have no idea why Casualty is considered a quality serial drama. It's been predictable and tedious for years now.
Interesting to see Ross Kemp On Gangs get something; very unexpected, but it's certainly the best homegrown show Sky have.
Great to see That Mitchell & Webb Look get a BAFTA. it was definitely the funniest sketch show of the year, although their Peep Show is also the best sitcom, not the Royle Family special.
Nice to see regional news scoop an award, with Granada's report on Morecambe Bay winning through.
The best international show was Entourage. Never heard of it? That's because it's buried away on ITV2...
Erm, wasn't this year's X Factor actually the worst one yet? That's why they're revamping. Yes, Leona Lewis is the best talent Simon Cowell and his cronies have found, but she was surrounded by losers. The final between her and Ray "Eddie Munster" Quinn was a one-horse race!
I'm glad Richard Curtis got the Fellowship, although I find it intensely irritating when people seem to think The Vicar Of Dibley is comedy gold. It's not, it's just popular fluff. Curtis hasn't written a decent sitcom since Blackadder. Mind you, his work with Comic Relief and his film success is enough to gloss over any annoyanced.
It's clear what the average age of BAFTA voters are, with The Street and Housewive, 49 winning some big awards. Personally, I think UK television could do with less smug, suburban, cosy middle-aged drama. Shameless has more relevance and entertainment value than watching Victoria Wood sniffle away.
Nothing for Dragon's Den, The Apprentice or Doctor Who? Oh well, I suppose they're all stuck in a formula these days. Unlike X Factor and Casualty....
For me, the biggest disappointment was the snubbing of Life On Mars. Thank God the public made sure it didn't go home empty-handed, as it's been the most entertaining and original piece of British popular drama since Doctor Who. Great entry for Graham Norton in the back of Gene's Hunt's Ford Cortina, though!
