Yorkshire takes the honours on TV’s 
big night

Last Tango in Halifax was last night named best drama series at the star-studded ceremony in London.

The BBC series, written by Yorkshire-born TV writer playwright Sally Wainwright, picked up four nominations in the awards, held at the Royal Festival Hall.

The Calderdale-filmed series beat off competition including ITV cop show Scott & Bailey, as well as BBC programmes Ripper Street and Silk.

Anne Reid, one of its stars, 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.”

Reid was also nominated in the leading actress category, but was beaten by Sheridan Smith for her role in Mrs Biggs.

Two other Last Tango in Halifax stars also missed out – Derek Jacobi was shortlisted as leading actor, with the award going to Ben Whishaw for playing Richard II in The Hollow Crown.

And Last Tango’s Sarah Lancashire was nominated for supporting actress but that prize went to double award-winner Olivia Colman.

However Sheffield-born Michael Palin enjoyed a standing ovation as he accepted his Bafta Fellowship award from Monty Python co-star Terry Jones.

He said his first celebrity invite was to open some public toilets in Lambeth and said it had been “quite a journey” from there to the Royal Festival Hall.

He added that his award was for “thoroughly enjoying myself for the last 48 years and I feel slightly guilty about that”.

An ITV documentary about shamed Leeds-born television presenter Jimmy Savile and his sex crimes was beaten in the award for current affairs, which was won by This World’s investigation into child abuse in the Catholic church.

The show, presented by former detective Mark Williams-Thomas, featured contributions from several women describing their abuse and aparked a major police investigation.

TV Baftas host Graham Norton had earlier introduced the show with a series of jokes about the spate of recent celebrity arrests, saying the show had to start before “any of our presenters or guests are unavoidably detained”.

Later he turned award-winner as he accepted the entertainment programme gong for his own chat show.

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

Sports presenter Claire Balding, who hosted much of the Olympics coverage, was presented with a special award at the ceremony.

The tearful star said the games brought an “incredible positive energy, a feeling we could do anything and we did.”

However the BBC missed out on the sport and live event award, which went to Channel’s 4’s coverage of the 2012 Paralympics.

Shakespearean veteran Simon Russell Beale won the supporting actor gong for his performance as Falstaff in the BBC version of Henry IV Part 2.

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”.

Steve Coogan won the male in a comedy award for Welcome To The Places Of My Life, while the Revolution Will Be Televised was named the best comedy programme.

Olympic satire Twenty Twelve won the sitcom award, and the award for reality and constructed factual show went to Made in Chelsea.

The features award went to The Great British Bake Off, with co-host Mel Giedroyc saying: “Who knew there could be so much drama in a scone? Amazing.”

BBC Three’s Our War won the factual series award while the gong for news coverage went to Granada Reports programme, Hillsborough - The Truth at Last.

BBC Two’s Murder was named the best single drama, while 7/7: One Day In London won the award for single documentary. The BBC’s adaptation of Room at the Top won the award for mini-series.