Fred West drama is big winner at Baftas

A drama about serial killer Fred West was the biggest winner at the TV Baftas last night, scooping three awards.

Dominic West, who played the murderer, won the leading actor gong for Appropriate Adult.

His co-star Emily Watson was given the leading actress award for her role as Janet Leach, the “appropriate adult” who sat with West in police interviews.

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Accepting the award on stage at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Watson said: “When I first heard about this show I thought I probably shouldn’t do it because of the subject matter – and then I read the script.”

Dominic West, who has also starred in The Wire, said he programme “required incredible sensitivity and judgment”. Actress Monica Dolan, who played Rose West, won the Bafta for supporting actress – which actor Timothy Spall described as the gong for “best upstager” as he handed over the award.

The Union flag-themed red, white and blue carpet outside the hall saw stars of the small screen including Ricky Gervais, Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch and the cast of Coronation Street pose for photographs before the evening ceremony, hosted by Dara O’Briain, got under way.

Sherlock was another big winner, winning the award for best supporting actor and having a special award handed to the series writer.

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Andrew Scott, who played the villainous Moriarty in the series, thanked his parents as he picked up his award and paid tribute to the “exceptionally talented Mr Benedict Cumberbatch” who plays Sherlock.

The special award was presented to Sherlock and Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat by the shows’ two stars, Cumberbatch and Matt Smith.

Jennifer Saunders won the award for female performance in a comedy programme for her return to Absolutely Fabulous.

The award for entertainment performance went to Graham Norton, who presented Saturday night’s Eurovision Song Contest coverage.

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Coronation Street scooped the award for best soap and continuing drama. Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, accepted the award and praised the “team effort” behind the long-running show.

BBC1’s Mrs Brown’s Boys won the situation comedy category while newsreader Kate Silverton presented the single documentary award to BBC2’s Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die – the best–selling author’s examination of euthanasia.

Pratchett, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, thanked the BBC for “allowing us to tackle this rather strange subject for a documentary”.

The last award of the night was the Bafta Fellowship, given to veteran Australian artist and entertainer Rolf Harris.