National TV Award winners in full: Downton and Strictly lead honours

The show - set in Yorkshire - was named best drama last night beating shows like Doctor Who, Casualty and ITV’s Broadchurch. Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes called the shows win a “happy ending”. He said: “I love happy endings and this is a very happy ending, thank you.”

Strictly Come Dancing reclaimed its crown as the leading talent show as it beat The X Factor.

The popular BBC show was named the winner in the talent show category, which every year sees Strictly battling it out against its ITV rival.

Strictly presenter Tess Daly said the win felt “amazing”, and thanked fans saying it “means the world to us”.

Another hotly contested category, serial drama, was won by EastEnders.

TV presenting duo Ant and Dec took home the most popular TV presenter award for the 15th year in a row.

Declan Donnelly described their win as “amazing”, adding: “On the way in ,people said to us does it get boring ... of course it doesn’t, if anything our gratitude has only grown over the years because you never know when you’re going to get it again.”

His TV co-host Anthony McPartlin said: “15 years in a row ... it’s getting a bit mental now but we thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts ... let’s get drunk tonight.”

American actor Dustin Hoffman flew in from the US to present comedian Billy Connolly with his special recognition award.

Hoffman paid a touching tribute to Connolly, known affectionately in Scotland as The Big Yin.

“I’m delighted to be here to pay tribute to a man whose work I’ve always admired and whose company I always enjoy,” Hoffman said.

He said the essence of Connolly was “the unique capacity to reflect human behaviour and stand it on his head”.

An emotional Connolly was nearly upstaged by comedian Peter Kay who walked up on stage and handed over his award after Connolly referenced the fact that Kay had dedicated his earlier win to him, but did not give him the award.

Connolly said: “There’s so many people, I have to thank my management, my agency, my parents and lovely daughters, who are here.

“To Dustin for putting me in his movie, thank you all from the bottom of my heart ... I’d like to particularly thank British comedians, the standard of which is rising all the time ... I love you all and thank you from the very much from the bottom of my heart.”

The final series of Downton Abbey has bowed out in style as it won one of the night’s big categories, best drama, beating shows like Doctor Who, Casualty and ITV’s Broadchurch.

The BBC’s flagship baking show, The Great British Bake Off, took home the best challenge award, beating the likes of Bear Grylls’ Mission Survive and The Apprentice.

Poldark star Aidan Turner said he was “slightly confused” as he accepted his impact award, which references the great impact he has had on audiences in the BBC show playing Ross Poldark.

He referenced the scenes of him scything topless in Poldark that caused a stir, saying: “I guess the scything scenes kind of speak for themselves, there’s little to say there, but the rest of the cast, it’s such a delight to be in this show, we have such talented people.”

Doctor Foster actress Suranne Jones was celebrating a double dose of good news at the award ceremony.

The 37-year-old debuted a baby bump as she took to the stage with her fellow co-stars to collect the new drama award. She was also later named as the winner of the best drama performance award.

Father Sid of the Siddiqui family was ushered off stage by his family as he offered a rambling thank you for Gogglebox’s factual entertainment award.

He was joined by sons Baasit and Umar to accept the show’s win for the second year in the row.

In his long speech, Sid added: “Thank you to all the Gogglebox families and each and every member of them because they bring a unique and quirky sense of humour to entertain everyone.

“We are humble folk and it is an honour to be here among the cream of the British television. You can tell I’m speechless.”

WINNERS IN FULL

• Comedy: Peter Kay’s Car Share

• Drama: Downton Abbey

• New Drama: Doctor Foster

• Entertainment Programme: I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!

• Talent Show: Strictly Come Dancing

• Daytime: The Chase

• Challenge Show: The Great British Bake Off

• Live Magazine Show: This Morning

• Serial Drama: EastEnders

• Serial Drama Performance: Danny Dyer

• Factual Entertainment: Gogglebox

• Newcomer: Shayne Ward

• TV Presenter: Ant and Dec

• Drama Performance: Suranne Jones

• International: The Big Bang Theory

• Special Recognition: Billy Connolly

• TV Moment of the Year: Aidan Turner