Oh what a knight! TV awards for Sirs Chris and David

The National Television Awards saw some of the small screen’s biggest stars descend on the O2 in London last night for one of the most anticipated soirees in the celebrity calendar.

While not there in person, veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough had much to celebrate after his acclaimed natural history programme Frozen Planet was named best documentary series.

Another Sir, Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Chris Hoy, joined Lord Coe and Paralympian David Weir to collect a landmark award for coverage of London 2012.

There was less to cheer for X Factor judges Tulisa Contostavlos, Nicole Scherzinger and Gary Barlow as they watched their counterparts from rival programme Strictly Come Dancing collect the award for best talent show.

Take That lead singer Barlow did manage to raise a smile, albeit at his own expense, thanks to a joke from Miranda Hart.

The actress and comedian was not in attendance to pick up her best female drama performance award, but accepting it on her behalf Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes read a message from Hart making reference to Barlow’s appearance on her sitcom Miranda last week.

The note said: “Please give my award for safekeeping to Gary Barlow who since snogging me on my show is totally smitten and will be taking me as a lover.”

Hart had been given the award for her role in BBC One’s Call The Midwife, but it was ITV’s Downton Abbey that was awarded best drama series.

Host Dermot O’Leary had earlier kicked off the show with a spoof of Daniel Craig’s appearance as James Bond in the Olympic opening ceremony, complete with comedian David Walliams as Javier Bardem’s Bond villain from Skyfall.

The first award, for entertainment programme, was presented by The Great British Bake Off stars Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry to I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Two of the contestants who survived last year’s stint in the jungle, Helen Flanagan and Ashley Roberts, picked up the award and explained the show’s winner Charlie Brooks could not make the awards because she was with a friend who was giving birth.

In the absence of Sir David, who is filming in China, Professor Brian Cox then presented the award for best documentary to Joanne Lumley.

She said: “To me [Sir David] is, as I guess he is to most of you, a complete hero”.

QI was named the best comedy panel show, beating competition including Have I Got News For You and Mock The Week.

The award was accepted by some of the show’s stars including Alan Davies, who said: “This is really quite a big surprise to us because we’ve been making the show for 10 years and I think they must have added up all the votes for the last 10 years and then we’ve just cashed them in tonight”.

The first big surprise of the night saw Merlin star Colin Morgan winning the award for the best male drama performance, beating much-fancied rivals in Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch and Doctor Who’s Matt Smith.

Morgan said he had a “fantastic time” making the programme, which was axed by the BBC last year.

This Morning was named best daytime programme, with hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby accepting the award.

Schofield thanked Willoughby, who he called “the lady I love getting up with and for in the morning”, and said this year’s win was “certainly the most emotional”.

Nigel Havers presented the award for serial drama performance to his Coronation Street co-star Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone in the ITV soap.

The award for best entertainment presenter went to Ant and Dec for the 12th year running, but the Geordie duo were filming Britain’s Got Talent so accepted it via a live link.

The award for factual entertainment went to Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.

EastEnders actor David Witts, who plays Joey Branning in the BBC soap, won the newcomer award.