Corrie triumphs at TV awards

Coronation Street has won three prizes at the National Television Awards, with EastEnders winning nothing.

10:27 27 October 2004

Coronation Street has won three prizes at the National Television Awards, with EastEnders winning nothing.

Corrie won most popular serial drama with actors Sam Aston and Suranne Jones picking up individual awards.

Eleven-year-old Aston, who plays Chesney Brown, picked up the best newcomer award while Suranne Jones (Karen McDonald) won best actress.

Jones, who is leaving the Street in a few weeks, was visibly moved by the award.

"This signifies for me that I'm really leaving - I've got four weeks to go. I can't believe I'm leaving Karen," she said, adding: "I'm going to miss Coronation Street so, so much."

While Corrie won three awards, EastEnders failed to win anything.

An Albert Square insider told The Sun: "This is an embarrassing night for them. Not only have they collected no awards but ratings have hit an all-time low."

EastEnders was competing against Coronation Street in four categories.

Elsewhere in the awards, which are voted for by the public, Caroline Quentin won a lifetime achievement award, David Jason won best actor for the third time in four years and Little Britain was named best comedy.

Ant and Dec beat Bruce Forsyth's Strictly Come Dancing in the entertainment category with Saturday Night Takeaway and they were also nominated for Pop Idol.

Channel Five won its first ever nomination for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the drama category - but lost out to The Bill.

Big Brother marked its return to form this year - with fights, bedsits and attempted military coups - by trouncing the competition in the reality category, while Who Wants To Be A Millionaire won best quiz for the sixth year in a row.

Jonny Wilkinson, fresh from accepting an award from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, was on hand to collect an award for ITV's coverage of the Rugby World Cup.

Chancellor Gordon Brown, presenting the award, said England's rugby win was "a national success that reverberated all around the world".

The ceremony, hosted by Trevor McDonlad, was briefly interrupted when a half-naked man got onto the stage while reality TV stars Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne were presenting an award.

The Winners in full:
Most popular actress - Suranne Jones
Most popular actor - David Jason
Most popular serial drama - Coronation Street
Most popular newcomer - Sam Aston
Most popular reality programme - Big Brother
Most popular entertainment programme - Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
Most popular factual programme - Wife Swap
Most popular drama - The Bill
Most popular quiz programme - Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Most popular entertainment presenter - Ant and Dec
Most popular daytime programme - This Morning
Most popular comedy programme - Little Britain
Most popular sporting moment - Jonny Wilkinson
Recognition award - Caroline Quentin