2010 National Television Awards: "living and working in a blessed age of television"

Dermot O'Leary took the reins as host of The 15th National Television Awards, presiding over the best known stars and most popular shows as they battled it out to win TV's top gongs. The mammoth O2 Arena, a packed and vocal crowd of TV fans, high drama, a brilliantly produced show and red carpet glamour: who could ask for more?

This star studded ceremony is unique, being the only television awards determined solely by the viewers from a nationwide poll across eleven categories.

This year saw programmes from UK commercial channels put in another strong performance: gongs for the X Factor, Loose Women, Coronation Street and star presenters Ant and Dec helped ITV bank six of the viewer-voted awards, which we can't help mentioning is one more than the BBC.

And the winners are...

• Entertainment Presenters - Ant and Dec
• Comedy Programme - Gavin and Stacey
• Outstanding Serial Drama Performance - Lacey Turner, EastEnders
• Most Popular Star Travel Documentary - Stephen Fry in America
• Most Popular Newcomer - Craig Gazey, Coronation Street
• Most Popular Entertainment Programme - Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
• Most Popular Drama - Dr Who
• Most Popular Factual Programme - Loose Women
• Most Popular Talent Show - X Factor
• Outstanding Drama Performance - David Tennant, Dr Who
• Best Serial Drama - Coronation Street

The biggest surprise of the night was perhaps Vanilla Ice rising up from the stage to duet with Jedward.

Many congratulations to those collecting their gongs and to all the talented people who make these shows happen.

Advertisers too, should be proud of the part their TV budgets have played in funding the success of these popular programmes and be further warmed by the knowledge that we're watching more commercial TV than ever. Indeed, the programmes and the best of its advertising continue to ignite our imaginations and bring people together in living rooms, office kitchens, pubs and online in a way little else can. And awards like these remind us that TV remains one of our most bonding cultural and social glues.

Stephen Fry put it rather well as he was presented with a special recognition award:

"I really am completely staggered by this. I had no idea it was going to happen and I feel so unworthy of the most remarkable tribute I've ever seen. I wish I were worthy of 10 per cent of it but one thing I hope it got across is how unbelievable lucky I have been to live and work in British television during an age which people will look back on as a blessed age in which people were allowed to try out new ideas and to entertain and to inform, to enlighten - to be silly."