EastEnders' award glory

Thursday, 30 October 2008

'EastEnders' beat its rivals to take two awards at last night's (29.10.08) National Television Awards.

The BBC1 soap picked up the Most Popular Serial Drama prize for the fourth year in a row and its star Rita Simons was named Most Popular Newcomer for her role as Roxy Slater.

Picking up the Serial Drama prize award, actress Barbara Windsor, who plays pub landlady Peggy Mitchell in the soap, said: "I thought, 'No way, not four on the trot'. It's the best thing in the world. I think we've had a great year."

The show's main rival, 'Coronation Street' played down their loss, insisting they were not expecting to win.

A show insider said: "We feared this would happen and it has. It's a surprise as we're always beating them in the ratings. Fortunately we're used to losing this award so we won't let it get to us. Well, not too much."

Despite Simon Cowell being honoured with a Special Recognition award, his show 'The X Factor' failed to beat rival 'Strictly Come Dancing' to take the Most Popular Talent Show prize.

Simon said: "It's bad enough losing but losing to that lot is a nightmare. I'm not happy."

Ant and Dec picked up the Most Popular Entertainment Presenter award for an astonishing eighth year in a row but their 'Saturday Night Takeaway' programme lost out to 'The Paul O'Grady Show' in the Most Popular Entertainment Programme category.

Other winners at the ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall included sci-fi drama 'Doctor Who', which was awarded Most Popular Drama and Outstanding Drama Performance for David Tennant's portrayal of the title character, ITV's Johnny Vegas-starring sitcom 'Benidorm', which scooped Most Popular Comedy Programme, and BBC2's 'Top Gear', named Most Popular Factual Programme.

Matt Littler also won an award for his role as Max Cunningham in Channel 4 soap 'Hollyoaks'.

Click here to see all the photos from the National Television Awards.

Or check out our EastEnders, Hollyoaks or Coronation Street Photo Galleries.