Corrie and EastEnders lick their wounds

Both Coronation Street and EastEnders lost out at the Bafta TV awards in London last night, as Casualty was named the surprise winner in the best continuing drama category.

The two popular soap operas have traded blows for the award over the past few years, but both were left with a bloody nose by BBC's hospital drama.

Other big winners at the glittering awards ceremony at the London Palladium included Ricky Gervais and Victoria Wood.

Wood celebrated a double victory in the best actress and best single drama categories, while Gervais pipped his Extras co-star Stephen Merchant to the best comedy performance.

It means Wood and Gervais now have seven Bafta awards each to their name, something which did not escape the attention of Merchant, who collected Gervais' award on his behalf.

"He could have mentioned this before. Talk about rubbing salt into the wound," Merchant said. "And it's not like he hasn't got enough already."

Other winners on the night included Jonathan Ross, for best entertainment performance, and The X Factor, which retained its best entertainment programme crown.

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