Downton Abbey stars take top prize at National Television Awards 2012
Last updated at 12:37 AM on 26th January 2012
They have already won countless awards, including Golden Globes and Emmys across the pond.
And last night Downton Abbey did it again, being honoured with the top prize on home turf at the National Television Awards in London.
The runaway success story took home the award for Best Drama at the glittering gala, held at theO2 arena.
Taking home the prize: Downton Abbey won the coveted Best Drama award at the National Television Awards in London on Wednesday night
Castmembers including Hugh Bonneville, Sophie McShera, Laura Carmichael and Thomas Barrow took to the stage to accept the award on behalf of their colleagues.
Downton, which airs on ITV, beat BBC programmes Doctor Who, Merlin and Waterloo Road.
Doctor Who didn't lose out completely though; it's stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan each took home the Drama Performance awards in the male and female categories respectively.
Runaway success: Castmembers including Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Sophie McShera and Thomas Barrow represented the cast at the glittering ceremony
Big winners: Matt smith and Karen Gillan took home the Drama Performance awards for their roles in Doctor Who
Miss Gillan, who has announced she is to leave the series, gushed: 'This means so much to me,' as she accepted her award.
A thrilled Smith, who has confirmed he will stay on as The Doctor for at least another season, thanked the producers of the show before acknowledging the show's loyal army of fans. 'Thank you to everyone who watches, and who makes the show what it is,' he said.
Recently departed Katherine Kelly was awarded the Best Serial Drama Performance for her role as Becky McDonald in Coronation Street.
TV legend: Jonathan Ross was honoured with a Special Recognition award for 25 years in television
Honoured: Gary Barlow picked up an Outstanding Contribution award while David Walliams was given a Landmark Award
The cast of Outnumbered looked shocked as they were announced as the winners of the Sitcom award, beating hugely successful Miranda, as well as Benidorm.
X Factor took home the Talent Show prize, with a thrilled Tulisa and Gary Barlow accepting the award along with winners Little Mix, who also performed.
Serial Drama went to Coronation Street, Talk Show to Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Factual Programme went to This Morning for the second year running.
Winners: Tulisa and Gary Barlow scooped the award for best Talent Show, in addition to Gary's Outstanding Contribution award
Shout out to TOWIE: Mark Wright, Dougie Poynter and Fatima Whitbread collected the award for Best Reality Programme, with Wright mentioning his former co-star who lost out in the category
Ant and Dec won the Entertainment Presenter award for the eleventh time.
Mark Wright encountered an awkward moment when two of the shows he's starred in went up against each other in the Reality Programme category.
But the charming reality star sent a 'shout out' to his former co-stars onstage when I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here beat The Only Way Is Essex.
Thanks mate: Ant thanks Kermit the Frog after he and Dec won the award for Entertainment Presenter for the 11th time
Beauty and brains: Elle Mcpherson attracted laughs when she announced the winner of the 'National Telephone Award', while Tulisa kicked off proceedings with the first award of the evening
The Serial Drama award, presented by Paul O'Grady was given to Coronation Street, who dedicated the prize to Betty Driver.
Three special awards were given out throughout the evening. The first was to David Walliams, whose work for Sport Relief was recognised with a Landmark Award.
Speaking onstage about his swim of the Thames last year, he said it was 'Really all about showing off.'
Heart wrenching: The Military Wives performed their single before presenting an award
Gary Barlow was given an award for his Outstanding Contribution thanks to his work on X Factor Children In Need and Comic Relief.
Finally, Jonathan Ross was honoured with a Special Recogntion for his 25 years in television.
Daniel Radcliffe, Graham Norton, Jo Brand and Tom Cruise were among those to pay tribute to the TV legend.
NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS WINNERS 2012
Drama - Downton Abbey
Serial Drama - Coronation Street
Drama Performance: Male - Matt Smith
Drama Performance: Female - Karen Gillan
Serial Drama Performance - Katherine Kelly
Entertainment Programme - Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
Talent Show - The X Factor
Reality Programme - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here
Factual Programme - This Morning
Talk Show - Alan Carr Chatty Man
Comedy Panel show - Celebrity Juice
Sitcom - Outnumbered
Newcomer - Jacqueline Jossa
Entertainment Presenter - Ant and Dec
Landmark Award - David Walliams
Outstanding Contribution - Gary Barlow
Special Recognition - Jonathan Ross
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