While some may have found Oscar season anti-climatic with their safe choices (*cough* Argo *cough*), the British Television Academy went the opposite as they spread the love around different programmes during last night’s BAFTA awards ceremony.

The happiest person of the evening was the immensely-talented Olivia Colman, as she walked away with two prizes for her acting across two different genres.

Firstly, the Norwich-born star clinched the Supporting Actress gong for her role as a vengeful mother in the anthology drama Accused: Mo’s Story, for which she overcame high-profile names like Sarah Lancashire (Last Tango in Halifax) and Imelda Staunton (The Girl).

Colman then celebrated her second victory in the Female Comedy Performance category for her humorous turn in the Olympics-based satire Twenty Twelve, which also won the prestigious Scripted Comedy award.

Elsewhere, Sheridan Smith saw off the likes of Sienna Miller (The Girl) and Anne Reid (Last Tango in Halifax) to win the Leading Actress gong for her portrayal of Charmian Biggs, the wife of the Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs in the miniseries Mrs Biggs.

Meanwhile, a stunned Ben Whishaw claimed victory in the Leading Actor category for his portrayal of Richard II in the historical drama The Hollow Crown: Richard II, while absent co-star Simon Russell Beale was the recipient of the Supporting Actor prize for his role as Sir John Falstaff.

The pair persevered against Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, who both missed out on acting wins for their performances in the anthology drama Accused: Tracie’s Story.

Another big loser on the night was the television film The Girl, as it went home empty-handed despite garnering multiple nominations beforehand.

In terms of the big prizes, the BBC comedy-drama Last Tango in Halifax secured the Drama Series prize while a major upset saw Room at the Top overcome Accused, Mrs Biggs, and Parade’s End to win the Miniseries prize.

The other key comedy winner of the night was Steve Coogan, as he took home his second BAFTA for his iconic role as inept television presenter Alan Partridge in the one-off comedy special Welcome to the Places of My Life.

Elsewhere, EastEnders saw off Coronation Street to win the Soap & Continuing Drama category, while Channel 4’s coverage of the 2012 London Paralympics surprisingly triumphed in the Sport & Live Event field.

Meanwhile, the Radio Times Audience Award was presented to HBO’s Game of Thrones, with success coming at the expense of the Olympic Opening Ceremony and Call the Midwife’s Christmas Special.

The other notable BAFTA victors included Murder (Best Single Drama), The Revolution Will Be Televised (Best Comedy Programme), Girls (Best International), The Great British Bake Off (Best Features), Made in Chelsea (Best Reality and Constructed Factual), and The Graham Norton Show (Best Entertainment Programme).

Finally, the night also saw Monty Python star Michael Palin presented with the BAFTA Fellowship, while seasoned sports presenter Clare Balding received a BAFTA Special Award.

 

The full list of major BAFTA TV winners are…

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Olivia Colman, ACCUSED: MO’S STORY

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Simon Russell Beale, THE HOLLOW CROWN: HENRY IV (PARTS I & II)

BEST SITUATION COMEDY
TWENTY TWELVE

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Olivia Colman, TWENTY TWELVE

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Steve Coogan, WELCOME TO THE PLACES OF MY LIFE

BEST SOAP & CONTINUING DRAMA
EASTENDERS

BEST INTERNATIONAL
GIRLS

 

BEST COMEDY PROGRAMME
THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE
Alan Carr, ALAN CARR: CHATTY MAN

BEST FACTUAL SERIES
OUR WAR

BEST SINGLE DOCUMENTARY (ROBERT FLAHERTY AWARD)
7/7: ONE DAY IN LONDON

BEST FEATURES
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF

BEST REALITY AND CONSTRUCTED FACTUAL
MADE IN CHELSEA

BEST SPECIALIST FACTUAL (HUW WHELDON AWARD)
ALL IN THE BEST POSSIBLE TASTE WITH GRAYSON PERRY

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS
THE SHAME OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (THIS WORLD)

 

BEST NEWS COVERAGE
ITV/GRANADA REPORTS: HILLSBOROUGH – THE TRUTH AT LAST

BEST SPORT & LIVE EVENT
THE LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES

LEW GRADE AWARD FOR ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW

RADIO TIMES AUDIENCE AWARD (VOTED FOR BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC)
GAME OF THRONES

Meanwhile, the BAFTA Craft winners can be found in the following link: https://awards.bafta.org/award/2013/tvcraft