Last night at the BAFTA TV Awards  Simon Cowell proved to us all he did have talent. The BBC also shined through receiving 13 prizes and The Thick Of It did well and walked away with 3.

After a high of 15 million viewers tuned into the final of  Britain’s Got Talent and after receiving the Best Entertainment award for his show, Simon Cowell was  given the Special Award last night.

“I’ve had a blast. I’ve done things I never thought I’d be able to do. To put this into perspective, one of my happiest memories as a kid was when my Dad came home with a colour TV set and all my friends came over…. So for me to be standing here tonight getting an award for making TV shows is the happiest feeling of my life.”

Cowell was said to have really changed the face of ITV and made it what it is today, with the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent ‘the so-said talent shows’ have grabbed the whole nation’s attention. “He is quite simply one of the most brilliant entertainment producers of our time,” said John Willis, chairman of the Bafta TV committee.

Julie Walters received the Leading Actress award for her role as Mo Mowlan in BBC 1 drama Mo. “Important drama touches people” she underlined as she pushed TV chiefs to allocate more money to quality drama.

“I’m not saying it changes the world, but seeds are planted. It’s really important and, yes, the money should be made available.”

The Thick of It ‘a dark political comedy set in the corridors of British government’ did very well, walking away with 3 trophies. Rebecca Front and Peter Capaldi won best female and male performance in comedy and they they also took best Situation Comedy prize. 

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, 35, won a Bafta for feeding kangaroo testicles to models as they accepted the Entertainment Performance award. They were very glad to have finally won an award after being nominated 6 times without ever being successful. Their role in “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!” has made them both feel very proud.

All of last night’s winners

Drama Series Misfits (E4)
Comedy Programme The Armstrong and Miller Show (BBC One)
New Media Virtual Revolution (BBC Two)
Specialist Factual Inside Nature’s Giants (Channel 4)
Single Drama The Unloved (Channel 4)
Current Affairs Terror In Mumbai (Dispatches) (Channel 4)
International Mad Men (BBC Four)
News Coverage ITV/ News at Ten (Haiti)
Entertainment Performance Ant and Dec/I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! (ITV1)
Features Masterchef: The Professionals (BBC Two)
Supporting Actor Matthew Macfadyen (BBC One)
Continuing Drama EastEnders (BBC One)
Supporting Actress Rebecca Hall – Red Riding 1974 (Channel 4)
Special Award Simon Cowell
Factual Series One Born Every Minute (Channel 4)
Drama Serial Occupation (BBC One)
Single Documentary Wounded (BBC One)
Female Performance in a Comedy Programme Rebecca Front – The Thick of It (BBC Two)
Male Performance in a Comedy Programme Peter Capaldi – The Thick of It (BBC Two)
Entertainment Programme Britain’s Got Talent (ITV1)
Sport World Athletics Championships (BBC Two)
Sitcom The Thick of It (BBC Two)
YouTube Audience Award The Inbetweeners (E4)
Leading Actor Kenneth Branagh (Wallender) (BBC One)
Leading Actress Julie Walters (Mo) (Channel 4)
Fellowship Melvyn Bragg