EastEnders among big winners at this year's National Television Awards

by Daniel Falconer | 22 January 2015

EastEnders was one of the big winners alongside Sheridan Smith and Downton Abbey at last night's National Television Awards.

The BBC One soap took home the gong for Best Serial Drama - an award which Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale) dedicated to the late Anne Kirkbride - who played Deirdre Barlow on ITV's Coronation Street.

As well as this, Danny Dyer picked up the award for Serial Drama Performance for his portrayal as Mick Carter on EastEnders, and newbie Maddy Hill who plays Nancy Carter took home the Best Newcomer prize.

Speaking at the event after his win, Dyer said: "I think a lot of people wanted to see me fail, they didn't think I would last five minutes.

"To play a character that people actually give a f**k about every day is a difficult thing but I love it, I love it."

Maddy added that she sees no downside to her working life: "I don't see any downside to fame because it ends when I leave work ... Especially if I wear my hair down and a hat. No one knows it's me."

Sheridan Smith took Best Drama Performance for stepping into the shoes of Cilla Black in three-part ITV series Cilla, but the actress had to collect her award later in the night as she was stuck in traffic.

Later she explained: "I was crying in the back of the cab ... My mum's livid apparently, she wanted to be on screen when I went up to get the award!"

Downton Abbey took home the title of Best Drama, whilst David Tennant was rewarded for his incredible career, receiving the Special Recognition Award.

The full list of winners at the 2015 National Television Awards are as follows:

Talent Show:

'The X Factor'

Comedy:

'Mrs Brown's Boys'

Drama Performance:

Sheridan Smith - 'Cilla'

Factual Entertainment:

'Gogglebox'

Daytime:

'This Morning'

Newcomer: