BBC triumphs at Royal Television Society awards

EastEnders celebrated its 25th anniversary this year

The BBC has scooped 18 prizes out of 25 main categories at the Royal Television Society Awards.

Awards at the TV industry ceremony included best drama series for The Street and best soap for EastEnders.

BBC Four's news review show Newswipe beat Simon Cowell's two ITV1 shows Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor in the best entertainment section.

The ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London was hosted by Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon.

Comedian Harry Hill won best entertainment performance for his TV Burp show on ITV1, beating Michael McIntyre and Ant and Dec.

The BBC's The Thick Of It won best scripted comedy for satire.

'I'm thrilled'

Harry Hill's show won a Bafta TV award last year for the second year in a row

Elsewhere, Louis Theroux clinched the best presenter category for his BBC documentary A Place For Paedophiles, featuring interviews with convicted sex offenders in America.

He beat Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan, who was up for ITV1 chat series Life Stories, and James May, nominated for BBC Two series Toy Stories.

Chef Heston Blumenthal triumphed in the features and lifestyle series category for his Channel 4 show Heston's Feasts.

The programme, which flamboyantly recreated Victorian recipes, saw off BBC3 series Don't Tell the Bride and Channel 4's The Sex Education Show vs Pornography.

The best drama series prize went to BBC One's The Street, created by Bafta-winning writer Jimmy McGovern.

The show, which featured an ensemble cast including Stephen Graham and Anna Friel, was taken off air last year after its third series.

The best actress gong went to Naomie Harris for her role in BBC One's Small Island.

She beat Julie Walters, nominated for BBC One drama A Short Stay in Switzerland, and Suranne Jones, who starred in Unforgiven.

Lifetime achievement

Miranda Hart was named best comedy actress for Miranda Full list of RTS winners

Harris thanked her mother at the ceremony, describing her as her "accent coach".

"Without her I don't think [my character] Hortense would have been half as good as she was," the actress said.

David Oyelowo was also named best actor for his work in the BBC adaptation of Andrea Levy's book.

BBC One favourite EastEnders beat The Bill and Casualty in the soap and continuing drama category.

American advertising drama Mad Men triumphed in the international section, while Big And Small - Blame It On The Drain won best children's programme.

Iain Morris and Damon Beesley won the award for comedy writing for E4's The Inbetweeners.

And actress Miranda Hart won best comedy performance for her title role in BBC Two's Miranda.

The actress, who plays a social misfit who lives above a joke shop, said: "I haven't won a prize since junior high jump in the '80s so I'm thrilled."

Documentary film maker Norma Percy, whose work includes BBC Two's Iran And The West and Endgame In Ireland, was presented with the Judges' Prize.

Finally, Coronation Street creator Tony Warren was presented with the lifetime achievement award for his work on the ITV soap.

The long-running serial celebrates its 50th anniversary this December.