UK NEWS

A NIGHT ON THE GOWN FOR BAFTA BEAUTIES

FABULOUS: Kelly Brook

Monday April 21,2008

By Elisa Roche Showbusiness Editor at the Baftas

IT’S the awards show dubbed the British Oscars and home-grown leading ladies made sure last night’s TV Baftas ceremony was the most glamorous so far.

Presenter-turned-actress Kelly Brook, 28, stole the show at the London Palladium in a Christian Dior shawl, midnight blue dress and super-high heels.

But, not to be outshone, opera star Katherine Jenkins, 27, also arrived in blue silk, wearing a strapless 1940s-style cocktail dress and Mont Blanc diamond earrings.

Making it a trio of beautiful Britons, Melinda Messenger, 37, looked incredible in a pale green, strapless floor-length gown.

Presenter Melinda, who recently split from her husband Wayne Roberts after 10 years of marriage, clearly put all the anguish behind her for at least one night.

Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly also made a memorable entrance in a stunning red dress.

EastEnders’ favourite Patsy Palmer, 35, went for a classic look, in an Audrey Hepburn-inspired little black dress.

The ceremony, hosted by Graham Norton, saw stars taking the black-tie dress code seriously this year. Norton wore a sparkling black tuxedo suit as did countless other male stars. Like Patsy, many of the women opted for the little black dress.

True to form though, Joanna Lumley went for something absolutely fabulous, standing out on the red carpet in a backless orange dress. She later revealed that her apparently priceless earrings were “a bargain” she had picked up on a satellite shopping channel.

Among guests treading the red carpet was Hollywood star Patrick Duffy, famous for his role in Dallas.

Though it is a night which, traditionally, belongs to TV’s big chiefs it was the turn of new stars – and even new channels – to shine this year.

James Corden, 29, won the Best Comedy Performance and Programme of the Year awards for Gavin and Stacey, the BBC3 comedy which he stars in and co-created.

Dame Eileen Atkins, 73, finally took home a Best Actress Bafta for her role in BBC costume drama Cranford, beating co-star Dame Judi Dench to the prize.

“My money was always on Eileen,” joked 12-times Bafta winner Dame Judi, also 73, who wore a daring plunge-front black dress.

Doctor-turned-comedian Harry Hill, 43, also picked up his first Baftas, winning Best Entertainment Performance and Best Entertainment Programme for his TV Burp show on ITV.

In the second category, he saw off stiff competition from ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent and BBC shows Have I Got News For You and Strictly Come Dancing.

Channel 4 had the most to celebrate last night, with eight wins for its homemade programmes.

BBC1 came in second with five awards and ITV1 took home three awards, putting it in third place.

As a broadcaster, the BBC was still top of the Baftas with nine wins overall – thanks to its many channels.