SEAN Bean’s performance as a cross-dressing teacher in Accused saw him crowned best actor at this year’s Royal Television Society Programme Awards.
Olivia Colman was also recognised for her work on the BBC courtroom drama, beating fellow cast member Anne-Marie Duff to the best actress prize. The BBC’s Sherlock also won two awards, picking up prizes for best drama series and best drama writer. Film-maker Danny Boyle picked up one of the two honorary judges’ awards.
The Oscar-winning director was recognised for his opening ceremony to the London 2012 games, described by the panel as “the most surprising, dazzling, original night of television” seen last year. Boyle, like Bean, did not attend Tuesday’s event, being otherwise occupied at the London premiere of his new psychological thriller Trance. But other winners were on hand to collect honours, among them TV duo Ant and Dec - joint winners of the entertainment performance award for their work on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.
The event came one week on from another awards ceremony at the same venue at which Dec - full name Declan Donnelly - made a rare appearance without Ant - full name Anthony McPartlin - due to the latter being ill.
The BBC’s coverage of the Olympics picked up the Royal Television Society’s live event prize, while David Gordon, who oversaw the corporation’s games coverage, was given a lifetime achievement award.         –BBC