The Stage

Doctor Who wins National TV Award for most popular drama

Published Thursday 1 November 2007 at 11:40 by Matthew Hemley

Doctor Who scooped the National Television Award for most popular drama last night, with its star David Tennant taking the gong for most popular actor for the second year in a row.

Tennant beat off competition from Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton, Hollyoaks’ James Sutton and EastEnders’ Charlie Clements to win the actor award, while the series, which has won for three years in a row, was preferred to other television favourites Life On Mars, Shameless and The Bill.

Speaking after his win, Tennant took the opportunity to praise former BBC1 controller Peter Fincham and the channel’s ex-head of press Jane Fletcher, who left the Corporation following the ‘Crowngate’ scandal.

He said: “Peter and Jane were fantastic supporters of our show and brilliant at their jobs. It is a real shame they have gone. They were very much a part of our team. It feels very different without them and I am sad about that.”

The actor then praised the show’s writer Russell T Davies, commenting: “Doctor Who and Russell are synonymous. That is not to say somebody else would not do the show but it would be a very different show. It managed all those years before Russell but at the moment it is caught up in his genius.”

Tennant also told The Stage that he was looking forward to playing Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company next year.

“It’s a terrifying prospect but it is an ambition as well, so it will be something to cherish when the moment comes,” he said.

Other winners at the National Television Awards, which are in their 13th year, included EastEnders’ Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater and who took the award for most popular actress over Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman, EastEnders’ Kara Tointon and Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver.

Most popular serial drama went to EastEnders, while the award for most popular comedy programme went to The Catherine Tate Show.

Meanwhile, The X Factor won in the talent show category, beating Any Dream Will Do, Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent and Dancing on Ice.

Talking after receiving the award, judge Simon Cowell said: “I am really happy. The idea of someone else winning it made me feel sick - especially Lloyd Webber.”

Other winners included presenters Ant and Dec, who won in the most popular entertainment presenter category and the award for most popular entertainment programme for Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

Ex-Hear’Say singer Kim Ryder, who was discovered through reality show Popstars and is now a regular in Coronation Street, took the award for most popular newcomer.

The National Television Awards were voted for by the public and were held at the Royal Albert Hall.