London was going Jubilee mad last week, and this year's Arqiva BAFTA TV Awards were no exception. With the sun streaming down on a red, white and blue carpet, stars of the small screen were all displaying the True Brit spirit of 2012.
HELLO! went backstage with the talented nominees during the event and the big names were naturally keen to share their admiration for the star of this weekend's big show.
Silent Witness's Emilia Fox said: "What a year to be British! When you think about how long she's reigned it's just amazing. We should be so proud of her – and we are."
TV veteran Rolf Harris, 82, who was honoured with the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship, stopped to talk to HELLO! about his memories of the Queen’s Coronation in 1953."I remember sitting overnight in Hyde Park waiting for the golden coach to come round the corner with her in it. It was like the sun rising on this grey and drizzly day. I'll never forget it," he said.
Some of the biggest names in tellyland were on show at the Royal Festival Hall, from the elegant to the eccentric.
Emilia wowed the crowds in a gold William Vintage dress, while best friends Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton were stunning in flowing gowns and glittering diamonds.
Their Celebrity Juice host Keith Lemon hammed it up on the carpet with the pair, who later collected the YouTube Audience Award for the show on his behalf.
Pregnant Tamzin Outhwaite looked radiant in a grecian-style Temperley gown. On her arm was proud husband Tom Ellis – their second baby is due in the summer.
Channelling the sunshine that had come out for the occasion was The One Show co-host Alex Jones, in a yellow Ariella Couture dress.
Also drawing admiring glances was The Choir's dapper Gareth Malone, walking the carpet with wife Becky and delighted to be nominated for his fourth bafta, for his work with the chart-topping Military Wives Choir. "It's the most wonderful honour," he told HELLO! before talking us through Monday's Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace, when he will conduct the Wives in Sing, the official Jubilee single written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber. "I'm from a family that loves the royal family; we always watch the Trooping the Colour, so to be there is just extraordinary. I mean, even to be in the audience would be wonderful but to be stood on stage is so special. To be doing such a great song with such a tremendous group of women is a great honour."
This year's winners included Jennifer Saunders, Best Female in a Comedy for Absolutely Fabulous, and Dominic West and Emily Watson, Best Actor and Best Actress for the gritty ITV1 drama Appropriate Adult as serial killer Fred West and the murder investigation's "appropriate adult", Janet Leach. "It was a really tricky thing to do," Emily told HELLO!. "But it's thrilling to be recognised in this way."
Writer Steven Moffat was presented with a Special Award for Doctor Who and Sherlock from the shows' leading men, Matt Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch. Benedict’s co-star Andrew Scott won Best Supporting Actor for his role as the villainous Moriarty, with the theatre actor telling HELLO! that his new-found fame has "taken some getting used to".
Following the ceremony, guests stayed in the hall for a lavish meal before an after-party that lasted until 2 am. Among those celebrating into the early hours were the Coronation Street cast, who won Best Soap and Continuing Drama.
