LONDON – Television mogul Simon Cowell picked up an honorary award for his contribution to the entertainment industry at the British Academy Television Awards on Sunday.
‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘X Factor’ judge and creator Cowell was presented with a special Bafta for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry and for the development of new talent.”This is a genuine honour. I wasn’t expecting it. I have had a blast. I’ve been able to do things I never thought I’d be able to do and it’s because I genuinely have the most talented people working with me on the show,” he said.Kenneth Branagh won the leading actor gong for detective series ‘Wallander’, Julie Walters won leading actress for her portrayal of former Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam in ‘Mo’ and Melvyn Bragg won the fellowship award.Peter Capaldi, who plays foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in the cult series, and co-star Rebecca Front won awards for the best male and female performances in a comedy programme, while the show also won best sitcom.Ant and Dec finally scooped their first ever Bafta – with their sixth nomination – for ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here’, the reality TV show set in the Australian bush.”You feed a couple of kangaroo testicles to a glamour model and you get a Bafta,” Ant joked.’Mad Men’, the slick US series about a 1950s advertising agency, scooped the international gong, while Channel 4 Dispatches programme ‘Terror in Mumbai’ about the 2008 attacks in the Indian city won the current affairs award.’Britain’s Got Talent’ also won its first ever Bafta, while ‘EastEnders’ won the continuing drama prize and ‘One Born Every Minute’, filmed in a maternity ward, was named best factual series. – Nampa-AFP
