Ianucci in the thick of the television awards

Published on Wednesday 17 March 2010 00:32

OSCAR-NOMINATED screenwriter Armando Ianucci was a winner at the Royal Television Society's awards last night.

Glasgow-born Ianucci, creator of the BBC series The Thick of It, took the prize for the best scripted comedy at a ceremony in London.

Ratings winners The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent were snubbed as Simon Cowell's two ITV talent shows were beaten in the entertainment category by BBC4's Newswipe With Charlie Brooker, prompting a huge cheer from the crowd at the Grosvenor House Hotel

There was a further blow for Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan. He was beaten to the award for best presenter by Louis Theroux, who clinched the title for his BBC documentary A Place For Paedophiles in which he interviewed child sex offenders in the United States.

Experimental chef Heston Blumenthal picked up the gong in the features and lifestyle series category for Channel 4 series Heston's Feasts, in which he recreated Victorian recipes. It beat BBC3 series Don't Tell The Bride and Channel 4's The Sex Education Show vs Pornography.

Slick American advertising drama Mad Men won in the international category, while Big And Small – Blame It On The Drain picked up the award for best children's programme.

BBC soap EastEnders, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, beat The Bill and Casualty in the soap and continuing drama category.