Tribute to victims as Fred West drama wins 3 Baftas

A drama about serial killer Fred West was the biggest winner at the TV Baftas last night, scooping three awards.

Dominic West, who played the murderer, won the Leading Actor gong for Appropriate Adult. His co-star, Emily Watson, was given the Leading Actress award for her role as Janet Leach, the “appropriate adult” who sat with West in police interviews.

Dominic West, who has also starred in The Wire, said he programme “required incredible sensitivity and judgment”.

He paid tribute to the real-life appropriate adult who worked on the case, saying: “I hope she has had some closure and we have honoured the suffering she endured and the suffering of all the West’s victims living and dead.”

Actress Monica Dolan, who played Rose West, won the Bafta for Supporting Actress – which actor Timothy Spall described as the gong for “best upstager” as he handed over the award.

The Union flag-themed red, white and blue carpet outside London’s Royal Festival Hall saw stars of the small screen, including Ricky Gervais, Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch and the cast of Coronation Street pose for photographs before the evening ceremony, hosted by Dara O’Briain, got under way.

Sherlock was another big winner, landing the award for best supporting actor for Andrew Scott’s portrayal of the villainous Moriarty and having a special award handed to the series writer, Steven Moffat, from Paisley, who also scripts Doctor Who.

Jennifer Saunders won the award for Female Performance in a Comedy Programme for her return to Absolutely Fabulous.

The award for Entertainment Performance went to Graham Norton, who presented the Eurovision Song Contest show.

Coronation Street was best Soap and Continuing Drama. Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, accepted the award and praised the “team effort” behind the long-running show.

The last award of the night was the Bafta Fellowship, given to veteran Australian artist and entertainer Rolf Harris.