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It was a night of glitz and glamour, with the stars descending on the Royal Festival Hall for the biggest night in the UK television calendar.

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet picked up an award for best leading actress, while Ben Whishaw took the gong for leading actor for his performance as the under-pressure doctor in This Is Going to Hurt.

The night was not without its surprises though, with long-running drama Casualty beating EastEnders, Emmerdale and last year’s winner Coronation Street for best soap and continuing drama.

And child actor Lenny Rush, 14, from Daisy May Cooper’s dark comedy Am I Being Unreasonable? also won the award for best male performance in a comedy programme – beating the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, Jon Pointing and Matt Berry.

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Sir Lenny Henry spoke to Sky News about the importance of representation on TV

Meanwhile, The Masked Singer also fought off competition from Ant And Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and Strictly Come Dancing to win best entertainment programme.

During the night, Sir Mo Farah, who won a BAFTA award for his BBC One documentary The Real Mo Farah, dedicated his documentary to “children who are being trafficked”.

Ben Whishaw, with the award for Leading Actor, for This Is Going To Hurt, at the Bafta Television Awards 2023 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 14, 2023.
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Ben Whishaw
Sir Mo Farah and his partner Tania, with the award for Single Documentary, for The Real Mo Farah, at the Bafta Television Awards 2023 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 14, 2023.
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Sir Mo Farah and his partner Tania

Collecting the prize at the event, the four-time Olympic champion said he hoped his story showed the “kids who have no say at all” that “they are not alone”.

He said: “The kids have no say at all, they are just kids and no child should ever go through what I did, I hope my story shows they aren’t alone, we are in it together.”

The award show also saw the musical drama Mood, which tells the story of a budding singer trying to make it in the industry, take the award for best miniseries.

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Creator and writer Nicole Lecky thanked the women who entrusted her with their stories and dedicated her award to her mother, who passed away when she was 19 years old.

“It was such an uphill battle in life,” she said.

“For me to be stood here, I hope it inspires others who have been through something that is insurmountable.”

Also picking up the award for best feature show was Joe Lycett Vs Beckham: Got Your Back at Xmas, which saw the comedian lock horns with the former footballer last year to highlight the true cost of the Qatar World Cup.

Claudia Winkleman with the award for Entertainment Performance, The Traitors, at the Bafta Television Awards 2023 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 14, 2023.
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Claudia Winkleman
(Left to right) Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Sharon Horgan and Anne-Marie Duff, with the award for Drama Series, for Bad Sisters, at the Bafta Television Awards 2023 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 14, 2023.
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(Left to right) Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Sharon Horgan and Anne-Marie Duff, with the award for Drama Series, for Bad Sisters

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While Lycett was not present to pick up his award, a member of his production team read a statement from the comedian on stage in which he thanked Channel 4 for its support and dedicated the award to the “people still being oppressed in Qatar”.

Here is a full rundown of the winners

  • Female performance in a comedy programme: Siobhan McSweeney – Derry Girls
  • Reality and constructed factual: The Traitors
  • Short form programme: How To Be A Person
  • Specialist factual: Russia 1985-1999: Traumazone
  • Daytime: The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit
  • Sports coverage: Uefa Women’s Euro 2022
  • Male performance in a comedy programme: Lenny Rush – Am I Being Unreasonable?
  • Entertainment Programme: The Masked Singer
  • Supporting actress: Anne-Marie Duff – Bad Sisters
  • Current affairs: Children Of The Taliban
  • News coverage: Channel 4 News: Live In Kyiv
  • Single drama: I Am Ruth
  • Mini-series: Mood
  • International: Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
  • Feature: Joe Lycett vs Beckham: Got Tour Back At Xmas
  • Drama series: Bad Sisters
  • Factual series: Libby, Are You Home Yet?
  • Single documentary: The Real Mo Farah
  • Comedy entertainment programme: Friday Night Live
  • Soap and continuing drama: Casualty
  • Live event: Platinum Jubilee – Party At The Palace
  • Entertainment performance: Claudia Winkleman – The Traitors
  • Special awards: David Olusoga
  • P&O Cruises Memorable moment: Platinum Jubilee – Party At The Palace Paddington Meets The Queen
  • Supporting actor: Adeel Akhtar – Sherwood
  • Leading actor: Ben Whishaw – This Is Going To Hurt
  • Leading actress: Kate Winslet – I Am Ruth
  • Scripted comedy: Derry Girls

The ceremony also saw actress Siobhan McSweeney win best female performance in a comedy programme for her role as headteacher Sister Michael in the hit comedy Derry Girls.

In her humorous speech, she said: “To the people in Derry, thank you for taking me into your hearts and your living rooms.”

She also hit out at leaders in Dublin, Stormont and Westminster, adding: “In the words of my beloved Sister Michael, ‘it’s time they started to wise up’.”

Other poignant speeches came from Winslet, who won the best actress award for her performance in Channel 4’s drama I Am Ruth, which sees the actress witness her real-life daughter Mia Threapleton retreat into herself due to the pressures of social media.

Kate Winslet and Mia Threapleton attending the Bafta Television Awards 2023 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 14, 2023.
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Kate Winslet and Mia Threapleton

In an emotional speech, Winslet said: “If I could break it in half, I would give the other half to my daughter, we did this together, kiddo.”

The actress also said that “small British television dramas can be mighty” and mental health stories such as this one “need to be heard”.

It was the second appearance from Winslet, who joined the team of I Am Ruth on stage earlier in the night as they accepted the BAFTA TV award for single drama.

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British woman dies in French Alps after crashing into another skier

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British woman dies in French Alps after crashing into another skier

A 62-year-old British woman has died in the French Alps after colliding with another skier, according to local reports.

The English woman was skiing on the Aiguille Rouge mountain of Savoie at around 10.30am on Tuesday when she hit a 35-year-old man who was stationary on the same track, local news outlet Le Dauphine reported.

It added that emergency services and rescue teams rushed to the scene but couldn’t resuscitate the woman, who died following the “traumatic shock”.

The man she collided with was also said to be a British national.

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Local reports said the pair were skiing on black slopes, a term used to describe the most challenging ski runs with particularly steep inclines.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told Sky News: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in France and are in touch with the local authorities.”

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Singer Linda Nolan dies ’embraced with love’ with siblings by her side

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Singer Linda Nolan dies 'embraced with love' with siblings by her side

Singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame alongside her sisters in The Nolans, has died after several years of battling cancer.

The Irish star, 65, and her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne, had a run of hits in the late 1970s and ’80s – including the disco classic I’m In The Mood For Dancing.

Paying tribute on The Nolans‘ X account, her sisters described her as “a pop icon and beacon of hope”, who “faced incurable cancer with courage, grace and determination, inspiring millions”.

Linda died peacefully in hospital this morning, “embraced with love and comfort” with her siblings by her side, her agent Dermot McNamara said in a statement.

“As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide, touring the world and selling over 30 million records,” he said.

“Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.”

As well as her TV and musical career, Linda helped to raise more than £20 million for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society, Samaritans and others.

“Her selflessness and tireless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will forever be a cornerstone of her legacy,” Mr McNamara said.

Linda Nolan, Anne Nolan, Bernie Nolan, Coleen Nolan, and Maureen Nolan.
Pic PA
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Five of the Nolans in 1983 (L-R): Linda, Anne, Bernie, Coleen and Maureen. Pic: PA

Linda’s death came after she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia over the weekend. She began receiving end-of-life care after slipping into a coma on Tuesday.

Details of a celebration of the star’s “remarkable life” will be shared in due course.

Linda was born to Tommy and Maureen Nolan in Dublin on 23 February 1959, the sixth of eight children.

Her parents were both singers and keen to turn their young family into a musical troupe. Linda made her stage debut aged just four.

Those early years put the siblings on track for a career in show business which lasted for decades. As well as I’m In The Mood For Dancing, The Nolans had hits with Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me and Don’t Make Waves, and they also had their own TV specials.

At their height, they toured with Frank Sinatra and were reported to have outsold The Beatles in Japan.

Linda left the group in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances. She also became known for musical theatre, most notably performing the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for three years from 2000.

The Nolan Sisters, (left to right) Bernadette, Denise, Linda (top), Anne and Maureen
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L-R: Bernie, Denise, Linda (top), Anne and Maureen Nolan pictured in 1975, before youngest sister Coleen joined the group

Four siblings struck by cancer

Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent a mastectomy two days before her 47th birthday.

After being given the all-clear in 2011, in 2017 she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Three years later, Linda and Anne together revealed they were being treated for cancer once again.

The sisters were diagnosed with different forms of the disease just days apart after they returned home from filming a series of their show, The Nolans Go Cruising. Linda had cancer of the liver, while Anne had breast cancer.

Linda Nolan seen attending the Bold x Pink Ribbon Foundation Party in 2024.
Pic: Shutterstock
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The star, pictured last year, had battled cancer for several years. Pic: Shutterstock

They went on to write Stronger Together, an account of their journey that included frank details of their treatments and the side effects.

But in 2023, Linda revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and she was beginning treatment as part of a new drug trial.

The Nolans lost their second-youngest sister, Bernie, to cancer in 2013, aged 52.

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan also revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, and said she was using a chemotherapy cream to remove it.

Linda’s husband of 26 years, Brian Hudson, died in 2007 after being diagnosed with skin cancer.

Anne Nolan is now cancer-free.

Tributes to star ‘who was always a joy’

TV star and singer Cheryl Baker and comedian Tommy Cannon are among those who have paid tribute.

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Linda Nolan,” Cannon wrote on X. “I had the pleasure of working with her on so many occasions, and she was always a joy – full of warmth and love. My thoughts and love are with the Nolan girls and the whole family.”

“The most incredible voice, the wickedest sense of humour, such a massive talent,” Baker wrote. “You’re with Brian now, Lin.”

Loose Women also sent its love to her family. Linda appeared as a guest panellist on the ITV chat show over the years, alongside her sister Coleen.

The Blackpool Grand Theatre described her as “a true Blackpool icon”.

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Trainee gas engineer, 20, wins £7.5m in lottery – but won’t quit work

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Trainee gas engineer, 20, wins £7.5m in lottery - but won't quit work

A 20-year-old trainee gas engineer who won £7.5m says he was back working on blocked drains the day after claiming his cash.

James Clarkson, 20, from Carlisle, Cumbria, found out he’d hit the £7,533,329 National Lottery jackpot on 4 January – but said he has no plans to quit his job.

“I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won,” he said.

“It was a bit grim but that’s reality.

“I’m not going to stop working, I’m too young,” he added, admitting he knew it might sound “mad” to some.

“I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there.

“I need to have a purpose in life, plus dad wouldn’t let me not work anyway. He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day.”

Mr Clarkson celebrating with his family. Pic: PA
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Mr Clarkson celebrating with his family. Pic: PA

Mr Clarkson added he still planned to have “some nice holidays” in between working, and revealed one of his first purchases was an all-inclusive luxury break to Cape Verde, along with a few designer items including a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself.

He said he also planned to splash out on a new car, possibly an Audi – but for now, he’s got his work van.

“If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, you’d understand,” he said.

“The comfort, the steering, the heated seats. I realise how jammy that sounds, not many people my age can afford the car insurance let alone a car like that to drive.”

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As a huge Manchester City fan, he said he was also looking to buy a season ticket at the Etihad Stadium, as well as taking care of his extended family – starting with paying off his parents’ mortgage.

James Clarkson holds bespoke Manchester City kit after lotto win. Pic: PA
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The new multi-millionaire holds up bespoke Manchester City kit celebrating his win. Pic: PA

He said: “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, it’s what I want to do. I told them last night and they seemed really overwhelmed.

“We are close and they have always been there for me. This win isn’t just for me, I want to make sure we all benefit.”

Mr Clarkson played on the National Lottery app, choosing his winning numbers – 16, 19, 22, 24, 27 and 35 – at random.

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