THE BBC1’s drama, Sherlock, took the award for best drama series at last night’s TV Bafta Awards.
The hit series beat shows such as ITV1’s Downton Abbey, as well as BBC3’s Being Human and E4’s Misfits.
Sherlock – based on Conan Doyle’s timeless stories – was launched last summer and became a huge hit, despite running to only three episodes although new shows are now in production.
Writer and co-creator of the modern-day adaptation of the detective shows, Mark Gatiss, said: “It’s a huge honour and a fantastic surprise.”
The event – formally called the Philips British Academy Television Awards – is one of the biggest nights in the British TV world and attracts the cream of TV talent.
The New Media prize went to Wallace and Gromit’s World Of Adventure, beating online spin-offs and apps for the BBC’s Brain Test Britain, the Thick Of It and Misfits.
Another winner at the awards bash at London’s Grosvenor House was the BBC1 film, Between Life And Death, which was named best single documentary.
Presenter Graham Norton raised a chuckle as he lined up the International TV Show award when he cracked a gag about Geordie Cheryl Cole’s recent recruitment for the US version of the X Factor: “Just because a programme has subtitles doesn’t mean it can’t be successful – just look at Cheryl Cole on American X Factor.”
Gatiss and Steven Moffat first had the idea for Sherlock after a conversation on a train about their love for the Victorian detective, but did not take it any further. Moffat said the credit for getting it off the ground should go to his wife.
Speaking backstage, he said: “For 2½ years, we just talked about it and I casually mentioned it to my wife, Sue, who is a producer and she leapt at it so we would still be on the train”.
Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the master sleuth, said he was proud to be in the “very, very good company” of his fellow nominees.
The news coverage prize was taken by ITV News At Ten's coverage of the Cumbria Murders, beating the BBC News At Ten, Channel 4 News and Sky News which were also shortlisted.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s campaigning Channel 4 series, Hugh’s Fish Fight, took the best features prize.
A surprise winner of the best comedy prize was BBC2’s Harry And Paul , beating shows featuring Catherine Tate and comic duo Matt Lucas and David Walliams.
Ceremony host Norton also found himself among the winners when he took the title for best entertainment performance.
He told guests: “This is incredible – we used to win these years ago and I’d forgotten how nice it is.”
BBC1 host Norton paid tribute to the “family” of people who had worked on his show for 13 years and joked: “Shall we call it a night now?”
The specialist factual award was landed by Flying Monsters 3-D – created by Sky 3-D and hosted by Sir David Attenborough.
