HELEN MIRREN - MIRREN CROWNED 'TV QUEEN'

MIRREN CROWNED 'TV QUEEN'

Oscar winner Dame Helen Mirren has proved that while she may now rule the roost in Hollywood, she can still boast a commanding presence on Britain's small screen.

The star, who recently won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in The Queen, was also crowned best actress at last night's Royal Television Society awards.

Award judges concluded that Mirren's performance as Superintendent Jane Tennison in ITV1's Prime Suspect was "fantastic" and "faultless", explaining that the actress was "a class act".

Other winners at last night's awards ceremony, which was held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, included Mirren's co-star in The Queen, Michael Sheen, who won the award for best actor for his portrayal of Carry On star Kenneth Williams in the BBC Four drama, Fantabulosa!

Coronation Street pipped Emmerdale and The Bill to the post to be named best soap, while BBC Two show The Apprentice scooped the award for best features and factual entertainment show, beating off competition from Dragon's Den and The Real Hustle.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? - the BBC One show which charted the hunt for a young female performer to take the lead role in the West End hit, Sound of Music - won the overall entertainment category.

Meanwhile, screenwriter Richard Curtis, the man behind classic TV comedies such as Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley, received a special judge's award in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to UK television programming over a number of years".