Gervais wins Bafta hat-trick

Ricky Gervais has won Best Comedy Performer at the television Baftas three years running.

08:53 19 April 2004

LAst night Ricky Gervais won Best Comedy Performer at the television Baftas for the third year running.

Gervais won for his portrayal of David Brent in his hit sitcom "The Office". The comedy classic also picked up the best sitcom award for the third year in a row - despite it almost being left off the nominations list through an administrative error.

After the two-hour long Christmas specials, which Gervais has said are the last episodes of the series, won the awards he noted: "This is the end of a chapter, thank you very much."

Other big winners on the night include Jonathan Ross - who beat Geordie duo Ant and Dec to both the Best Entertainment Performance and Best Entertainment Series awards; and Bill Nighy, who won a Bafta double by winning best actor in the TV and film version of the awards.

Julie Walters was also a winner - her role in the adaptation of the Chaucer classic "The Wife of Bath" won her a TV Bafta for the third year in a row.

Full list of winners.

Best actor
Bill Nighy - State of Play

Best actress
Julie Walters - The Wife of Bath - Canterbury Tales

Best entertainment performance
Jonathan Ross - Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

Best comedy performance
Ricky Gervais -The Office Christmas special

Single drama
The Deal - Channel 4

Best drama series
Buried - Channel 4

Best drama serial
Charles II: The Power and the Passion - BBC 1

Continuing drama
Coronation Street - ITV1

Huw Wheldon Award for factual series or strand
The National Trust - BBC 2

Flaherty documentary award
Lager, Mum and Me: One Life - BBC 1

Features
Wife Swap - Channel 4

Sport
Rugby World Cup Final - ITV1

News coverage
Channel 4 News, Fall of Saddam - Channel 4

Current affairs
The Secret Policeman - BBC 1

Lew Grade Award for entertainment programme or series
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross - BBC 1

Situation comedy
The Office Christmas Special - BBC 1

Comedy programme or series
Little Britain - BBC 2