GMTV presenter Kate Garraway showed off a bold front in a little blue dress as she joined the stars at the TV Quick and TV Choice awards tonight.

While restraint was clearly not the watchword as the stars of the small screen descended on the classy Dorchester Hotel.

Kate sidestepped the explosion of satin and sequins opting for a figure-hugging blue dress and matching shoes.

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Lady in blue: Kate Garraway sidestepped the sequins and
slipped into a little blue dress for the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards

Her strong appearance came just days after she was humiliated by her colleague Fiona Phillips - who quit the ITV show last month - and accused of going to the 'opening of an envelope.'

Last week, Fiona announced she intended to step down after 12 years as the main anchor at GMTV, and gave an interview to a Sunday paper which amounted to a surprisingly open attack on her younger, more glamorous colleague.

Best foot forward: Eastenders actress Rita Simons - who plays Roxy Mitchell - larks about with friend

Garraway, 41, has been at GMTV for eight years and was widely expected to be given Phillips's job. But she found herself very publicly described as shallow and attention-seeking.

'People handle things in different ways. But I have never done that, or gone to the opening of an envelope to get headlines and your picture in the paper.

'It's not how I operate, but it doesn't make me a good person and her a bad one,' said Phillips.

'She is probably quite pleased I am going,' she added.

On the loose: Coleen Nolan and Sherrie Newsome of Loose Women leave the party looking slightly worse-for-wear

Woman on the loose: A bleary-eyed Jane McDonald struggles to get into her car

While the stars from EastEnders, ITV's Loose Women and Hollyoaks were dolled up to the nines for the annual event, for Kate it was a clearly a case of less is more as she looked the picture of elegance in her little blue number.

The stars were out in force to see Doctor Who sweep the board.

The hit series won the best drama category for the third year running, while star David Tennant took the accolade for best actor.

A scruffy James Corden & girlfriend Sheridan Smith leave the awards show

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Former Emmerdale star Claire King and Loose Women's Jayne McDonald opted for garish glamour and plunging necklines at the event at the Dorchester hotel

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On the loose: Loose Women stars Carol McGiffin, Jacqui Brambles, Jayne McDonald, Andrea McLean, Sherrie Hewson, Denise Welch

Flash the flesh: Hollyoaks' Carly Stenson and Sarah Jayne Dunn opt for flesh-baring numbers, with plenty of sequins

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Soap babes: Corrie's Michelle Keegan and The Bill's Louise Lytton opt for thigh-skimming numbers

Hollyoaks stars Ashley Slanina-Davies (Amy Barnes) and Kieron Richardson (Ste Hays) scrub up well for the glamorous event

Catherine Tate, who first appeared in a cameo role in the 2006 Christmas special before landing the role of the Time Lord's companion for this series, took the best actress prize.

Ant & Dec also put in an appearance to collect the award for best entertainment series.

The Geordie duo have been spending an increasing amount of time in America as they attempt to build up their profile there.

The Apprentice was voted best reality show and this year's winner Lee McQueen arrived to collect the accolade.

Doctor Who star Catherine Tate picked up the Best Actress gong as the show swept the board also taking Best Drama and Best Actor for David Tennant

 Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly share a laugh at the annual event which was held at the swanky Dorchester Hotel

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Torchwood star John Barrowman and husband Scott Gill, and Coronation Street actress Helen Worth catches up with I'm A Celebrity winner Christopher Biggins

Eamonn Holmes, John Barrowman and Holby City star Amanda Mealing, as well as Dragon's Den millionaire entrepreneurs Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis, were among the stars of the small screen in attendance.

EastEnders reclaimed the title of Best Soap from Coronation Street and star Charlie Clements, who plays Bradley Branning in the BBC's flagship continuing drama, was named best soap actor for the second year.

Emmerdale was also celebrating having topped the best storyline category tackling cot death, and also securing the best actress award. 

EastEnders family: Belinda Owusu, Diane Parish and Tiana Benjamin arrived to claim the Best Soap Award from rivals Coronation Street

This was won by Charlotte Bellamy, who plays Laurel Thomas in the Yorkshire.

Despite coming under fire from critics for being crass and bawdy, ITV1 lunchtime strand Loose Women, which features Carol McGiffin, Jane McDonald, Lynda Bellingham and Colleen Nolan as regular panellists, was voted best daytimes show.

The last time the group appeared at an awards ceremony Miss McGiffin hitched up her skirt and flashed her thong at photographers as did fellow presenter Denise Welch, while Miss  Nolan raised eyebrows with her low-cut dress.

Strictly red carpet: Anton Du Beke and Tess Daly try out a few moves before picking up the award for Best Talents Show

Miss McGiffin, who was once married to Chris Evans, later performed a strip tease on the popular programme and confessed she had not had sex for seven years on air.

Other big winners last night included Ashes to Ashes for the new drama category and Strictly Come Dancing, which scooped best talents show.The Awards were hosted by comedian Ben Miller and held at London's Dorchester Hotel.