Tears of Crocodile Hunter's widow at TV awards

Terri Irwin took to the stage in trademark khaki at the Royal Albert Hall ceremony to honour natural history presenter Sir David Attenborough on her late husband's behalf. The audience gave her a standing ovation.

See more pictures from the ceremony here

It was her first appearance outside Australia since Irwin, 44, was killed by a stingray eight weeks ago.

"I promised I wasn't going to cry," she said as she stepped up to hand a lifetime achievement award to Sir David. "But I'm especially pleased to be here, because if there's one person that directly inspired my husband it's this man.

"As a TV presenter Steve was larger than life but his real true love was conservation and the influence of tonight's recipient has been immense."

The compliment was returned later by Sir David, who said Irwin had introduced millions worldwide to the natural world and added: "He taught them how wonderful and exciting it was. He was a born communicator."

His remarks were all the more pointed, coming after Alistair Fothergill, producer of the BBC's Planet Earth series - narrated by Sir David - slammed Irwin in the Radio Times for his "irresponsible style of film-making" and dismissed him as "a showman".

There were few surprises in last night's awards, voted for by the public. This year seemed much the same as last year, with Doctor Who scooping best drama, best actress for Billie Piper and best actor for David Tennant.

Little Britain won best comedy and Ant and Dec were named best entertainment presenters, with their nostalgic Gameshow Marathon named best quiz show.

Noel Edmonds scooped his first award in 12 years, with his Channel 4 hit Deal Or No Deal taking the best daytime programme award.

Top Gear, whose presenter Richard Hammond is recovering from a crash in a jet car during filming, was named best factual programme - prompting co-host Jeremy Clarkson to quip: "I told you if one of us had a car accident we'd win this."

BBC1 scooped seven awards in all - an embarrassment for ITV, which will screen the ceremony tonight, and which won just three.

The winners

Reality programme: Big Brother
Actor: David Tennant (Doctor Who)
Newcomer: Charlie Clements (EastEnders)
Entertainment programme: The X Factor
Daytime programme: Deal or No Deal
Factual programme: Top Gear
Actress: Billie Piper (Doctor Who)
Quiz programme: Ant & Dec's Game Show Marathon
Drama: Doctor Who
Entertainment presenter: Ant & Dec
TV Contender: Nikki (Big Brother)
Comedy Programme: Little Britain
Special recognition: David Walliams for his Channel swim
Serial drama: EastEnders
Lifetime achievement: David Attenborough

Tarrant lines up radio return

Chris Tarrant says he will return to primetime radio in the new year. The former breakfast show DJ, who has suffered a high-profile split from his wife Ingrid and whose Who Wants To Be A Millionaire failed for the first time in eight years to take the best quiz show gong at the National Television Awards, told the Standard: "I'm making a one-hour weekly show. I want to go back to what I did before, with the music and the chat."