'Hollyoaks' star in Fate Awards triumph

Hollyoaks actor Gerard McCarthy has been named 'Media Personality Of The Year' at Northern Ireland's Fate Awards 2010.

The 28-year-old, best known for his role as Kris Fisher on the Channel 4 soap, received the accolade on Friday during a ceremony held at Belfast's Europa Hotel.

Sky News anchor Eamonn Holmes was another big winner, taking home the 'Fate Legend Award' in recognition of his long-established career in the TV industry.

The Fate Awards are held each year in order to showcase "the very best the Northern Ireland entertainment and hospitality industry has to offer". Most of the other prizes were awarded to the country's best restaurants, bars and clubs.

This year's Fate Awards were hosted by I'm A Celebrity... winner Christopher Biggins, while stars who turned out for the ceremony included Michelle Heaton, Carol McGiffin, Gail Porter, Samantha Fox and Kim Woodburn.

Organiser Michael Mervyn-Jones, publisher of Fate Magazine, commented: "I am extremely proud to be applauding the people who have worked through one of the most difficult trading years of recent times, to contribute to Northern Ireland's thriving entertainment and hospitality, and I am thrilled to see so many of the créme of the industry here, under one roof, recognising and celebrating the successes of the past year."