Dame Eileen Atkins has been named Best Actress by the Broadcasting Press Guild for her roles in BBC dramas Cranford and Ballet Shoes.

The 73-year-old triumphed over fellow Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith to win the gong at the 34th annual awards.

She played the town's moral guardian Miss Deborah Jenkyns in Cranford, an adaptation of three novels by Elizabeth Gaskell.

The series also won awards for Best Television Drama Series and Best Writer, while Philip Glenister was named Best Actor for his roles in the period drama and Life On Mars.

Elsewhere, Andrew Marr scooped prizes for Best Performer in a Non-Acting Role for the Andrew Marr Show and Best Documentary Series for History of Modern Britain.

BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey won Best Comedy/Entertainment Programme, and Top Gear triumphed in the Factual Entertainment category.

Phil Redmond, who created Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, received the Harvey Lee Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting.

The awards were voted for by industry journalists and handed out at London's Theatre Royal in Drury Lane.

It was recently revealed that Cranford will return for a two-part Christmas special.