Top Kat is best newcomer

It was the night the "bimbos" turned out in force. Following Kate Adie's attack on television presenters who are employed for their "cute bottoms" and "cute faces", the bulletin stars donned their best frocks and demonstrated at least one aspect of their talent.

Among the newscasters at the Royal Albert Hall for the National Television Awards were ITN's Mary Nightingale and Katie Derham, both fulfilling the "cute bottom, cute face" remit. Not to be outdone, rival sports presenters Kirsty Gallagher and Gabby Logan got into cute mode too.

The jury may still be out on Adie's acidic statement but it's possible the presenters don't care. Mary Nightingale is believed to earn at least £100,000 a year. She first came to public prominence last year when Michael Barrymore held her upside down at an awards ceremony - revealing that she was wearing no knickers beneath her thick tights. Katie Derham, 31, is also highly-sought and is a weekend newsreader at ITN. This year she hosted the Classical Brit Awards.

Gabby Logan (formerly Yorath) put her best front forward and showed no sign of disappointment at news that ITV's football coverage, which she helps to present, is being downgraded in the TV schedules.

The evening is one of the biggest nights in the showbusiness calendar with awards voted for by the viewing public. Actress Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Slater in EastEnders collected her prize for most popular newcomer, saying: "This is tops."

David Jason, shortly to start filming more episodes of Only Fools and Horses, was voted Most Popular Actor for the second time.

Barrymore finally lost his crown as the nation's favourite entertainer when he was pipped to the accolade by the Geordie double-act Ant and Dec. They joked: "We think we're gonna be sick. Giants of TV? - we're only 5'6."

There was some consolation for Michael Barrymore, who has experienced a turbulent 12 months during which a man was found dead in his swimming pool. His show, My Kind Of Music, was named the Most Popular Entertainment Programme. Barrymore was not present at the ceremony despite rumours that he would be attending.

He did however send a message saying: "In view of recent events and the death of my mother, I feel that I cannot visit the awards. Thank you LWT and all my colleagues for my award - it means a great deal to me."

Another big winner in the ceremony was Ricky Tomlinson, who took the award for Best Comedy Performer and saw his programme The Royle Family named Most Popular Comedy Programme. Collecting his first award, he paid tribute to the show's creator. He said: "All I can say is 'My arse'. I just wish Caroline Aherne was here but she deserves that wonderful break in Australia and I hope she is the happiest soul in the world."

The ceremony ended with the Special Recognition Award which went to Des O'Connor. Presenting the award, his daughter Kristina said: "I used to cover my ears in the cot when he used to sing to me".