Widow's tribute to winner Thaw

An emotional Sheila Hancock paid tribute to her late husband John Thaw at the Bafta TV Awards.

Her eyes brimming with tears, she spoke of the "great wave of love" shown towards her and her daughters since his death from cancer two months ago at the age of 60.

Thaw became the posthumous hero of last night picking up the prestigious Lew Grade Audience Award at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane with his ITV1 show Buried Treasure. Accepting the honour on his behalf Thaw's widow Miss Hancock, 69, said: "It's very fitting that the last award that John will ever get - and he got a lot - should be one that's voted for by the audience.

"John was hugely proud of his respect within the industry and he liked it when the critics gave him a good review - but if they didn't, he always used to say to me 'it's only the audience that matter kid, without them we're nothing'."

Joined by her two daughters Melanie, 37, and Joanna, 26, at the ceremony, she went on: "He would have been absolutely overwhelmed and moved beyond belief at the great wave of love that has come towards my daughters and I since his death. It seems to have made people really very sad indeed. I've been asked if I would thank you all on behalf of John and I'm happy, no I'm not happy, I'm proud to do that." Before the awards, Miss Hancock, who was married to the actor for 28 years, said: "I haven't been able to watch John on TV since he died. I know they are going to show clips of him tonight and when they do, I'll have to look away."

Thaw's Inspector Morse co-star Kevin Whately, 51, added: "For John to win is like a celebration of his life." Thaw's victory saw off challenges from Only Fools And Horses star David Jason and EastEnders.

Last year, Thaw won a Bafta Fellowship Award, the body's highest honour, and has been recognised for Inspector Morse and the wartime drama Goodnight Mr Tom.

Last night's awards proved a triumph for BBC2 - which picked up seven. BBC1 got two gongs, ITV six, Channel 4 four and Sky one.

Michael Gambon landed the Best Actor title for the third successive year for his performance in BBC 2's Perfect Strangers.

Julie Walters was named Best Actress for My Beautiful Son, beating Sheila Hancock.

Screenwriter Andrew Davies - whose credits include adaptations of Vanity Fair and Pride and Prejudice - was given an Academy Fellowship. His BBC 1 Series The Way We Live Now won Best Drama Serial.

Graham Norton took Best Entertainment Performance for the third year running. The Office collected Best Sitcom and its star and creator Ricky Gervais landed the Comedy Performance title.

EastEnders won the battle of the soaps for the third time in four years.

Racing commentary legend Murray Walker, the voice of Formula One for decades, was honoured with a special award for his contribution to TV. BBC 2's Louis Theroux won the Richard Dimbleby Award for Best Presenter for the second successive year.

Sky News won a Bafta for its reporting of the 11 September attacks in the US.