Appropriate Adults scoops two Royal Television Society awards

Appropriate Adults Dominic West and Emily Watson have each carried off a Royal Television Society award for their performances in the drama about the killer Fred West.

Dominic West, who played the serial killer, was named Best Male Actor at the awards in central London.

The judges said he "shockingly, wittily and superbly captured the most horrific characteristic of a serial killer: his terrifying charm".

The other nominees were Daniel Rigby for the Morecambe and Wise biopic, Eric & Ernie, and John Simm for Exile.

Watson, who played the appropriate adult, Janet Leach, who gave the drama its title, was named Best Female Actor.

The judges said she was "subtle, nuanced and utterly compelling, an incredibly skilled and extraordinary portrayal of an ordinary woman by an actor at the height of her powers".

She beat This Is England star Vicky McClure and Ruth Negga, who played Shirley Bassey in Shirley, to the prize.

The ITV film was based on the little-known story of Ms Leach who was present throughout West's questioning by police as the scale of his crimes became evident.

The ceremony formally known as RTS Programme Awards, at Grosvenor House in Park Lane, was hosted by actor and comedian Rob Brydon.

Other awards saw wins for Gareth Malone who was named Best Presenter for his role in The Choir: Military Wives and Coronation Street which was named Best Soap and Continuing Drama.

The winner of Best Single Documentary went to the controversial Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die.

The BBC2 show, which followed the best-selling author as he examined the case for assisted suicide, was described as "groundbreaking, revelatory and profoundly moving".

Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani won the Comedy Performance award for their roles in the BBC comedy Him and Her, with the judges praising their "perfect partnership" which they said was "understated but wickedly funny".

Fresh Meat, which stars Jack Whitehall as a university student sharing a house with other undergraduates, was named Best Scripted Comedy.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Beryl Vertue OBE whose career started with classic comedy writers Galton and Simpson in the 1950s and who is still working now, counting the BBC hit Sherlock - where she is executive producer - among her credits.

Vertue also worked as an agent for names including Tony Hancock and Spike Milligan.

WINNERS AT RTS PROGRAMME AWARDS

:: Entertainment - Derren Brown - The Experiments - for Channel 4

:: Presenter - Gareth Malone - The Choir: Military Wives - for BBC Two

:: Arts - Graffiti Wars - for Channel 4

:: Single Documentary - Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die - for BBC Two

:: Documentary Series - 24 Hours In A&E - for Channel 4

:: Nations And Regions Programme - The Scheme - for BBC One

:: History - Dambusters: Building The Bouncing Bomb - for Channel 4

:: Science & Natural History - Mummifying Alan: Egypt's Last Secret - for Channel 4

:: Soap and Continuing Drama - Coronation Street - for ITV1

:: Children's Drama - Tracy Beaker - for CBBC

:: Children's Programme - Newsround - My Autism & Me - for CBBC

:: International Award - Modern Family - Twentieth Century Fox Television

:: Daytime Programme - Deal Or No Deal Live - for Channel 4

:: Popular Factual and Features - Hugh's Big Fish Fight - for Channel 4

:: Actor (Male) - Dominic West - Appropriate Adult - for ITV1

:: Actor (Female) - Emily Watson - Appropriate Adult - for ITV1

:: Single Drama - Eric & Ernie - for BBC Two

:: Drama Serial - Top Boy - for Channel 4

:: Drama Series - Luther 2 - for BBC One

:: Writer - Drama - Peter Bowker - Eric & Ernie - for BBC Two

:: Writer - Comedy - Sam Bain & Jesse Armstrong - Fresh Meat - for Channel 4

:: Entertainment Performance - Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here; Red Or Black; Push The Button; Britain's Got Talent - for ITV1

:: Comedy Performance - Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani - Him & Her - for BBC Three

:: Scripted Comedy - Fresh Meat - for Channel 4

:: Judges' Award - Laura Mackie

:: Lifetime Achievement Award - Beryl Vertue OBE