Merton triumphs over rival

Paul Merton has triumphed at the Baftas, beating Angus Deayton to a prize just days after revealing the animosity between them.

Merton scooped the best entertainment performance title over Deayton, who he slated in an interview with Michael Parkinson over the weekend.

Deayton was nominated despite his sacking from Have I Got News For You following newspaper revelations about his private life.

Merton joked: "They say the closer you sit to the stage, the better chance you have of winning. Angus Deayton is sat in Row G - at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane."

The Office was a double winner for the second year running - scooping best sitcom and best comedy performance for creator Ricky Gervais.

He said: " "Winning two is a downer. You liked me when I won one but not two."

Alistair McGowan's Big Impression was named best comedy programme at the London Palladium bash - but The Kumars At Number 42 came away with nothing, despite three nominations.

And David Jason was awarded the British Academy Fellowship for his life's work

Published: 14 Apr 2003