Castaway Ben Fogle: The show has helped Lion's reputation

The Channel 4 programme, produced by Endemol Entertainment UK, was praised by judges as "a highly entertaining appointment-to-view".

Meanwhile, the company behind the BBC's Castaway 2000 show was named best independent production company.

Lion Television was praised for its "ambition and maturity".

ITV's Cold Feet scooped best drama, while its producers, Granada Television, also took the one-off drama prize for This Is Personal: The Hunt For The Yorkshire Ripper.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - produced by Celador for ITV - won most successful international programme. The series, hosted in the UK by Chris Tarrant, has been sold to broadcasters around the world.

SMTV's Ant and Dec "pulverised" the BBC

The BBC took best sports programme for Olympic Grandstand, while its Panorama: England's Shame investigation won best news programme.

Alistair McGowan's Big Impression, made by Vera Productions for BBC One, took best entertainment programme.

But ITV's Saturday morning show SMTV: Live took the best children's programme, with the judges noting it had "pulverised the BBC".

Channel 4's Da Ali G Show, made by Talkback, scooped best comedy programme.

Sky One's football drama Dream Team took best multichannel programme for its producers Hewland International for the second year running.

BBC Choice's entertainment news show, Liquid News, was a nominee in that category.