Smart Telecom TV Now Awards

An unprecedented host of stars from the UK's top soaps arrived to the Mansion House in Dublin last Saturday night for Ireland's first TV awards ceremony - the Smart Telecom TV NOW Awards, which were presented by international star Amanda Byram.

Amongst those who attended were Coronation Street's Wendi Peters (Cilla Battersby-Brown), Bruce Jones (Les Battersby-Brown), Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow), Susie Blake (Bev Unwin), Sally Lindsay (Shelley Unwin), Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Brown) and Anthony Cotten (Sean Tully).

Also in attendance were Emmerdale's Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle), Adele Silva (Kelly Windsor), Emily Symons (Louise Appleton), Matt Healy (Matthew King) and Roxanne Pallett (Jo Stiles), while representing Eastender's was James Alexandrou (Martin Fowler) and Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater).

Most of the big stars names of Irish TV, from RTE, TV3 and TG4, also glammed up for what was one of the glitziest events of the year so far.

Proudly collecting their gongs were:

Favourite Soap – Coronation Street

Favourite Male Soap Star – David Mitchell (Fair City)

Favourite Female Soap Star – Patsy Kensit

Favourite Soap Couple – Bruce Jones & Wendi Peters (Coronation Street)

Favourite Reality TV Show – You’re A Star

Favourite Drama Series – The Clinic

Favourite Documentary – Bill Malone’s Return to Tsunami

Favourite News Presenter – Claire Byrne (TV3)

Favourite Weather Presenter – Martin King (TV3)

Favourite Irish TV show – Podge & Rodge

Favourite Male TV Presenter – Derek Mooney

Favourite Female TV Presenter – Kathryn Thomas

Lifetime Achievement Award – Louis Walsh

A host of celebrities and well-known faces were also in attendance including Lucy Kennedy, Orlaith McAllister of Big Brother fame, Fran Cosgrave (who is delighted with the success of his new autobiography), Linda Martin and Brendan O'Connor. Actor George McMahon enjoyed the evening with his girlfriend Lindzi Cowap, while Dustin the Turkey insulted all and sundry.

One of the highlights of the evening was The X-Factor's winner Shayne Ward’s performance of his two hits That’s My Goal and his latest single No Promises.

Amanda Brunker looked great, as did Siobhan O’Dowd and model Andrea Roche. Magician Keith Barry, editor of TV Now Deborah McGee, publisher Michael O’Doherty, Rhona Bradshaw of Smart Telecom, Sonia Harris and Nalini Nathan also turned out for the event, after which many of the guests retired to popular hot spots Renards and Lillies.

Honouring the best in Irish TV, these are true 'people's awards', as all winners were voted for by the Irish public. The response from the public was overwhelming with over 35,000 votes counted.