Doctor Who Again Tops TV Magazine Awards

The fourth season of Doctor Who led the 12th annual TVQuick and TVChoice readers' choice awards. Both of the show's stars, David Tennant and Catherine Tate, and the show itself won trophies.

It was at this time last year, after Tennant and Doctor Who won at the 2007 awards, we learned the bad news that season 5 had been postponed until 2010 (with a handful of specials in-between through 2009). So tributes like this feel like an appropriate temporary send-off after an impressive season.

David Tennant was named Best Actor for the second year running. Catherine Tate, who played companion Donna Noble throughout season 4, won Best Actress.

"I genuinely don't know what to say because Judi Dench was nominated and other great people," she said. "This is the first nomination I've ever had for anything that's not comedy-related. I'm quite surprised and shocked, but delighted to accept it." Bernard Cribbins, who played Donna's grandfather Wilf in the show, accepted Tennant's award on his behalf.

Doctor Who also was voted Best Loved Drama for the third year. "Thank you very much for giving Doctor Who this award," said John Barrowman, accepting the award for the show. "It's a pleasure to go to work every day, and I know David Tennant feels the same way." Barrowman's Torchwood was also nominated for best-loved drama.

TV Quick and TV Choice, both published by the same firm, are UK listings magazines. The awards are voted by readers in polls conducted through the publications' websites. Ashes To Ashes, winner for Best New Drama, is also a sci-fi show: it's a spin-off of the original Life on Mars, which is being adapted for American audiences this fall.

Other winners this year included Benidorm, Best Comedy Show; Loose Women, Best Daytime Show; Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Best Entertainment Show; Top Gear, Best Lifestyle Show; The Apprentice, Best Reality Show; Strictly Come Dancing, Best Talent Show; and EastEnders, Best Soap.