Moffat was presented with the ‘Judges’ Award’ for his “outstanding contribution to television”, while his crime drama Sherlock, which he co-created with Mark Gatiss, beat Misfits and Downton Abbey to win the ‘Drama Series’ award.

The judging panel commented: “Updating a classic was a daunting task but the bravura of this production’s writing and directing successfully made it feel new and modern. This was one of the most original and entertaining new series for years.”

The second series of Sherlock begins shooting in May.

CBBC’s The Sarah Jane Adventures won the award for ‘Children’s Drama’, beating Tracy Beaker Returns.

The judging panel commented: “The winner was emotional and incredibly engaging – a wonderful drama that stands on its own as a terrific piece of storytelling. The cultural diversity of the cast, its high production values and creative storyline made it a joy to watch and kept you intrigued.”

The ‘Presenter’ award went to Professor Brian Cox for BBC Two’s Wonders Of The Solar System, beating Piers Morgan and Reggie Yates.