BAFTA TV Awards: 'Appropriate Adult' Wins Big; 'Borgen' Tops 'The Killing,' 'Modern Family'

LONDON -- Monica Dolan waltzed off with this year's  British Academy Television Award for best supporting actress for her turn in ITV1’s serial killer drama Appropriate Adult.

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Dolan saw off the challenges of her fellow nominees which included Maggie Smith, in line for her role as a snippy dowager duchess in Downton Abbey.

It marked a night where upstarts ruled more established hits and the contenders considered to be among the bookies' favorites.

Dolan hit the podium ahead of fellow nominee Smith for her nod dished out by Timothy Spall.

Fresh mini-series Appropriate Adult won three of the evening's top performances with Dolan's the first dished out.

Emily Watson secured the evening's best actress plaudit for her turn in Appropriate Adult while her co-star from the show, Dominic West, picked up the evening's best actor nod.

West made it to the podium ahead of  challenges from Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock, John Simm in Exile and Joseph Gilgun in This is England ’88.

Watson impressed ahead of Nadine Marshall in Random, Romola Garai in The Crimson Petal and the White and Vicky McClure in This Is England ’88.

Danish thriller Borgen walked away with this year's British Academy Television Award for best international TV show, beating fellow Dane contender show The Killing [second season], U.S. laugher Modern Family and the adaptation of best-selling Australian novel The Slap.

The award was presented by Vicky McClure and Sam Claflin.

Other BAFTA TV nods saw Andrew Scott scored a best supporting actor award for his turn in Sherlock, an award he picked up from Helen Mcrory.

BAFTA TV's best situation comedy category was deemed to be Mrs Brown's Boys while Jennifer Saunders scored the BAFTA for best female in a comedy performance for her role in Absolutely Fabulous.

Darren Boyd picked up the evening's best male comedy turn in Spy, aired on satcaster BSkyB's Sky One.

Stephen Moffat, the television writer and producer of both Sherlock and Doctor Who was presented with the 2012 Television Special Award, presented to him Benedict Cumberbatch and Matt Smith, his Sherlock and Doctor Who stars.

And one of the biggest ovations of the night was left to TV legend Rolf Harris who picked up a BAFTA fellowship.

This year's show was hosted by Irish comedian and TV host Dara O'Briain from the Royal Festival Hall in central London and sponsored by Arquiva.