Fred West drama wins three Bafta awards

Winner of leading actor Dominic West for his portrayal of Fred West in Appropriate Adult. Credit: Ian West/PA Wire

A drama about serial killer Fred West has picked up three of the biggest awards at the Bafta television awards.

The ITV1 show, Appropriate Adult, picked up the Leading Actor, Leading Actress and Supporting Actress awards for three of its stars.

Leading Actor winner Dominic West paid tribute to Janet Leach who was the appropriate adult of the title and acted as Fred West's confidante after his arrest.

Leading Actress winner Emily Watson also paid tribute to Leach, who she played, and admitted she was worried when she first heard about the attempt to make a show about a story of such "truly terrible depravity".

But she admitted the role had taken its toll, saying: "I know things I wish I didn't about that case."

Monica Dolan won the Supporting Actress gong for her portrayal of Rose West and said the role had been "a privilege". She paid tribute to the West's victims, many of whom were never reported missing, saying: "I'd love to live in a world where everyone was missed."

Monica Dolan won the Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Rose West. Credit: Ian West/PA Wire

Other big awards included the gong for Supporting Actor which went to Andrew Scott who played the villainous Moriarty in Sherlock.

Scott, who beat his co-star Martin Freeman to pick up the award, thanked his mum and dad and paid tribute to the "exceptionally talented Mr Benedict Cumberbatch", who plays Sherlock Holmes.

Speaking backstage, he said he had not watched earlier versions of Moriarty.

The Special Award went to the show's co-writer Steven Moffat, who also writes Doctor Who, and was presented to him by Benedict Cumberbatch and Matt Smith.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Steven Moffat with the Special Award and Matt Smith. Credit: Ian West/PA Wire

Sherlock actor Cumberbatch described Moffat as "a word machine" and said "his name is a byword for quality family entertainment", while Doctor Who star Smith described the writer as "brilliantly cantankerous".

Accepting the award, the Scot said he owed a great deal to "the two best things the British have ever given to the world: Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who".