Royal Television Society Programme Awards host Graham Norton set the tone for the evening when, as over-excitable as ever, he began by saying: "I told the RTS I wouldn't swear, but it has to be said - fucking hell, I was at Liza Minnelli's wedding!" Minnelli had invited the Channel 4 presenter over to her glitzy nuptials, which took place in New York on Saturday, when she appeared on So Graham Norton. So you can forgive the odd expletive.
However, the four-letter-word count shot through the roof when everybody's favourite simian sidekick, Johnny Vegas, rolled on stage to collect his best network newcomer award for basically playing himself in BBC2 comedy Happiness. Acceptance speeches were pretty thin on the ground last night, but the powers that be just let the unstoppable Vegas get on with it. And it soon became clear he wasn't going to give up the mic easily. "You know for all the pubs that I mentioned at the Comedy Awards, there are still many pubs struggling" was an opening gambit. But as it was loveable Vegas, the assembled TV types didn't mind.
Vegas got round to thanking most of the BBC's 20,000 staff during his speech at one point or another, but singled out drama and entertainment boss Alan Yentob for special praise. "I wish to thank most of all Mr Yentob, because I hadn't met him before tonight - and now I know we've nothing in common. But when he looked at me with those eyes saying 'win fatty win', it instilled a sense of urgency." So that's how the BBC does so well at all these awards dos.
He also gave a clue as to his future career trajectory. "Kevin Lygo is keen to take me to Channel 5 and I tell you I'm tempted. Someone has got to create that link between TJ Hooker and midday." You heard it here first.
"How do you follow that?" is what Anthony McPartlin admitted in the bar afterwards, when explaining why he and Declan Donnelly - no slouches when it comes to entertaining live audiences with off-the-cuff repartee - decided not to make a speech after collecting their best presenter award. Unfortunately, Ant and Dec were up right after Vegas. And comedy, as they say, is all about timing.
ITV insiders have been muttering darkly for the past couple of years about not getting a proper look-in, gongs wise, at what they see as the BBC-dominated RTS awards. And last night will have done nothing to assuage this feeling - ITV won only four out of the 26 prizes. But at least ITV drama boss Nick Elliott got the simmering sense of injustice off his chest. Accepting the Cyril Bennett Judges Award for his long and distinguished commissioning record, Elliott wondered aloud if he was at the wrong event, because "none of the dramas you've given me this award for ever win anything at the RTS". Ouch.
· Were you at the RTS bash last night? Send in your gossip to monkey@mediaguardian.co.uk
