Political satire in the thick of the Baftas

The comedy actor Chris Langham finally gained recognition for his work last night by winning a Bafta for his portrayal of a hapless minister in The Thick Of It. Langham, 56, who played Hugh Abbot, the world-weary minister for social affairs in the BBC political satire, won the Best Comedy Performance, beating his co-star, the Oscar-winning Peter Capaldi.

The award hailed a resurgence of the situation comedy at the Bafta television awards at the Grosvenor Hotel in London, where it beat a strong field including Extras by Ricky Gervais.

Langham said: "I would like to thank my wife for being the most loyal, constant and honourable friend a person could have."

He also thanked Capaldi and the show's writer, Armando Iannucci, adding: "I'm deeply grateful. It really means a lot to me."

Langham also beat Catherine Tate and Extras star Ashley Jensen for the award.

Mark Rylance took the Best Actor award for The Government Inspector, the drama about the late Dr David Kelly.

The Thick Of It was written originally for BBC4, and was also recently named Best New Comedy at the British Comedy awards, where Langham also won Best Comic Actor. Politicians and critics said Iannucci had captured the insular and macho world of Whitehall decision-making.

Langham, who was a member of the original line-up of Not the Nine O'Clock News, also had success with Help, which was named the Best Comedy Programme. In the BBC2 series, he played a psychiatrist visited by a range of peculiar characters, many played by Paul Whitehouse, who said at the awards they were working on a new series of the comedy.

"I don't know if it's funny really. It's more poignant than out- and-out laugh," he said.

The BBC had a successful night with other wins including Doctor Who, which won Best Drama Series. The actress Billie Piper collected the award, while David Tennant, who plays the Doctor, watched from the side of the platform. The Doctor Who series was also voted as the Best Television Show of Last Year by the public. The creator of the new Doctor Who series, Russell T Davies, also won the Dennis Potter Award for outstanding writing for television, presented by Tennant.

Andrew Davies's BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens classic Bleak House won the award for Best Drama Serial. Anna Maxwell Martin, who played Dickens' heroine Esther Summerson, was named Best Actress.

The award for Best Entertainment Performance was won by Jonathan Ross for his Friday night BBC1 chat show.

The director Ken Loach was presented with the Academy Fellowship, the highest accolade Bafta can bestow. The documentary film-maker Adam Curtis, who won a Bafta last year for his documentary series The Power of Nightmares, was presented with an award for Outstanding Contribution to Television.

The winners

Best actor Mark Rylance, The Government Inspector (Channel 4)

Best actress Anna Maxwell Martin, Bleak House (BBC 1)

Best entertainment performance Jonathan Ross, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross (BBC 1)

Best comedy performance Chris Langham, pictured right, The Thick of It (BBC 4)

Best single drama The Government Inspector (Channel 4)

Best drama series Doctor Who (BBC 1)

Best drama serial Bleak House (BBC 1)

Best continuing drama EastEnders (BBC 1)

Best feature The Apprentice (BBC 2)

Best sitcom The Thick Of It (BBC 4)

Best factual series Jamie's School Dinners (Channel 4)

Best special factual Holocaust - A Music Memorial Film From Auschwitz (BBC 2)

Best sport The Ashes (Channel 4)

Best interactivity Coast (BBC 2)

Best news coverage BBC1 10 O'Clock News - 7 July London bombings

Best current affairs Dispatches - "Beslan" (Channel 4)

Best single documentary Make Me Normal (Channel 4)

Best entertainment programme The X Factor (ITV 1)

Best comedy programme: Help (BBC 2)

Pioneer audience award Dr Who (BBC 1)