A dazzling evening at one of TV’s big nights of the year.
That was mainly down to the blizzard of camera flashes in the backstage press room.
“I can’t see now,” protested Corrie’s Kym Ryder, as she faced the massed ranks of photographers.
The actress, who plays Rovers barmaid Michelle Connor, was beaming after being voted Most Popular Newcomer.
And she had to beam a whole lot more after coming off stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
No wonder she turned away from the snapper in this pic.
It works like this:
Star wins an award. Star is escorted to the press room, along with the person who handed over their gong.
Star then climbs on small stage while grown men standing on chairs attempt to break the world record for most pictures taken in 60 seconds.
Snappers try to extend the ordeal by flashlight for as long as possible.

HOLDING an awards ceremony on Halloween always risks a few nightmares.
So will it be trick or treat for the millions watching the National Television Awards, live on ITV1 from 8.30pm tonight?
I’ll be backstage at London’s Royal Albert Hall, reporting on the winners as they come off stage to talk to the media in the press room.
Aside from special awards on the night, the NTAs are decided by a public vote.
You also have to realise that each award is for “Most Popular” and not “Best”.
Even so, the way the voting is organised can lead to serious omissions from the nominations’ shortlist.
It can also lead to a few seemingly surprising results on the night.
Take tonight’s Most Popular Actor category.
David Tennant (Doctor Who), Antony Cotton (Coronation Street), Charlie Clements (EastEnders) and James Sutton (Hollyoaks) are the four contenders.

THERE are some things you feel you should know about certain TV stars.
But doing my research before a recent interview with Carol Vorderman, I was surprised to learn she was a Manchester United fan.
“It dates back to the 1960s,” she told me when I asked about her lifelong support.
“And in the sixties, if you were Catholic and from the north west, you either supported Everton or Man Utd.”
Carol went to primary school in north Wales.
“On a Monday morning at assembly we used to do bidding prayers:
“Thank you Father for letting my mum and dad be all right.
“And thank you God for letting Manchester United beat, whoever it was, three nil on Saturday.
“It was compulsory.”

SHARON Osbourne walked off and called it a pantomime.
But Mrs O has already said she’ll be back for the latest edition of The X Factor.
Choreographer and creative director Brian Friedman is under fire after last week’s over-produced first live studio final.
Sharon was right when she described it as “a bloody circus”.
Even so, some acts emerged with good comments from the judges.
That included girl band Hope – and Our Gracie.
I had another chat with Raquelle Gracie yesterday, just ahead of the first dress rehearsal for this Saturday’s show.

CAUGHT up with Raquelle Gracie yesterday ahead of The X Factor live finals, which begin tomorrow night.
Manchester-raised Raquelle is a member of girl band Hope, one of 12 acts now living together in a north London house.
The online version of today’s Page 3 news story – with pic gallery – is here.
As you will see from that gallery, it’s not the first time Raquelle, 20, has featured in the MEN.
There wasn’t, as ever, room to include everything from the interview.
We spoke about other important issues.
For example, a report that finalists have been to see the dentist.
“Yes, it’s true. We all had our teeth whitened,” she told me.

HE’S been kissed by Kylie and worked with other stars, including Robbie Williams.
Now Jimmy Hibbert is helping The Magic Roundabout turn once again.
Jimmy may not be a household name, but he’s certainly made his mark in the world of TV, film and music.
You can read about him in today’s MEN TV feature here.
And then you might want to check out some of the links below.
Talk to anyone in TV and they’ll tell you there’s always one group of people unimpressed with what they do – their kids.
Jimmy has three daughters, now aged 23, 21 and 18.
His story is fairly typical:
“It’s taken for granted that that’s what I do,” he told me yesterday.

THERE’S some explosive action when the 35th anniversary episode of Emmerdale is screened tonight.
Executive producer Keith Richardson was in nostalgic mood at a recent press preview of the hour-long special.
The conversation, naturally, turned to Emmerdale explosions – something of a speciality since the 1993 plane crash.
In particular, he recalled a July 2002 royal visit.
“I think our most spectacular one was when we blew up the Post Office in front of the Queen.
“Everybody was standing around the Queen – they all knew it was going to happen.
“And suddenly there was this huge explosion.”

STRICTLY Come Dancing is a huge TV success story, loved by millions of fans.
But there’s something wrong with the new series.
The decision to delay transmission of the results show until Sunday nights is out of step with what many viewers want and expect.
Last night’s main programme saw Kelly Brook and Brendan Cole (pictured at rehearsals before the live performance) joint top with the judges.
They shared that lead with Penny Lancaster-Stewart and Ian Waite.
Lines for the crucial viewer vote closed at 9pm last night.
And then it was back to the ballroom for the recording of the dance-off featuring the two couples who found themselves in the bottom two.
That recording will be screened on BBC1 from 6.45pm tonight.
But for those who want to know – and know where to look – full details of what happened, and who went out, are already available on the web.
Brian Capron’s exit last week was revealed online late on Saturday evening, just a short time after the event.

HERE’S the face of Chief Yapa, the happiest man on the planet.
The concluding part of Meet The Natives on C4 last night was pure TV joy.
Our favourite five ambassadors from the South Pacific island of Tanna completed their mission to meet Prince Philip.
The tribesmen then returned home in triumph – leaving a trail of wisdom for viewers back in England.
Chief Yapa’s aim was true when he was given a bow to shoot in Northumberland.
“In our belief, if you shoot at your target you will hit it.
“And no-one can say you missed.”
Filmed and directed by Gavin Searle, Meet The Natives was heart-warming, award-winning stuff.

HIS mum was there, along with family and old school friends.
And then there were the 5,000 or so fans who left Roger Hodgson overwhelmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London last night.
You may have seen the former Supertramp star all but steal the show at July’s televised Memorial Concert for Diana.
He’s attracted the interest of a new generation, thanks in part to Scooter’s recycling of The Logical Song.
And then there’s the Gym Class Heroes track Cupid’s Chokehold / Breakfast In America.
There were more than a few young faces at last night’s concert.
But the vast majority giving Roger a prolonged standing ovation would have bought the original Breakfast In America album way back in 1979.
Over 18 million copies have been sold – the back cover of the original record sleeve features Supertramp sat at the bar of an American diner.
Each member of the group is reading a different newspaper, including our very own Manchester Evening News.