Celebrity News: The Only Way Is Essex beats Downton Abbey and Sherlock to take home the YouTube Audience prize at the BAFTA Television Awards

By SARAH BULL and GEORGINA LITTLEJOHN

Thrilled: The Only Way Is Essex cast and crew couldn't believe it when they won the YouTube Audience Award at the BAFTA Television Awards

The Only Way Is Essex took home the YouTube Audience prize at the BAFTA Television Awards tonight.

The hit ITV2 programme beat shows Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Miranda, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and The Killing to receive the prestigious prize, the only award in the evening which is voted for by the public.

Taking to the stage to accept the BAFTA, stars Sam Faiers and Amy Childs were literally jumping up and down and screaming with glee, while Mark Wright said: 'We're absolutely overwhelmed to be here tonight, even to be nominated. But to win, it's incredible.'

And Amy wanted to have her own input, leaning over to the microphone and saying her catchphrase 'Shut up!' into the microphone.

Screams all round: The group take to the stage to accept their award

Screams all round: The group take to the stage to accept their award

After winning the prize, Joey Essex told MailOnline: 'It's reem!'
While Mark elaborated: 'I'm in shock. There's no way I thought we were giong to win.

And when they called our names out, and all the screaming... I'm still in shock.'

Amy added: 'I couldn't believe it when they called our names out. I just hope I didn't trip over my dress! Did you see me and Sam jumping up and down on stage?'

Victory! Sam, Amy, Lauren and Lydia pose with their award

Other awards during the ceremony tonight included the best drama series prize, which was presented to BBC1's Sherlock.

The hit series beat shows such as ITV1's Downton Abbey, as well as BBC3's Being Human and E4's Misfits.

Sherlock - based on Conan Doyle's timeless stories - was launched last summer and became a huge hit, despite running to only three episodes although new shows are now in production.

Writer and co-creator of the modern day adaptation of the detective shows Mark Gatiss said: 'It's a huge honour and a fantastic surprise. Thank you so much - it's a huge thrill.'

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The New Media prize went to Wallace And Gromit's World Of Adventure, beating online spin-offs and apps for the BBC's Brain Test Britain, the Thick Of It and Misfits.

Another early winner at the awards bash at London's Grosvenor House was the BBC1 film Between Life And Death which was named best single documentary.

Presenter Graham Norton raised a chuckle as he lined up the International TV Show award when he cracked a gag about Geordie Cheryl Cole's recent recruitment for the US version of the X Factor.

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'Just because a programme has subtitles doesn't mean it can't be successful - just look at Cheryl Cole on American X Factor.'

The prize went to epic Danish crime drama The Killing. Norton joked: 'Thank you Denmark - first bacon, now The Killing.'

Gatiss and Steven Moffat first had the idea for Sherlock after a conversation on a train about their love for the Victorian detective but did not take it any further. Moffat said the credit for getting it off the ground should go to his wife.

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Speaking backstage, he said: 'For two-and-a-half-years we just talked about it and I casually mentioned it to my wife, Sue, who is a producer and she leapt at it so we would still be on the train.'

Benedit Cumberbatch, who plays the master sleuth, said he was proud to be in the 'very, very good company' of his fellow nominees.

He said: 'I'm a big Misfits fan so I thought they were in with a shot.'

Moffat also confirmed there could be more series of Sherlock to come, saying: 'Of course it's got legs. It is 100 years old and still a hit.'