George Stephanopoulos

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By Georgina Littlejohn

Gothic glamour: Katie Price arrives at the Bafta TV awards in London tonight and turned heads and left other celebrities in her shade as she posed in her stunning strapless black dress

She may not have had much success shopping for her wedding dresses this week.

But one of Katie price's purchases proved to be an outstanding winner last night as she left other celebrities firmly in her shade as she arrived at the Bafta TV Awards last night.

The glamour model went for a gothic-like look in a strapless, long black dress, complete with a dramatic train that fanned out behind her.

She had also teamed the look with big earrings and heavy black eye make-up.

But a disastrous moment was averted, thanks to her helpful best friend and make-up artist Gary Cockerill who helped her lift the train out of the gutter and on to the pavement behind her.

Once Katie, 31, had stopped to check that her frock was looking good, she was back to her normal self as she posed seductively for the cameras.

Helping hand: Katie struggles with her train as she gets out her car, but good friend Gary Cockerill steps in to guide her

Good to go: One final check from Katie before she heads inside the London Palladium

Of course, Katie wasn't the only gothic-esque styled lady tonight, as she probably didn't count on actress Helena Bonham Carter, 44.

The star of Alice In Wonderland arrived dressed in one of her typically kooky outfits, this time in a satin red dress, with a black suspender belt on the outside of it, and round purple sunglasses.

Helena, who was nominated for the Leading Actress award for her role as the famous author Enid Blyton in the BBC Four drama Enid, was accompanied by her film director partner Tim Burton.

In Wonderland: Helena Bonham Carter shows off her wacky style as she is joined by film director husband Tim Burton at the event

Other famous faces from the soaps, entertainment programmes and reality TV shows put on a glamorous parade on the red carpet as they arrived at the annual event.

And the drizzle that threatened to put a damper on the evening's events thankfully did not distract the demanding flashbulbs as they snapped the stars arriving in their Sunday best.

From the cobbles to the red carpet was Coronation Street's Alison King, 37, who plays factory owner Carla Connor, and looked stunning in a short strapless black and white dress.

Northern lights: Coronation Street's Alison King, who plays Carla Connor, and her former co-star Tina O'Brien, who played as Tina Platt but now stars in the BBC drama Waterloo Road

She was joined by her former co-star Tina O'Brien, 26, who looked pretty as a picture in a strapless white dress and gold peep toe shoes.

Helen Worth, 59, who plays Gail McIntyre in the soap - which was nominated in the Continuing Drama category but was pipped to the post by Eastenders - and is currently embroiled in a murder trial storyline, kept it modest in a long black dress with lace trim.

Giving her northern rivals a run for their money was Lacey Turner, 22, who plays Stacey Branning in Eastenders, and looked a vision in a mermaid-inspired strapless dress and bejwelled clutch bag.

East end girls: Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Branning in Eastenders, takes on a mermaid-esque look and is joined by former co-star Kara Tointon, who looked like a Greek goddess in her simple off-white Donna Karan dress with Hot Diamonds jewellery

She was joined by her former co-star Kara Tointon, 26, who adopted a Grecian look in a simple white dress, which she accessorised with gold jewellery and had her hair swept up.

Other Eastenders stars who were attending to see the soap go head-to-head with Corrie for the Bafta, included Barbara Windsor, who looked younger than her 72 years in a black dress, her hair tied up on top of her head.

Barbara is set to leave the soap this year after playing Queen Victoria landlady Peggy Mitchell for the last 16 years.

Leading ladies: Eastenders's Barbara Windsor and Coronation Street's Helen Worth give their younger soap counterparts a run for their money on the red carpet

Also attending was actress and Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, 39, who looked stunning in her Quintana couture dress.

Britain's Got Talent won Entertainment Programme, after going head-to-head with The Graham Norton Show, Harry Hill's TV Burp and Newswipe With Charlie Brooker.

Former Live From Studio Five presenter Melinda Messenger, 39, stood out from the crowd and went for old school Hollywood glamour in a plunging gold dress, her hair swept to one side.

Glamour girls: Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden showed off her sleek new do while former Live From Studio Five host Melinda Messenger shone in a long gold dress

Broadcast journalists Sophie Raworth from BBC News and Sky Sports News's Georgie Thompson proved there was live in front of the newsdesk as they arrived at the bash.

Georgie, 32, who is dating presenter Declan Donnelly, looked like a ballerina in her strapless dress which she teamed with a tiny clutch bag.

Sophie, 42, ditched the autocue and the suit for a long, tight black dress which showed off her trim figure.

News girls: BBC's Sophie Raworth and Georgie Thompson from Sky Sports News, got the flashbulbs popping

Also at the event was Extras and Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen, 40, who looked super-slim in her long black dress, showing how much living the Los Angeles lifestyle has paid off.

She was closely followed by Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page, 32, who arrived with her Emmerdale husband James Thornton.

Next up on the red carpet was Tamsin Outhwaite, 39, who kept it simple but very chic in flared trousers and a floaty top, while actress Suranne Jones, 31, joined the long black dress brigade.

Blondes in black: Ashley Jensen and Joanna Page pose on the red carpet in their stunning long dresses

Chic: Tamsin Outhwaite takes a break from her West End show to attend while Suranne Jones kept it simple in a long black dress

Of course, tonight wasn't all about the younger starlets as veteran actresses Linda Bellingham and Julie Walters also proved they've still got what it takes to give the girls a run for their money.

Julie, 60, won the Leading Actress award for her role in the Channel 4 drama Mo, in which she portrayed the late Labour Party MP Mo Mowlam.

She kept it simple in black trousers and a pretty silver top, while actress Lynda Bellingham, 62, opted for a long black dress with a very colourful necklace.

Keeping it simple: Julie Walters looked elegant in black trousers and a pretty silver top while Lynda Bellingham wore a plain black dress but accessorised with a colourful necklace

It also proved to be a great night for TV presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who won their first ever TV Bafta for Best entertainment performance for the reality TV show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Declan, 34, joked: 'Idon't know what the hell we did wrong for the first eight series.'

Ant, also 34, added: 'You feed a couple of kangaroo testicles to a glamour model and you get a Bafta.'

Double act: Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly celebrate winning their first ever Bafta which they scooped for Best Entertainment Performance

It also proved to be a winning night for Simon Cowell, who was not only given a special award for Outstanding Contribution, but also saw his ITV talent show Britain's Got Talent scoop the Best Entertainment Programme award.

He said: 'This is a genuine honour. To put this into perspective, on a personal level, one of my happiest memories as a kid was my dad coming back with a TV set and watching the one programme in colour.

'So standing here tonight getting this award for making TV shows is the happiest feeling of my life.'