Channel 4 series Educating Yorkshire landed a top TV award as one of the stars of the show blasted the Education Secretary Michael Gove.

The programme collected the best documentary series prize at the Royal Television Society Awards staged in London.

Michael Steer, a maths teacher who was a regular face on the series set in Dewsbury's Thornhill Community Academy, offered an unflattering dedication as he picked up the award.

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He told guests from the TV industry: “On behalf of teachers I'd like to dedicate this award to Michael Gove and I mean dedicate in the Anglo Saxon sense which means insert roughly into the anus of.”

Other winners included Stephen Fry who was named best presenter for his series Stephen Fry: Out There in which he travelled to a number of countries to examine how they treated their gay communities. The broadcaster famously made an attempt on his own life as he made the series as it left him at such a low ebb.

He paraphrased Winston Churchill to tell guests: “I think you can judge a civilisation by the way it treats its minorities.”

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: The Royal Television Society Programme Awards 2013 Show all 15 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: The Royal Television Society Programme Awards 2013 1/15 Olivia Colman Olivia Colman on the red carpet at the RTS Awards Getty Images 2/15 Sharon Rooney Sharon Rooney arrives at the RTS Awards Getty Images 3/15 Leigh Francis Comedian Leigh Francis aka Keith Lemon Getty Images 4/15 Stephen Fry Stephen Fry joins the party at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 5/15 Tracy-Ann Oberman, Sue Perkins and Anna Richardson (Left to right) Tracy-Ann Oberman, Sue Perkins and Anna Richardson team up at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 6/15 Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan link arms at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 7/15 Jodie Whittaker Jodie Whittaker on the red carpet at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 8/15 Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker share a moment at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. 9/15 Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker have their picture taken together at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 10/15 Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly arrive in matching suits at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 11/15 Brooke Vincent Coronation Street's Brooke Vincent attending the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 12/15 Gabby Logan The presenter and former gymnast Gabby Logan attending the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 13/15 Katy Brand Katy Brand arriving at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 14/15 Anita Rani Presenter Anita Rani attending the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 15/15 Matt Berry Matt Berry attending the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 1/15 Olivia Colman Olivia Colman on the red carpet at the RTS Awards Getty Images 2/15 Sharon Rooney Sharon Rooney arrives at the RTS Awards Getty Images 3/15 Leigh Francis Comedian Leigh Francis aka Keith Lemon Getty Images 4/15 Stephen Fry Stephen Fry joins the party at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 5/15 Tracy-Ann Oberman, Sue Perkins and Anna Richardson (Left to right) Tracy-Ann Oberman, Sue Perkins and Anna Richardson team up at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 6/15 Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan link arms at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 7/15 Jodie Whittaker Jodie Whittaker on the red carpet at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 8/15 Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker share a moment at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. 9/15 Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker have their picture taken together at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 10/15 Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly arrive in matching suits at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 11/15 Brooke Vincent Coronation Street's Brooke Vincent attending the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 12/15 Gabby Logan The presenter and former gymnast Gabby Logan attending the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 13/15 Katy Brand Katy Brand arriving at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 14/15 Anita Rani Presenter Anita Rani attending the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 15/15 Matt Berry Matt Berry attending the Royal Television Society Programme Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

Idris Elba took the best actor prize for his performance in BBC1 detective series Luther.

Olivia Colman won the best actress prize for the second year running for her role in Broadchurch with judges calling her “an actor at the top of her game”.

Taking to the stage without her shoes, she said: “I kicked them off under the table and forgot to put them back on.”

PA