The British Academy Television Awards brings London's 2012 Olympics and Paralympics back to the forefront of Britain's collective mind as those involved in presenting, producing, acting and satirising the Games are recognised.

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 12, 2013) (ITN) - British actress Olivia Colman scooped individual honours at the British Academy Television Awards in London on Sunday (May 12), but it was the Olympics that were the bigger winners on an evening that saw programmes relating to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games recognised for achievement in British television.

Actress Sienna Miller said she was determined to enjoy an evening where she was nominated for best leading actress despite the rain.

"I feel very British and always have done, but it's lovely to be here. It's great to be at home. Regardless of this charming weather. You know, it's great," she said.

Broadcaster and comedian Michael Palin, who made his name as a founder of the Monty Python comedy group, was due to receive one of the British entertainment industry's highest accolades, the fellowship of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

"It's a very nice tribute on the part of BAFTA to all the work I've done over the years, and I have done a lot of different kinds of television programmes, from writing comedy, to performing comedy, to doing serious documentaries. You know, it's been quite a varied career, which I think is a sort of celebration of television in a way," he said.

Colman stole the show individually though, picking up two separate awards as best female performance in a comedy programme and best supporting actress.

Speaking after picking up her second award, Colman seemed pleased.

"This is a really lovely evening," she told those gathered.

Earlier on in the evening British actors David Harewood and Damien Lewis, both part of the successful U.S. television series Homeland, joked around about Lewis' character from the programme living two different lives.

"I might not be presenting an award," said Lewis, adding "though on the other hand I could be."

But it was the Olympics and Paralympics, hosted in London in the summer of 2012, that might be considered the overall winners, after the Channel 4 production team was recognised for its coverage of the Paralympic Games, while situation comedy Twenty Twelve, which centred around the preparations for the Games, also picked up it's own award as well as involvement in one of Colman's.

Broadcaster Clare Balding was given the Special Award by the Academy recognising her work in sports broadcasting, and her work at the Olympics and Paralympics in particular.

Balding said it wasn't just her that had been swept up in the emotion of the Games however -- the whole country had.

"The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics I think brought out something in all of us; an incredible positive energy -- a feeling that we could do anything, and we did," she said.

Ben Whishaw took home best leading actor for his role as Richard II -- remarkably the first BAFTA television drama award for a Shakespeare production ever.

Meanwhile a tearful Sheridan Smith collected the leading actress gong for her part as the wife of the Great Train Robber, Ronnie Biggs.

Among the leading channels, BBC2 led the field with a total of 26 nominations, followed by BBC1 with 22, Channel 4 with 16, and ITV with 10.