Cheryl Cole crowned queen of reality TV

Cheryl Cole has been named Best TV Judge in this year's Virgin Media TV Awards.

Despite being sensationally sacked from the US 'X Factor' after just four auditions and then turning down a place on the British version of the talent show, the Geordie beauty has beat off stiff competition from her former boss and co-panellist Simon Cowell, who landed in second place.

However, the 28-year-old singer also triumphed over current 'X Factor' judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and Kelly Rowland, who bagged fourth, fifth and tenth places respectively.

Posting a link to the results to Simon on her twitter page, Cheryl joked about her short time on the show.

She tweeted: "Oh my! And all in a couple days work, LOVE this @SimonCowell. (sic)"

Meanwhile, 'Doctor Who' was the big winner, bagging a total of five awards, including TV Show of the Year and Most Explosive TV Moment of the Year, while Karen Gillan - who plays the Time Lord's assistant Amy Pond in the sci-fi series - won both Hottest Female and Best Actress.

Elsewhere, ITV1's 'Downton Abbey' - which took home a gong from last weekend's Golden Globes - won Best Drama, while 'Top Gear' bagged Best Entertainment Show of the Year.

McFly drummer Harry Judd - who won this year's 'Strictly Come Dancing' - was awarded Reality TV Star of the Year for his stint on the BBC One show, while the BBC as a whole beat off stiff competition from the likes of ITV1 and Channel 4 to win Channel of the Year.

Finally, David Attenborough's hugely-popular 'Frozen Planet' - which took viewers on a journey across both the North and South Poles, as well as the Arctic and the Antarctic - was awarded Documentary of the Year.

Nick Forward, editor in chief of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, said: "With the National TV Awards just around the corner it's fantastic for us to be able to get a sneak preview of how fans may vote when it comes to their TV favourites."

Virgin Media TV Awards 2012 Full List of Winners:

TV SHOW OF THE YEAR

'Doctor Who'

TV CHARACTER OF THE YEAR

Rory Williams - 'Doctor Who'

MOST EXPLOSIVE TV MOMENT OF THE YEAR

'Doctor Who' - The Doctor gets shot

BEST NEWBIE

Joseph Gilgun - 'Misfits'

MOST BONKERS TV SHOW

'American Horror Story'

HOTTEST FEMALE

Karen Gillan - 'Doctor Who'

HOTTEST MALE

Bradley James - 'Merlin'

BEST ACTRESS

Karen Gillan - 'Doctor Who'

BEST ACTOR

Colin Morgan - 'Merlin'

BEST HANGOVER TV

'Big Bang Theory'

BEST SOAP

'EastEnders'

BEST REALITY COMPETITION

'Strictly Come Dancing'

BEST REALITY TV JUDGE

Cheryl Cole - 'X Factor USA'

REALITY TV STAR OF THE YEAR

Harry Judd - 'Strictly Come Dancing'

BEST ENTERTAINMENT SHOW

'Top Gear'

BEST DOCUMENTARY

'Frozen Planet'

BEST SCI-FI/FANTASY

'Merlin'

BEST DRAMA

'Downton Abbey'

BEST COMEDY

'Community'

BEST BADDY

Morgana - 'Merlin'