NZ star takes Aussie award

New Zealand actress Lisa Chappell and the All Blacks feature among the winners of Australian television's own Emmys - the Logie Awards.

Chappell, still best remembered on this side of the Tasman as Chelsea Redfern in the 80s series Gloss, was voted most popular new female talent for her lead role in the outback drama McLeod's Daughters, which screens on TV2 on this side of the Tasman.

The All Blacks featured for their part in the Bledisloe Cup - the coverage of last year's series was awarded the logie for most outstanding sports coverage.

Plenty of shows and actors that feature on New Zealand screens - especially since the Aussie-fication of Prime Television through its Channel Nine connection - also figure in the awards.

Among Prime's winners were Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (most popular game show), Backyard Blitz (most popular lifestyle programme) and The Footy Show (most popular sports programme) - though it was the Aussie rules version of the show that took the prize, not the league edition that screens in New Zealand.

A Current Affair, the habitual winner of the Logie for most popular public affairs programme and which screens late evenings on Prime, was a surprise loser to Channel Seven's Today Tonight, which took the award for the first time.

The Secret Life of Us, the acclaimed series about a group of Melbourne twentysomethings, which screened on TV3, won the award for outstanding drama series. Secret Life's cast member Deborah Mailman won the outstanding actress award.

The most outstanding actor award went to William McInnes - known to Kiwi viewers as SeaChange's Max Connors - for his role in My Brother Jack.

Among the awards decided by popular vote, the gold logie for most popular television personality went to George Parker of the hospital drama All Saints, with fellow cast member Libby Tanner the most popular actress and the show the most popular programme.

Most popular actor was Peter Phelps of Stingers, and the most popular new male talent was Ditch Davey of the country cop series Blue Heelers.

The first series of Big Brother predictably won for most popular reality programme.

Veteran television journalist, presenter and documentary film-maker Mike Willesee was this year's inductee into the gold logie hall of fame.