"Cranford" was considered a cinch to sweep Britain's BAFTA TV Awards today, but it lost best drama serial to "Britz," a Channel 4 show about Muslim brother and sister battling prejudice and paranoia about terrorism in Britain. However, the genteel five-hour BBC mini-series, adapted from Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell's affectionate look at life in a rural, 19th-century village, remains the leading contender at the BAFTA Crafts Awards to be held on May 11.

"Cranford" did win the prize for best actress, as expected, but not for the favored lady. In the battle of the dames, Eileen Atkins beat Judi Dench, who was nominated for a 12th time in the TV lineup, a record. Dench has won plenty of times before (four), but this marked the first triumph for Atkins, whose only other nomination was in 1969. That was the same year that she and actress Jean Marsh came up with the idea for "Upstairs, Downstairs." While Atkins never appeared in that serial about life in Edwardian England, Marsh won an Emmy for her role as a saucy maid and the show took drama series three times and limited series once.

Upon accepting her long sought after prize Sunday, the actress said that she bets the BBC has second thoughts about having killed off her character now that there are plans for a sequel to air during Christmastime, 2009.

Her victory could have an impact on the Emmys next where "Cranford" is expected to be a major player after it airs on PBS next month.

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