The annual ceremony honours MediaCorp TV's top thespians and most popular stars, and took place last night at the Caldecott Hill TV Theatre.

'Tomorrow is supposed to be the day the seven princesses officially take their thrones,' said host Quan Yifeng jokingly at the beginning of the show.

She was referring to the seven starlets anointed by the Chinese press as the next leading ladies of the station: Jesseca Liu, Felicia Chin, Joanne Peh, Rui En, Fiona Xie, Dawn Yeoh and Jeanette Aw.

But only three of them - Liu, Chin, and Rui En - made it into the coveted Top 10 list of Most Popular Female Artistes, compared to five last year.

Instead, it was more seasoned actresses like Vivian Lai, Huang Biren, Quan and Xiang Yun who made up the rest of the Top 10.

'Sorry I'm fighting for a place with the princesses,' quipped an elated Lai, 30, after she received her award.

The results for the acting awards were also full of surprises.

Best Supporting Actress May Phua, Best Actress Yvonne Lim, Best Supporting Actor Darren Lim and Best Actor Zheng Geping were all first-time winners.

A tearful Lim, 31, beat hot favourites Huang Biren and Ivy Lee and up-and-comers Peh and Liu to clinch her first award, for Metamorphosis.

'After 10 years in this business, this is the best Christmas present I could have wished for.'

Zheng, 43, a five-time nominee for Best Supporting Actor, was more circumspect when he picked up his Best Actor trophy for Like Father, Like Daughter.

'I'm surprised that I still have a shot at this award at my age' he said.

'After 20 years as an actor, the awards don't matter as much as a sense of responsibility to the job and enjoying the process.'