Dark Knight named People's Choice

Christian Bale dedicated his awards to Heath Ledger

Batman movie The Dark Knight flew away with top honours at the People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles, talking all five prizes it was nominated for.

Christian Bale's Batman and Heath Ledger's Joker were named the top on-screen match-up, while the film won best movie, superhero and action movie.

"On behalf of all of the cast, thank you very much to the fans," Bale said. "Here's to Heath."

US fans voted online for their favourite stars in film, TV and music.

The Dark Knight also won the favourite cast prize.

Other winners included Dancing With The Stars - the US version of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing - which was named favourite reality show.

Carrie Underwood was named favourite singer, House as favourite TV drama, Brad Pitt as favourite leading man and Angelina Jolie as favourite female action star.

Other winners at the ceremony included Adam Sandler, Kate Hudson, Robin Williams, Hugh Laurie and Reese Witherspoon.

'I'm not violent'

Reese Witherspoon won the best female star prize

"It's such a great way to start the new year," Four Christmases star Witherspoon, who won favourite female movie star, said.

The actress, who won an Oscar in 2005 for playing June Carter Cash in Walk The Line, added: "A couple of years ago, I won a great award for singing in a movie. This year, I won an award for having a baby throw up on me."

Ellen DeGeneres, who won favourite talk show host, said while clutching her trophy: "I wish I could share this with you. I could throw it on the ground and smash it into a million pieces, and give each one of you a little piece of it.

"But that's violent, and that's probably why you voted for me, because I'm not violent."

Wall-E won best family movie, while The Secret Life of Bees - starring awards host Queen Latifah - won best independent movie.

Latifah accepted her prize alongside co-star Dakota Fanning at the Shrine Auditorium.

Will Smith was named both top male action star and best male movie star, while Kate Hudson won the best leading lady prize.

Top TV comedy was Two And A Half Men, while The Simpsons won the prize for favourite TV animated comedy.