Colin Firth and the team behind the hit film “The King's Speech” left the Bafta awards with their arms full after picking up a total of seven awards for the film.

The film won the coveted Best Film and Best Actor awards and also Outstanding British Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Score and Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

Colin Firth joked during his acceptance speech saying “I like coming here, thank you Bafta” after becoming the first actor since Rod Steiger in 1967 and 1968, to pick up back to back awards.

Last year Firth also won the Best Actor award for his part in A Single Man.

Helena Bonham Carter thanked the Royal family in her speech: “I think I should thank the royal family frankly, because they've done wonders for my career.”

She added: “I seem to be playing queens with ever decreasing headsizes!”

Although the film, which follows the friendship between the stammering King and his speech therapist, had been hotly tipped to storm the Baftas Bonham Carter was still surprised by her award. She said: “I am so used to losing, it's quite a strange feeling to win.”

Writer of “The King's Speech”, David Seidler, said: “It's amazing this little film seems to have spoken to the world and I'm deeply moved by that. For a stutterer, a stammerer, to be heard is a wonderful thing.”

Other winners on the night included David Fincher for his direction of “The Social Network” with his prize being accepted on his behalf by actors Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield.

Natalie Portman was also a winner and picked up the award for best actress for her role in “Black Swan” but was also unable to receive the award herself as her pregnancy prevented her from flying to the UK.