Double act: Sykes and Hattie Jacques

Sykes was presented with the award on Tuesday in London and joins the list of previous winners including Richard, Wilson, Spike Milligan and cricketer David Gower.

The 78-year-old actor has seen a renewed interest in his career this year after co-starring in the Nicole Kidman movie, The Others.

Slowing down

A veteran of more than 30 films, he shows no signs of slowing down.

He has also been appearing in the farce Caught In The Net, a sequel to Ray Cooney's Run For Your Wife, which opened in the West End last year.

He is best-known for his role alongside the late actress Hattie Jacques in the long running 1970s TV series, Sykes.

Last year, speaking to the BBC's Tom Brook about his contemporaries, he said: "I'm not sure if I wanna go yet, but I would like to before they have all gone, because I'll have nobody to speak nicely of me when I have gone."

Also at the awards, jazz singer George Melly was named Groaner of the Year, while PD James picked up Scribe of the Year.