Marr was praised for his "deep understanding" of politics

BBC One's current affairs flagship programme Panorama won the home current affairs award for Michael Crick's Jeffrey Archer: A Life of Lies.

Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman was named presenter of the year, while Andrew Marr won the specialist journalism award for his work on BBC One's Ten O'clock News.

BBC South West won the regional current affairs award for Close Up: Forever Fifteen, and BBC London's Tim Samuels was named young journalist of the year.

Richard Sambrook, Director of BBC News said: "To take half of all the awards against such strong competition is a fantastic achievement and the range of winners shows BBC journalism thriving at every level - locally, nationally and globally.

'Extra mile'

The award ceremony, at the Hilton hotel in London's Park Lane, was hosted by BBC journalist Fiona Bruce.

Mr Sambrook described the BBC's haul of awards as "a tribute to both the recipients and to everyone who goes the extra mile to make our journalism special".

Television journalist of the year was Saira Shah, who went undercover in Afghanistan for Channel 4's Dispatches documentary Beneath The Veil.

The report was also named Programme of the Year and best International Current Affairs programme.

Sky News' Adam Boulton, received the Judges' award and news network CNN was honoured for innovation - as the pioneer of the satellite video phone, used extensively by reporters in Afghanistan.