James Naughtie has been honoured for his work

The show's format, which allows guests to choose songs and items they would take to a desert island, has remained basically the same over the years.

Radio 4's comic impression show Dead Ringers was named best new radio programme.

The show, which stars Jon Culshaw, Mark Perry and Jan Ravens, recently started a run on BBC One.

Radio 4 also walked off with two more awards.

Channel's success

James Naughtie won best individual contributor to radio for his work on the news programme Today and the Book Club.

Mark Tully was also honoured with a special award for his work on the programmes Something Understood and The Gathering At The Ganges.

In the television awards, David Attenborough's groundbreaking underwater series The Blue Planet won the accolade of best TV programme.

BBC One's long-running current affairs show Panorama landed a special honour for its outstanding contribution to public service broadcasting.

The Kumars is a comedy chat show on BBC Two

The programme was controversially moved from its long-standing weekday slot to a regular home on Sunday night, which led to accusations that the show was being marginalized.

The show has been running for nearly 50 years and has won a host of other prestigious honours including an Emmy and a Monte Carlo award.

Andrew Marr was named best contributor to TV for his work on BBC One and BBC Two news programmes.

Marr, who is a former editor at The Independent, is the political editor at the corporation.

Comedy chat programme The Kumars at No 42, which is made by the team behind hit sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, walked off with the best new TV show award.

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