Judges including Ingrams, Joanna Lumley and Terry Wogan chose O'Toole for his "razor-sharp wit and zest for life".

Starring in Lawrence of Arabia in 1962

Previous winners include Spike Milligan, comic actor Richard Wilson and Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd.

O'Toole most recently starred on the London stage in Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell, while his film credits include Lawrence of Arabia and Under Milk Wood.

Other awards given out by the magazine include the Oldest Swinger In Town prize, which goes to television golf commentator Peter Alliss for his charm and good humour.

Meanwhile, the Rylstone and District Women's Institute were also presented with the Oldie Exposure of the Year for their nude calendar.

The 10 women from North Yorkshire, aged 45 to 60, raised more than �330,000 for charity through their risque poses - with sales claimed to be double that of the Pirelli calendar.

Campaigner of the year was Lord Ashley - the former Labour MP Jack Ashley - for his work on behalf of the disabled, while veteran journalist Bill Deedes was named Journalist of The Century.