Vic and Bob honoured at North-East TV awards (From The Northern Echo)

Vic and Bob honoured at North-East TV awards

3:16pm Sunday 19th February 2012 in Darlington By Gavin Havery, Reporter (Derwentside & Tyneside)

NORTH-East comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer picked up a major award at a glittering ceremony held in the region last night.

Reeves, who grew up in Darlington, and Mortimer, from Middlesbrough, were presented with a Royal Television Society award for Special Achievement in Comedy at the society’s North-East and the Border annual awards ceremony at The Sage Gateshead.

Presenting the award, the director of BBC North, Peter Salmon, said: "Vic and Bob are true local heroes.

"They have become one of the most successful comedy double acts in the history of British light entertainment.

"Their surreal and anarchic creations have also led them from stand-up into drama and of course game shows such as Shooting Stars."

Other winners on the night were Newcastle-based BBC Childrens’ series Tracy Beaker Returns (Best Drama), Philippa Tomson of ITV Tyne Tees (Best Presenter) and Sharon Barbour of BBC Look North (Best Journalist).

Pioneering wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson received the prestigious Centre Award for his innovative work on productions including The Life of Mammals and Frozen Planet.

Five hundred guests gathered at the Sage, Gateshead for the 25th anniversary event, making it the largest media awards show outside London. It was hosted by Aled Jones from the BBC’s Songs of Praise and celebrity guests included Kate Adie, BBC Breakfast presenter Stephanie McGovern, Horrible Histories creator Terry Deary and ITV agony aunt Denise Robertson alongside stars from Inspector George Gently, Vera, Geordie Shore and Geordie Finishing School for Girls.

Judges’ chairman Agnes Wilkie, from creative industry development agency Northern Film and Media, said: "This was a brilliant showcase for television and digital media production from this part of the UK."