Melvyn Bragg has received a special award at the last ever South Bank Show Awards (unless they decide at some point in the future to bring back 'The South Bank Show', and the awards). The Outstanding Achievement Award - in recognition of the broadcaster's 32 years of work on the cancelled show - was presented by Richard Attenborough, and tributes from the likes of Victoria Wood, Beryl Bainbridge and Prince Charles were screened.  

In his tribute, Prince Charles criticised ITV's decision to axe 'The South Bank Show'. He said in the pre-recorded message: "A long time ago it rightly became an important contribution to the vibrancy of the country’s culture... Now oblivion is not the place for the arts and I cannot say I am encouraged as mainstream television abandons such a unique and special commitment. Civilisation needs all the help it can get, more so today than ever before, but now it loses one of its greatest champions. It is a sad loss".

Bragg, who says he's "baffled" by the decision to end the arts programme said after the ceremony: "I managed to fight back the tears... but it was a close run thing at the very end after David Attenborough said the things he said. It was a great afternoon, and I hadn't expected that kind of warmth and that kind of praise. I come from a background where you don't get praise, but it was amazing, it really was".

Other winners included Florence and The Machine, who took the pop gong, The Donmar's production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire', which took the theatre award, and 'The Thick Of It', which triumphed in the comedy category.