Derry Girls and Romesh Ranganathan also honoured by Broadcasting Press Guild

Romesh Ranganathan, Derry Girls and Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse have been named winners at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards today.

Derry Girls was named best comedy at the ceremony in London.

Ranganathan's Hip Hop Saved My Life, made with producer Rupert Majendie, was named podcast of the year.

In a video acceptance speech he said: When Rupert and I set up this podcast, I said "I don't have any aspirations for this, but if I did have one it would be to win the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for best UK podcast.'

And he reluctantly added: 'I guess thanks to Rupert but let's be honest I'm the brains behind the whole thing.'

👏 Congratulations to @RomeshRanga as 'Hip Hop Saved My Life' @HHSMLPodcast wins the @BPGPressGuild award for Podcast of The Year, here's his speech:#BPGAwards #BPG2019 pic.twitter.com/viMb0r0u5p

— Virgin Media Corporate (@VirginMediaCorp) March 15, 2019

The BBC Two series Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing won the BPG award for best entertainment

Accepting the award, Mortimer recalled the commissioner saying: 'Good luck in making a show about nothing – that’s a rare thing in telly these days."

As previously announced, Nicholas Parsons was honoured with the Harvey Lee Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting.

Here's Just A Minute regular Paul Merton giving a citation for the award.

🏆🥇👏 There's a standing ovation as Nicholas Parsons @ParsonsSpeaks wins the honorary @BPGPressGuild Harvey Lee Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting! Here's a wonderful tribute from treasured friend, Paul Merton:#BPGAwards #BPG2019 pic.twitter.com/6awgEVB811

— Virgin Media Corporate (@VirginMediaCorp) March 15, 2019

Broadcasting Press Guild chairman Jake Kanter previously said: ‘Our Harvey Lee Award winner is being recognised for seven decades of TV and radio entertainment, and in particular his contribution to one of the BBC’s longest-running programmes.

‘Panellists have come and gone, the gamesmanship and gags have evolved, but Nicholas Parsons remains in the hot seat at the centre of it all.

'His warmth, sharp wit and clear-headed determinations in rooms full of fast-talking show-offs have kept him at the top of his game.’

Published: 15 Mar 2019