Sir Ian McKellen was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award at this year's South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

Sir Ian McKellen

Sir Ian McKellen

The legendary actor - who was being honoured for his work on stage and screen - received the special prize during a socially distanced ceremony on Wednesday (09.12.20), with the event being broadcast on Sky Arts on December 20.

He said: "I am very happy and honoured to be in the company of the nominees for this tricky year’s South Bank Sky Arts awards…

"The closure of theatres in response to an outside threat to the country, is not unprecedented. When another plague reached London 450 years ago, the theatres were closed and Shakespeare’s company was out of work.

"No furlough. His response to one lockdown was to write 'Macbeth', 'Antony & Cleopatra' and 'King Lear'.

"I hope during our lockdowns that playwrights have been busy writing plays. More, I hope others have been planning and imagining future productions.”

Dame Judy Dench and Dame Helen Mirren congratulated him via video, and Ian followed the likes of Harold Pinter, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Lenny Henry and The Who in accepting the award.

Elsewhere, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's series 'Fleabag' won the comedy prize by beating tough competition including Netflix's 'Sex Education'.

Meanwhile, while Sky Original show 'Chernobyl' was victorious in the TV Drama category.

Phil Edgar-Jones - Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment - commented: “Congratulations to all the winners of the South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

"We all know what a difficult year it’s been for everyone who works in the arts so to see the level of talent, creativity and entertainment on show here is heartwarming and kind of heartbreaking at the same time.

"Here’s to 2021 and the road to recovery.”

South Bank Sky Arts Awards - full winners list

Classical Music

Thea Musgrave Trumpet Concerto - Cheltenham Music Festival / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Comedy

'Fleabag'

Dance

'Victoria' - Northern Ballet

Film

'The Souvenir'

Literature

'Girl' - Edna O’Brien

Opera

'Katya Kabanova' - The Royal Opera

Pop

Dave - 'Psychodrama'

Theatre

'Standing at the Sky’s Edge' - Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

TV Drama

'Chernobyl'

Visual Art

'Steve McQueen: Year 3' - Tate Britain and billboards across London

The Times Breakthrough Award

Waad al-Kateab

Outstanding Achievement Award

Ian McKellen

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