Meera Syal wins lifetime achievement award Women in Film and TV

The actor, writer and comic, who lives in Highgate with her husband Sanjeev Bhaskar, was handed the accolade by Lenny Henry at a glittering ceremony at the Hilton Park Lane.

Bake Off and This Morning presenter Alison Hammond was also among the winners across 14 categories at the starry event attended by Adjoa Andoh, Aimee Lou Wood, Carol Vorderman, Edith Bowman, Genevieve O’Reilly, Katie Price, Laura Whitmore, Rosie Jones, Susan Wokoma, Victoria Derbyshire, David Morrissey, Jack Thorne, Sir Lenny Henry, and Mo Gilligan.

The ceremony was attended by Laura Whitmore and Carol Vorderman (Image: Dave Bennett)

Now in its 32nd year, the Women in Film & Television Awards celebrate the success and achievements of women in front of and behind the camera including directing, writing, producing, performance, and business.

Syal, an Emmy award winning comedian, writer, playwright, producer and actress was presented with the The EON Productions Lifetime Achievement Award for a career spanning Goodness Gracious Me  and The Kumars, as well as her extensive work across film, television and theatre, ranging from the RSC to the West End including the adaptation of her debut novel, Anita and Me.

Past winners have included Sue Barker, Floella Benjamin, Judi Dench, Sheila Hancock, Katherine Hepburn, Glenda Jackson, Helen Mirren, Joanna Lumley, Esther Rantzen, Vanessa Redgrave and Maggie Smith.

The ceremony at London Hilton Park Lane was hosted by Katherine Ryan (Image: Dave Bennett)

She said: “I’m truly  honoured to be celebrating this with so many inspirational, talented women that I have the privilege to share an industry with. The work that Women in Film and TV does to support and champion women working in this industry is unmatched and it has been a joy to be a part of it today.”

Alison Hammond accepted The EIKON Presenter Award, handed to her by Carol Vorderman for her work on ITV’s This Morning and as co-host of Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off.

The ceremony was hosted by comic Katherine Ryan who added “It is so special to be a part of the celebration of so many talented and inspiring women working across such a variety of areas in Film and TV."