Film director Sir Ridley Scott has been awarded a Fellowship by the British Film Institute.
The 71-year-old director of films as diverse as Blade Runner, Gladiator and American Gangster received the award given to honour "the outstanding achievement of those who have helped shape film and television culture in the UK".
Scott began his career in television - working on series such as Z-Cars and Adam Adamant Lives! - before making his name on the big screen with films such as Alien.
The South Shields born director has been nominated for the best directing Oscar three times - for Black Hawk Down, Thelma & Louise and Gladiator - and despite never winning a personal statuette, Gladiator was named best film and won a slew of other Oscars in 2001.
Scott, who joins a list of fellows including Clint Eastwood, Michael Caine and Richard Attenborough, was given the award on Saturday night by fellow director and former BFI Governor Stephen Frears after an onstage discussion of Scott's career career.
Scott is currently working on Robin Hood - which will see him team up with Russell Crowe for the fourth time - and crime drama The Kind One, starring Casey Affleck.
