South Shields-born film director Ridley Scott receives BAFTA's highest honour

Sir Ridley Scott & Giannina Facio at the EE British Academy Film Awards Credit: PA

South Shields-born film director and producer Sir Ridley Scott has been honoured at the annual EE British Academy Film Awards in London on Sunday night.

Scott received a BAFTA fellowship, which is the highest accolade bestowed by the Academy.

He received the award from the Duke of Cambridge who said Scott's films were amongst "his personal favourites."

In Sir Ridley's acceptance speech, he thanked his former teachers at the then West Hartlepool College of Art, now Cleveland College of Art and Design.

The 80-year-old director said:

Sir Ridley Scott is well-known for films including:

  • Hannibal

  • Thelma and Louise

  • Gladiator

  • Blade Runner

  • Alien

  • Black Hawk Down

Others previously honoured with a BAFTA fellowship for their work in film include:

  • Charlie Chaplin

  • Alfred Hitchcock

  • Steven Spielberg

  • Sean Connery

  • Elizabeth Taylor

  • Stanley Kubrick

  • Anthony Hopkins

  • Laurence Olivier

  • Judi Dench

  • Vanessa Redgrave

  • Christopher Lee

  • Martin Scorsese

  • Helen Mirren