Veteran broadcaster John Craven showed his younger rivals a clean pair of heels at the Royal Television Society’s (Midlands) annual awards.
The 68-year-old Countryfile presenter won best male television personality ahead of Andy Bevan (ITV Central), Des Coleman (BBC East Midlands Today) and Nick Owen (BBC Birmingham).
And Countryfile was named best magazine programme, beating 10 Years Younger (Maverick, for Channel 4), Inside Out (BBC East Midlands) and Slim to Win with Rosemary Conley (ITV Central).
A former newsman, John Craven spent 17 years hosting BBC1’s Newsround from 1972, inspiring a generation of young journalists including awards show co-host Ashley Blake (BBC Birmingham), a self-confessed fan.
Leeds-born Craven has spent even longer at BBC Birmingham’s Countryfile. Since it launched in 1989, he has helped it win a loyal following of 2.5 million viewers at 11am on Sundays.
Five years ago Craven won the Royal Television Society’s lifetime achievement award Baird Medal – an honour usually reserved for people at the end of their careers.
Craven said: “I never expected to win the best personality and the best magazine programme. To win these five years after the Baird Medal makes it really sweet, especially as television is a young man’s business. I’ve been in television 40 years, man and boy, but there’s life in the old dog yet!
“I hope all of the younger people get to have as good a time as I’ve had, because working in television is the best job in the world.”
Other winners at Birmingham’s Burlington Hotel included Joanne Malin.
