Festival honour for Billy Liar actor

Sir Tom accepted the award during the 19th Bradford International Film Festival (BIFF), at the National Media Museum.

The 76-year-old will also introduce a newly-restored version of Billy Liar at a special screening of the Bradford-based film.

Sir Tom was presented with the award in the Pictureville Cinema before a showing of A Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich, in which he took the title role.

The actor, on accepting the award from personal friend and former Hull City footballer Ken Wagstaff, said: “Bradford is a city that has played a significant part in my film career.

“I shot Billy Liar here 50 years ago, and then 20 years later returned to make The Dresser at The Alhambra Theatre.

“I am very grateful to receive this award and thank the Bradford International Film Festival for thinking of me for this great honour.

“It is also a great pleasure to return to the city now it’s the world’s first UNESCO City of Film, and I hope the films I made here have contributed to that legacy.”

Sir Tom had huge success with Billy Liar on stage and film and also in Doctor Zhivago, for which he had his first Oscar nomination.

He has worked in film, stage, television and radio and most recently appeared in Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut Quartet, alongside Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins.

BIFF, in partnership with Virgin Media, runs until April 21.