Laughter and poetry as comic honoured

Ms Minchin described him as “one of our best-loved entertainers” and “a fantastic advert for Yorkshire talent”.

Mr Cryer has contributed to this country’s entertainment industry for over 50 years, through radio, television and theatre, writing for many top comedians.

Mr Cryer, who was born in Leeds, schooled in the city and educated at the University of Leeds, told the audience he was “overwhelmed” as he collected the award. As well as telling a joke or two, Mr Cryer read a poem to the audience.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Mr Cryer said: “I was born and bred here and they have got me back for lifetime achievement, which is slightly worrying, like an early obituary.

“I think, what are they trying to tell me?

“No, I’m having a happy time today. I’m just brought back to my birthplace, I come back here a lot, but never for such an occasion as this.”

Mr Cryer said it was “like a warm bath” coming back to Leeds. He also said the city has “changed endlessly”.

He said: “In the 70s Leeds was on the floor. Things were bad.”

Mr Cryer said he was working in Newcastle at the time, adding: “These two great cities were on the floor. And I’d go back down south and say you don’t know what’s going on – two different worlds.

“Now Leeds and Newcastle, you know, booming... We are in the recession, I know that, but it’s a different world.”