Humphrys wins radio Oscar for grilling

The 69-year-old Radio 4 presenter savaged Entwistle over his handling of the fallout from the Jimmy Savile scandal and the bumbling performance led to him resigning as DG after just 54 days. Another major winner at the event was Danny Baker who collected the best entertainment show prize for his Radio 5 Live programme, just months after he quit another BBC show with a valedictory two-hour live rant.

The presenter lambasted corporation bosses last year after learning his BBC London series was being axed, and did not go back to see out the end of his run.

Baker’s victory last night – beating rivals such as Radio 1’s Greg James – is his third win at the Sony Radio Academy Awards in as many years.

Broadcaster Steve Lamacq, a tireless champion of new music since starting at Radio 1 two decades ago, was given the Special Award in recognition of his contribution.

Event bosses said of the DJ, who now works for Radio 6 Music: “Steve Lamacq is one of radio’s true legends – he’s brought great music to the people. Long may he continue.”

The event, regarded as the Oscars of the UK radio industry, introduced a new Sony Golden Headphones public vote to find the nation’s favourite presenters with the inaugural award going to Radio 1 newcomers Dan Howell and Phil Lester.

Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans hosted the event, which featured performances by Robbie Williams and Jamie Cullum.

Entwistle appeared on the Today programme on November 11 to defend his role as the BBC was in crisis over the Savile scandal and an edition of BBC2’s Newsnight which mistakenly slurred Lord McAlpine. But in a tense interview the beleaguered boss’s position looked increasingly untenable and by that night he had announced his departure.