Prince William presents Mel Brooks with lifetime Bafta award
The legendary American-Jewish filmmaker and comedian said he is 'very grateful' to be recognised at the British film awards
Prince William took to the stage at the end of the British Film and Television Awards, to present to legendary Jewish US filmmaker, actor and comedian Mel Brooks the prestigious Bafta fellowship.
Introduced as “Prince Bill” by host Fry, the royal joked that Bafta had “run out of actors” to present awards.
Brooks, kept the audience laughing during his typical joke-laced acceptance speech, as he promised he would not be selling his Bafta online.
Referencing his “idols”, previous fellowship winners such as Laurence Olivier and Alfred Hitchcock, he said: “This is a singular and august honour.”
Brooks, 90, added: “I am very grateful. This is one of the awards that you will not see on eBay, I promise you. eBay has all the others, but not this one.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, it has been wonderful to be here.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were special guests among the stars of the big screen braving a chilly London evening to celebrate the great and good of the film industry.
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