Famous Bristol duo Wallace and Gromit have scooped the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards.
The pair were first catapulted to fame in A Grand Day Out some 35 years ago and have since gone on to become household names.
Creator Nick Park developed the characters while a student at the National Film and Television School in the early 1980s and was later offered a job at Bristol-based Aardman Animations, where the duo was brought to life.
The award was presented to Mr Park, who is still an executive director at Aardman, by presenter Jonathan Ross.
“I have to pinch myself sometimes when I think back at how it all started," said Mr Park. "Making these two goofy-looing guys out of clay, I never imagined years later they would become household names. It’s still quite overwhelming.
“I’ll always be grateful, especially, to the founders of Aardman Animations in Bristol, Peter Lord and David Sproxton, who came to the rescue when I’d run out of time and money on my student film and they helped me finish it.”
The win comes after Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - the pair's most recent adventure - received massive viewing figures when it aired on Christmas Day last year.
According to the Radio Times, after just 28 days it had been watched by 21.6 million people, making it the biggest scripted programme to have aired in Britain since records started in 2002.
It was also nominated for an Oscar (Best Animated Feature Film) but lost out to Flow.
Joel Dommett, host of the NTAs, said: "Wallace & Gromit aren’t just characters – they’re part of our cultural DNA. Generations have grown up laughing at Wallace’s madcap ideas and cheering for Gromit’s quiet brilliance.
"They’re clever, quintessentially British, and endlessly loveable. I can’t think of a more perfect recipient for our 30th Special Recognition Award – it’s going to be a very special moment on the night!"
Merlin Crossingham, the film's creative director, added: "We cracked open some bubbly, and that was after I nearly spilt my tea, but we did have some champagne, and raised a glass to the whole crew who helped us make this amazing movie."
