Paul O'Grady has expressed his ambivalence towards awards shows.

The comic, who picked up the Most Popular Entertainment Programme gong for The Paul O'Grady Show at the National Television Awards, admitted that attending ceremonies is too much like work.

He said: "Oh, they're all right. They're like work. They really are work. You're sitting there freezing without a bevvy. I see it as part of the job. If I win, I win, if I don't, I don't."

He also spoke about the prank calls controversy surrounding Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, saying: "Yes, it's well out of order but it's not a hanging offence. Why is the prime minister getting involved? Shouldn't he be worrying about the war in Afghanistan, the credit crunch, knife crime?"

> Click here for our coverage of the National Television Awards