Simon Cowell has been named showbiz personality of the year at the Variety Club's annual awards show.

Stephen Fry picked up the award for outstanding contribution to showbusiness, while Billy Elliot star James Lomas won an award for outstanding new talent.

Gordon Ramsey and Gail Porter were named terrestrial and multichannel TV personalities of the year respectively.

The Variety Club of Great Britain was founded by two Americans in 1949. It sets out to raise money for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children.