Bowie wins posthumous award for final album

The music legend’s 25th studio recording won the pop music category at The South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

In a touching video message, Iggy Pop accepted the accolade on his late friend’s behalf and hailed Bowie as changing “the game in rock and roll and in popular music”.

Describing how the pair “shared digs… in London at a beautiful old Victorian house that was looked after by a lady named Mrs Potter”, he said his friend “didn’t want to miss” The South Bank Show on TV.

“Later, producer Tony Visconti brought over a big load of the… shows which we would watch to interrupt the hilarity of the Monty Python stuff,” he said.

Host Lord Melvyn Bragg told the audience at London’s Savoy Hotel that “despite the horror of recent events, these awards show what great shape the arts are in”.

“They prove the power and vibrancy of our country and place the UK at the centre of the arts world,” he said.

“The arts have defied gravity in this country for decades, and now they are more powerful and welcome than ever.”

Other winners included Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who received the outstanding achievement award, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s comedy Fleabag.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child scooped the theatre gong, while Happy Valley beat off competition from The Crown to win best drama.

The winner of the Cannes Palme d’Or – I, Daniel Blake – directed by Ken Loach, took home the best film award.

:: The ceremony will be broadcast on Sky Arts on 12 July at 8pm.