This year's Slapstick Festival closed with awards being handed to Monty Python star Terry Gilliam and sitcom actor Robert Lindsay.

The comedy stars each received a hand-crafted personalised version of the Aardman character Morph during the final events of Bristol's 20th annual celebration of screen comedy. The presentations were made at Bristol Old Vic yesterday (18th February) at the finale of separate clips-rich celebrations of their careers hosted by Dr Matthew Sweet.

Gilliam was given the Aardman Slapstick Award for 'Excellence in Visual Comedy' in recognition of his animation, performance and scripting work with Monty Python and as the director of more than a dozen feature films - among them Time Bandits, The Fisher King, Brazil and the one which inspired the design of his Morph, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.

Lindsay received the Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend Award for his roles in TV comedy series such as My Family and Citizen Smith and cameo appearances in a wide range of comedy shows, including Absolutely Fabulous, Extras, The Office and a Victoria Wood special. His bespoke Morph was modelled on his portrayal of Wolfie 'Power to the People' in Citizen Smith.