Described by Iain Duncan Smith as "an individual whose work has championed the cause of the world's most vulnerable people", Richard Curtis was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work as the founder of Comic Relief and for having played a major role in both in the MakePovertyHistory coalition and Live8.

Comic Relief: Since its conception in 1985, Comic Relief has raised more than £337m for good causes in the UK and Africa. Over the years, Comic Relief cash in Africa has educated people about HIV and AIDS, taught women to read, immunised children and helped people rebuild their communities after conflict. Across the UK it has helped disabled people challenge prejudice and discrimination, supported older people in their fight to get their rights recognised and provided escape routes for women living with domestic violence.

MakePovertyHistory: The MakePovertyHistory campaign comprises a coalition of more than 400 charitable and voluntary organisations. Already this year campaigners have helped to get Trade Justice, More and Better Aid and Drop the Debt on the political and media agenda like never before. On the 2nd July more than 225,000 people turned out in Edinburgh to call for world leaders to make poverty history when they met days later at the G8 in Gleneagles.

Live8: Billed as the “greatest, greatest show on Earth”, an estimated three billion people watched the nine LIVE 8 concerts which took place across the world on 2nd July. LIVE 8 also called on the G8 leaders for complete debt cancellation, more and better aid and trade justice for the world’s poorest people.

Curtis is perhaps more widely recognised as a comedy script writer. His works include the much loved television series Blackadder and the Vicar of Dibley, and the movies Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Love Actually.