Waleed Aly Wins Gold Logie

On a marathon Melbourne night that went well over scheduled time, The Project star also collected a statue for Best Presenter.

“Do not adjust your sets, this is really happening, there is nothing wrong with your picture,” Waleed joked when accepting the major TV prize at the 58th awards ceremony.

“I’m highly appreciative that the audience has decided to throw me a bouquet on this night, in this way.

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“To acknowledge and accept me into their universe is the most wonderful feeling in the world.”

As popular as Waleed’s win may have been, it was just one of many highlights on the longest Logie night in recent memory.

Hall of Fame recipient Noni Hazlehurst received one of the biggest ovations.

A fearless star of the stage and screen for more than 40 years, Noni took her moment in the spotlight to thank friends and family, but also to make a commentary about the industry in general.

“I fear that our hearts are growing cold,” she said. “The fact that I’m only the second woman to be given this honour is merely a reflection of the prevailing guard.

“As the suggestion has been made in some quarters the eligibility of esteemed colleagues Waleed Aly and Lee Lin Chin going for Gold is questionable. Things are changing. They’re changing slowly.

“The great thing about glaciers if you’re not on them you go under. I’ve been riding that glacier for 40 years. And I’m staying on top of it. Graham Blundell once wrote about me said no-one does ordinary and vulnerable like Noni Hazlehurst.

“But then I thought it’s OK. Because in fact we’re all vulnerable and we’re all ordinary. Although, a lot of our energy is spent trying to prove the opposite.”

There were plenty of lighter moments too, including a hilarious solo performance of I Need A Hero from Julia Morris.

Earlier in the night, roving host Shane Jacobson showed footage of Julia singing the same song on New Faces in 1985.

“You know what, I tied first and then I lost the tie-breaker too and then I lost the tie-breaker to a girl’s marching band,” Julia explained of her talent show attempt. “So I never got to sing the song again because you got to sing the song again in the grand final.”

But 31 years later, she was finally given another chance at musical glory.

The full list of other winners are:

Best Reality Program

The Block

Best Actor

Erik Thomson, 800 Words