Writer and journalist Sukhdev Sandhu won best critic at the British Press Awards yesterday evening. The event took place at The Hilton hotel in Park Lane, London.

Currently the chief film critic for the Daily Telegraph, Sukhdev (pictured) also writes for the London Review of Books and Modern Painters. He told AiM he was "a bit embarassed" about the award, as there were "tons of more deserving writers" than him.

That doesn't take away from his increasing rise to prominence in the industry, cemented when he published his book London Calling: How Black and Asian Writers Imagined A City in 2003.

He said: "I just sit and veg in darkened rooms, making a living out of what is basically a hobby, and bigging up artists and performers I really love. In a way, it's a good education squandered."

"I wish there were more British Asian films I could rave about. They'll come in time, I'm sure," he added.

Sukhdev was educated at Oxford and has taught at New York University. He is also a trustee at Salidaa, an organisation dedicated to collecting and preserving South Asian creative contributions to British art and culture over several decades.

He is currently writing a couple of books - about ruinationalism and about three East End streets.

Last night was important for other Asian actors too. Channel 4's Shameless, starring Chris Bisson, won Best Drama series at the Royal Television Society Awards. It also marked the return of C4's other popular drama No Angels, starring Sunetra Sarker as one of the nurses.