Christopher Lee awarded BAFTA Fellowship

Sir Christopher Lee will receive an Academy Fellowship at this year's Orange BAFTA Awards.

The 'Dracula' star joins Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and Charlie Chaplin on the list of fellows – awarded for recognition of outstanding achievement in the art forms of the moving image - and he admits he is "honoured" to gain the prize.

The 88-year-old actor said: "It's a very unexpected but very great honour to find myself in such distinguished company to receive the Fellowship."

Chairman of the Academy Tim Corrie said he was "delighted" to be giving the fellowship to Christopher - who has appeared in close to 200 films.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Academy is recognising Sir Christopher Lee.

"He has entertained me over the years and is a bastion of British film-making around the globe."

The iconic star is best known for his booming vocals, and has continued to star in movies despite his advanced years - most recently taking the role of Cardinal D'Ambroise in Nicolas Cage's 'Season of the Witch'.

He will next be seen in Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo Cabret' and troubled fantasy movie 'The Hobbit'.

The Orange BAFTA Awards take place at London's Royal Opera House on February 13.