Nick Robinson has spoken out in defence of the BBC, which has been lately rounded on by sections of the press, and labelled Russian-backed broadcaster RT a “propaganda” channel and a “threat”.

The Today programme presenter offered a riposte to former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre in delivering the keynote speech at today’s London Press Club Awards, which named Sir David Attenborough its Londoner of the Year.

BBC News political editor Laura Kuenssberg and Europe editor Katya Adler also jointly collected the Broadcast Journalist of the Year prize.