North East film-making legend Sir Ridley Scott honoured at Windsor Castle
Film director Sir Ridley Scott is to be made a Knight Grand Cross at Windsor Castle.
The film-maker who based his hit Blade Runner on the skyline of Teesside is being made a Knight Grand Cross at Windsor Castle today.
The 86-year-old, who was born in South Shields, will be recognised for services to the UK film industry.
His filmography includes Gladiator, Blade Runner and Alien.
In 2002, Sir Ridley received a knighthood in the New Year Honours for his services to the British film industry.
He began his career as a set designer for the BBC after studying at West Hartlepool College of Art and the Royal College of Art.
He was quickly promoted to director and worked on classic TV shows, including popular police series Z Cars.
In 1977, Sir Ridley made his first foray into movies with The Duellists, which won the jury prize for best first work at the Cannes Film Festival.
He followed it with the landmark science fiction films Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982).
He shared that the landscape of Blade Runner was inspired by the skyline of the Wilton Chemical Plant on Teesside.
Alien, starring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, would go on to become what Bafta described as "one of the most influential science fiction films of all time".
In 2018, Sir Ridley was honoured with a Bafta Fellowship.