- Actor in SBS's The Principal takes out Most Outstanding Actor Logie
Waleed Aly has spoken of the racism he's experienced within the TV industry and how his Gold Logie win may make a difference to break down barriers.
Aly won the Gold Logie for the Best Personality on Australian TV after earlier winning Best Presenter.
Aly also spoke about the racism within the TV industry and how he had been privately championed by people he knew to win.
He spoke of one person "in this room" who had changed his name just to get a job in TV.
"There have been a lot of people in the past week or two who have made it clear to me that me being here right now really matters to them," he said.
"It matters to them for a particular reason.
"That reason was brought home ... not so long ago actually when someone who is in this room, and I'm not going to use the name they use in the industry, came up to me, introduced themselves and said to me, `I really hope you win. My name is Mustafa. But I can't use that name because I won't get a job'.
"He's here tonight. And it matters to people like that that I am here. I know it's not because of me. I know that."
Aly also praised his wife Susan and the depth of talent among his fellow nominees after winning the Gold Logie.
Also in contention were SBS cult figure Lee Lin Chin, actress Essie Davis, Family Feud host Grant Denyer, The Block frontman Scott Cam and fellow Project host Carrie Bickmore.
He said he was "gobsmacked" by the award and years down the track he'd just be the answer to some "obscure trivia question".
Alex Dimitriades wins the Most Outstanding Actor award for The Principal at the 2016 Logie Awards. Source: AAP
"It struck me the other day. The thing that struck me about it was that each nominee brilliantly distills some separate piece of Australia," he told the audience.
"If you step back and look at those pieces ... we should be celebrating that fact."
Aly said his wife worked tirelessly for the community but that sort of work did not attract trophies.
"They don't give statuettes to people like that sadly but one day if life is fair they might just give her a statue."
Alex Dimitriades, who plays the lead role in the SBS drama The Principal won the Most Outstanding Actor Logie.
The Principal tells the story of a former history teacher and deputy principal who is appointed the principal of a notoriously tough and violent boys high school.
