After 40 years on Australian television screens, Larry Emdur has finally won the gold Logie.

Enjoying a standing ovation and being showered in gold confetti, the host of the Chase Australia and The Morning Show said he adored the TV business.

“I love being in TV, I love being on TV, I’ve never done anything else, I’ve never ever wanted to do anything else,” he said.

And even though his adult children haven’t watched free-to-air television in about 15 years, Emdur said they were proud of him for one thing.

“Apparently it’s rhyming slang now that if you’re going on a bender, you’re going on a Larry Emdur,” he said.

By the time the gold Logie was announced just before midnight Sunday, it appeared many in the crowd at The Star casino in Sydney had indeed been going on a Larry Emdur.

Seven’s Logies broadcast had been running four hours, and the ceremony descended into almost announcing the wrong award, some very extended tributes, and increasingly risque jokes.

Earlier in the night, Emdur won his first Logie, taking out the Bert Newton Award for most popular presenter.

Larry Emdur at Sunday’s Logies ceremony. Photo: AAP

Yet he was so convinced he would not win the gold, he had promised to get the initials of the six other nominees tattooed on his bum live on television.

“So we’ll see you on The Morning Show tomorrow, right?” he joked.

Among Sunday night’s other big winners at the Sydney ceremony was Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, with five wins from a record 10 nominations.

The show’s 15-year-old star Felix Cameron won the silver Logie for best lead actor in a drama – possibly the youngest winner of this award – as well as most popular new talent.

“This is quite crazy – the last award that I won before this was student of the week in grade five,” an emotional Felix said.

Best lead actress in a drama went to Deborah Mailman for Total Control.

It was also a great night for the ABC’s long-running Utopia, which won three Logies including best scripted comedy.

Actress Rebecca Gibney was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame, one of only four women to win the accolade.

For the second year in a row comedian Sam Pang hosted the ceremony, opening with a snappy monologue – this time with cameos from Stephen Fry and Anthony Albanese (“I’m sure it will be better, I mean easier, than last year”).

Perhaps the good and the bad of Logies night was best encapsulated by Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun, who appeared in a video message to deliver sincere words of support for the nominees.

“Please feel free to pull out any of my signature moves in celebration,” she said.

The winners

• Gold Logie Larry Emdur
• Best lead actress in a drama Deborah Mailman, Total Control
• Best lead actor in a drama Felix Cameron, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix
• Best lead actress in a comedy Kitty Flanagan, Utopia
• Best lead actor in a comedy Rob Sitch, Utopia
• Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent Felix Cameron, Boy Swallows Universe
• Best drama RFDS
• Best entertainment program The Voice Australia
• Best children’s program Blue
• Best supporting actress Sophie Wilde, Boy Swallows Universe
• Best supporting actor Bryan Brown, Boy Swallows Universe
• Bert Newton Award for most popular presenter Larry Emdur, The Chase Australia and The Morning Show
• Best lifestyle program Travel Guides
• Best structured reality program Gogglebox Australia
• Best news coverage or public affairs report Ben Roberts-Smith: The Truth
• Best miniseries or telemovie Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix
• Best factual or documentary program John Farnham: Finding The Voice
• Best competition reality program MasterChef Australia
• Best sports coverage FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Best current affairs program Australian Story
• Best scripted comedy Utopia
• Best comedy entertainment program Have You Been Paying Attention?
• Best news or public affairs presenter Ally Langdon, A Current Affair
• Logie Hall of Fame Rebecca Gibney

-AAP