A SCRIPT editor diagnosed with Parkinson's five years ago has scooped an award for a documentary looking at the funnier side of his condition, in a rare turn for him in front of the camera.

Paul Mayhew-Archer from Abingdon - who was behind TV smash hit the Vicar of Dibley - scooped up a Grierson Award for his BBC documentary, Parkinson’s: The Funny Side.

The 63-year-old was walked away with the Best Documentary Presenter award on Monday, beating off stiff competition from the likes of Louis Theroux, Richard Attenborough and Hugh Fearnley - Whittingstall.

Mr Mayhew-Archer said: “I was amazed to be even nominated so to win was utterly gobsmacking. In my speech I actually thanked my illness. ‘Because without it I would not be receiving this award’ I said. And it is true.

“Yes, Parkinson’s is horrible, especially in the later stages, but I also know that it is not the end of the world. It has given me a new purpose, provided me with new opportunities and introduced me to many wonderful people who also have the condition."

In Parkinson’s: The Funny Side, the script writer put a unique and amusing twist to the disease, covering everything from chocolate to the quest for a cure and dance classes at his local Parkinson’s UK Oxford support group.

The writer described being in front of the camera 'a thrill' as his previous appearances were as an insurance official in Mrs Brown’s Boys and ‘Man at Urinal’ in comedy series Drop the Dead Donkey.

Since his diagnosis, Mr Mayhew-Archer has been active with the charity and increasing awareness of the condition by raising more than £3,000 when he took on the Walk for Parkinson’s in Oxford last month.

He said: “I'm a great believer in the therapeutic power of laughter. People need to know that Parkinson's is not the end – there's plenty of reason to be optimistic, and find the funny side of life.”

One of Mr Mayhew-Archer’s most notable works includes The Vicar of Dibley, a BBC television sitcom which won an International Emmy in 1998 and 2001. The sitcom, which starred Dawn French, was set in a fictional village in Oxfordshire and ran from 1994 to 2007.

Paul is currently working with Parkinson’s UK with Symfunny, an event of comedy and music which is set to take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London in April 2017.

He added: “I also raised some money doing the Oxford Walk for Parkinson’s and have a number of fundraising talks lined up. In fact, what with the talks, the concerts and the documentary Parkinson’s the Funny Side my friends in the Oxford branch of Parkinson’s UK are now hoping desperately for a cure so I will finally shut up about the subject.”