A year after campaigning hard for one of his fellow nominees, Hard Quiz host Tom Gleeson has won the Gold Logie as the most popular personality on Australian television.

Key points: Tom Gleeson hosts Hard Quiz on the ABC and often appears on The Weekly With Charlie Pickering

Tom Gleeson hosts Hard Quiz on the ABC and often appears on The Weekly With Charlie Pickering Gleeson's campaign reportedly drew the ire of some other members of the television industry

Gleeson's campaign reportedly drew the ire of some other members of the television industry Dylan Alcott delivered an impassioned speech while accepting the Logie for outstanding newcomer

In 2018, Gleeson pushed for Family Feud host Grant Denyer to win, but this year he launched a #Gleeson4Gold campaign on ABC show The Weekly With Charlie Pickering.

A staple of the campaign was sarcasm and mocking the Logies in general, which he addressed in his acceptance speech.

"I am in a tricky spot, because I like it and I hate it," he said on stage.

He also addressed some of the criticism his push for the award garnered.

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"There has been a lot of concern that I'm turning this award into a joke, but what you are forgetting is I'm a comedian — I love jokes," he said.

"This award has meant so many things to so many different people, and that doesn't cease to exist. It has done a lot of great things for a lot of different people.

"In the past it has represented trying to get more diversity on the screen or launching charities and that's fantastic. But for me, it represents a joke and I love jokes. I really enjoy them.

"I really think we should all lighten the f*** up. I really do."

A Gleeson monologue also opened the show, which he called "the last-ever Logies" thanks to his campaign.

"It's a shame that this is the last Gold Logie that's ever going to be handed out, because according to Grant Denyer, this is it, I have ruined the Logies and it's never going to happen again," he quipped, referencing comments made by the former Family Feud host last week.

"But at least I won this all by myself," said Gleeson, who campaigned for Denyer's successful Gold Logie win last year.

Costa Georgiadis won a Logie for most popular presenter and Gardening Australia won most popular lifestyle program. ( AAP: Darren England )

Defending his win on Monday morning, the Hard Quiz host told ABC News Breakfast the Gold Logie was an award for popularity, "which I am".

"I took ScoMo [Scott Morrison] as my inspiration, I stayed on message and did as much media as I could and I had heaps of self-belief," he said.

"This is a win for all the quiet Australians out there watching the ABC who now have their voice heard."

Conceding his controversial win drew a "mixed response", Gleeson said he would now put the gag to bed.

"I started a joke and the joke has finished. I am very happy to move on," he said.

It is the first time the ABC has won a Gold Logie since 1976, when Norman Gunston, a satirical TV character performed by Australian actor and comedian Garry McDonald, took out the top gong.

He was one of two ABC presenters up for the biggest award of the night, alongside Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis, who won the award for most popular presenter.

Georgiadis' show was also named the most popular lifestyle program.

Alcott delivers ceremony's standout moment

Earlier in the ceremony, Dylan Alcott delivered one of the night's best moments when he gave an impassioned speech while accepting the Graham Kennedy Award for most outstanding newcomer.

"This award means a lot to me because I used to absolutely hate having a disability," the host of ABC music show The Set said.

"I've been in a wheelchair my whole life and I hated it. And one of the reasons I did hate it was when I turned on the TV I never saw anybody like me."

Eleven-time tennis major winner Dylan Alcott is no stranger to kissing trophies. ( AAP: Darren England )

"And when I did see someone like me it was a road safety ad where someone drink-drives, has an accident and the next scene is someone like me, whose life's over. And I was like, 'that's not my life'.

"I wanted to get a job on TV because I love sharing stories, but also to show that people with a disability can be talented, funny, humorous, just normal people enjoying their lives.

"To every person who gave me an opportunity, thank you so bloody much. There are 4.5 million people like me with a disability.

"So whether it's in education, employment, going on a date … please give them an opportunity too, because there are a lot of bloody talented people out there and I promise you they won't disappoint."

Veteran ABC journalist Kerry O'Brien was inducted into the hall of fame for his decades as a journalist, including fronting The 7.30 Report and Four Corners.