Australian television icon Bert Newton is facing a social media backlash over comments he made when presenting the Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent at the 60th annual Logie Awards.

His comments came on the night Grant Denyer was awarded the Gold Logie for most popular personality on Australian television, and Hugo Weaving (Seven Types Of Ambiguity) and Pamela Rabe (Wentworth) won most outstanding actor and actress respectively. Weaving and Rabe were not at the ceremony to accept the awards.

Having referred to himself using a gay slur, Newton joked that his former co-star Kennedy enjoyed "mentoring" young talent behind closed doors.

"Speaking of young talent, Graham Kennedy was always the sort of man who nurtured young talent," Newton said.

"He enjoyed giving young people a chance on television, he was a great mentor, he mentored a lot of young people.

"You knew if you went to his dressing room and it was locked, he would be inside doing some mentoring."

Film critic and entertainment journalist Giles Hardie said Newton's comments "didn't resonate well" in the era of the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse.

"Ultimately, this is an 80-year-old variety performer who got up and gave exactly the sort of routine he does," Hardie said.

"You've got to look at … the producers where [the Logies] is a show that doesn't have a Welcome to Country.

"This is a show that only dealt with #MeToo in a musical number.

"I think they brought it on themselves saying, here's Bert and here's what he does."

Newton's comments also drew criticism from many social media users, with Australian TV and film critic Andrew Mercado saying someone should tell Newton about #MeToo.

"I suspect that is going to be Bert's last ever appearance at the Logies," Mercado wrote on Twitter.

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"He will always be a legend, but that was just sad tonight."

Newton was presenting the award to CRAM! and Utopia star Dilruk Jayasinha when he made the comments.

Denyer wins Gold Logie despite show's cancellation

Family Feud host Grant Denyer triumphantly holds up his gold and silver Logies. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw had been tipped to take out the Gold Logie this year, yet Family Feud host Denyer won the award despite his show being recently cancelled.

In his acceptance speech, Denyer gave thanks to ABC star Tom Gleeson for his attention-grabbing campaign for Denyer to win the Gold Logie.

"Thanks for the hard chat mate, I appreciate it," he said.

"Sometimes when you need to get things done in this country you need an angry redhead, and Pauline Hanson wasn't available."

Sorry, this video has expired 'I wasn't quite sure if I'd ever work again': Grant Denyer says Family Feud saved his life

Denyer gave an emotional acceptance speech describing how landing the Family Feud role after leaving Channel 7 and suffering personal troubles helped him change his life for the better and "get my mojo back".

"So, Family Feud thank you so much, you saved me," he said.

The Living Room, Four Corners take home gongs

Barry Du Bois, Amanda Keller, Chris Brown and Miguel Maestre from Ten's The Living Room. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

Among the other winners were The Living Room, which received the Logie for the most popular lifestyle program, and the ABC's War on Waste, which was named the most outstanding factual or documentary program.

The award for the most outstanding news coverage or public affairs report went to Four Corners for The Siege.

In presenting the Logie, the ABC's Virginia Trioli paid tribute to the late journalist Liz Jackson.

"She had a brilliant mind, she had a forensic eye, and she had a passionate heart," Trioli said.

Jacqueline McKenzie, meanwhile, was named the most outstanding supporting actress, and her acceptance speech took a light-hearted note, with her playing a recording of her daughter on her mobile phone.

McKenzie won the award for reprising her role as Gabe Jordan in the TV series of Romper Stomper.

Jodi Boylan and Craig Reucassel from War on Waste pose with their Logie for most outstanding factual or documentary program. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

Strewth, 'Alf Stewart' wins Logie

Early in the night, Home and Away stalwart Ray Meagher won the most popular actor award for his role as Alf Stewart, while Gold Logie nominee Jessica Marais won the most popular actress Logie for her performances on Love Child and The Wrong Girl.

Home and Away star Ray Meagher poses with his Logie award for the most popular actor at the 2018 Logie Awards. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

The ABC was in the running for a number of gongs, including best actor and actress with Luke McGregor (Rosehaven), Celia Pacquola (Rosehaven/Utopia) and Deborah Mailman (Cleverman).

The Logies host, comedian Dave Hughes, opened the awards on Sunday night with a monologue poking fun at some of Australian television's biggest stars and acknowledging the Broadbeach ceremony was the first time the event had been held outside its hometown of Melbourne.

It also marked the first time Australian television fans could vote in 10 of the most popular award categories up until the show began.

Snaps from the red carpet

Offspring star Asher Keddie arrives at the Logie Awards on the Gold Coast. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer and wife Cheryl Denyer pose on the red carpet. ( AAP: Regi Varghese )

Gold Logie nominee Tracy Grimshaw arrives at the 2018 Logie Awards. ( AAP: Regi Varghese )

American YouTube star JoJo Siwa arrives at the 2018 Logie Awards. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

ABC journalist Virginia Trioli arrives at the 2018 Logie Awards at The Star Casino on the Gold Coast. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

Former Miss World Australia Erin Holland arrives at the 2018 Logie Awards. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

Australian Ninja Warrior star Jack Wilson arrives at the 2018 Logie Awards on the Gold Coast. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

The Voice star Kelly Rowland arrives at the 2018 Logie Awards. ( AAP: Dan Peled )