The National Comedy Awards (known as the British Comedy Awards from 1990 to 2014) is an annual awards ceremony in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.

The British Comedy Awards (1990–2014)

The awards were shown live on

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...

in December from 1990 to 2006, after which the broadcast of the British Comedy Awards 2007 was suspended by ITV due to allegations of irregularities and deception in the awarding of the 2005 People's Choice Award and then ongoing related investigations about the 2007 British premium-rate phone-in scandal resulting in

Ofcom The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, internet, telecommunications and mail, postal industries of the United Kingdom. Ofcom has wide-rang ...

's subsequently fining ITV a record £5.675 million for its misuse of premium-rate telephone lines. After

Michael Parkinson Sir Michael Parkinson (28 March 1935 – 16 August 2023) was an English television presenter, broadcaster, journalist and author. He presented his television talk show '' Parkinson'' from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007, as well as other ta ...

presented the inaugural ceremony at the

London Palladium The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in Soho. The theatre was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1910. The auditorium holds 2,286 people. Hundreds of stars have played there, many wit ...

in December 1990, the majority of subsequent shows were presented by

Jonathan Ross Jonathan Stephen Ross (born 17 November 1960) is an English broadcaster, film critic, comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He presented the BBC One chat show '' Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' during the 2000s and early 2010s, hosted his ow ...

, staged at

London Studios The London Studios (also known as The South Bank Studios, The London Television Centre, ITV Tower, Kent House and LWT Tower) in Lambeth, London, Lambeth, Central London was a television studio complex owned by ITV plc and originally built for ...

, and produced by Michael Hurll Television (MHTV), whose parent company is Unique Communications Group. Ross did not present the 2008 awards, in light of

The Russell Brand Show prank calls In an episode of '' The Russell Brand Show'' broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 18 October 2008, the comedian Russell Brand and the presenter Jonathan Ross made prank calls to the actor Andrew Sachs that created controversy in the United Kingdom. Bra ...

and was replaced for that year by

Angus Deayton Gordon Angus Deayton (; born 6 January 1956) is an English actor, writer, musician, comedian and broadcaster. Deayton was the original presenter of two successful British comedy panel shows, ''Have I Got News for You'' (1990–2002) and ''Woul ...

. The 2007 show occurred on 6 December 2007, but was not televised due to the 2005 controversy and subsequent investigations. The following years ceremony was shown live on 6 December 2008. Compliance for the show was the responsibility of the ITV Compliance Unit of ITV Network Limited (consisting of members from

ITV plc ITV plc is a British media company that holds 13 of the 15 regional television licences that make up the ITV (TV network), ITV network (Channel 3), the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom. ITV plc ...

STV Group STV Group plc (formerly known as Scottish Television plc, Scottish Media Group plc and SMG plc) is a media company based in Glasgow, Scotland. Beginning as a television broadcaster in 1957, the company expanded into newspapers, advertising and r ...

UTV Media News broadcasting is the medium of broadcasting various news events and other information via television, radio, or the internet in the field of broadcast journalism. The content is usually either produced locally in a radio studio or telev ...

, and Channel Television Ltd). In June 2010, it was announced that awards were to be broadcast on

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...

for three years, which was later extended for one more year. Shortly afterwards, the 2010 ceremony was postponed until it finally aired in January 2011. In June 2015 Channel 4 announced they would be dropping the ceremony.

Winners

1990

* Best new TV comedy: ''

Drop the Dead Donkey ''Drop the Dead Donkey'' is a British television sitcom that was first shown on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom between 1990 and 1998. It is set in the offices of "GlobeLink News", a fictional TV news company. Recorded close to transmission, it ...

'' * Top TV comedy actor:

David Jason Sir David John White (born 2 February 1940), known professionally as David Jason, is an English actor. He has played Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', Detective Inspector Jack Frost in the drama series '' A Touch ...

* Top TV comedy actress:

Jean Boht Jean Boht (née Dance; 6 March 1932 – 12 September 2023) was an English actress, most famous for the role of Nellie Boswell in Carla Lane's sitcom ''Bread'', one of several actors to remain with the show for its entire seven series tenure fr ...

* Top TV comedy newcomer:

Pauline Quirke Pauline Perpetua Sheen (née Quirke; born 8 July 1959) is a retired English actress. She began her career with roles on various television series, before fronting her own comedy sketch show, ''Pauline's Quirkes'', in 1976. She later starred as ...

* Top British film actor:

Griff Rhys Jones Griffith Rhys Jones (born 16 November 1953) is a Welsh actor, comedian, writer and television presenter. He starred in a number of television series with his comedy partner, Mel Smith. He and Smith came to national attention in the 1980s for ...

* Top British film actress:

Pauline Collins Pauline Collins (born 3 September 1940) is a British actress who first came to prominence portraying Sarah Moffat in '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' (1971–1973) and its spin-off '' Thomas & Sarah'' (1979). In 1992, she published her autobiography ' ...

* Top live stand up:

Victoria Wood Victoria Wood (19 May 1953 – 20 April 2016) was an English comedian, actress, musician, screenwriter, and director. Wood wrote and starred in dozens of sketches, plays, musicals, films and sitcoms over several decades, and her live comedy act ...

* Top British TV comedy: ''

A Bit of a Do A, or a, is the first Letter (alphabet), letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''English alphabet#Letter names, a'' (pronounced ), plural ...

'' * Top ITV/C4 sitcom: ''A Bit of a Do'' * Top BBC sitcom: ''

Only Fools and Horses ''Only Fools and Horses'' (titled onscreen as ''Only Fools and Horses....'') is a British television sitcom that was created and written by John Sullivan (writer), John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Ki ...

'' * Top US sitcom: ''

Cheers ''Cheers'' is an American television sitcom, created by Glen and Les Charles, Glen Charles & Les Charles and James Burrows, that aired on NBC for eleven seasons from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/C ...

'' * Top entertainment performer:

Rowan Atkinson Rowan Sebastian Atkinson (born 6 January 1955) is an English actor, comedian and writer. He played the title roles in the sitcoms ''Blackadder'' (1983–1989) and '' Mr. Bean'' (1990–1995), and in the film series '' Johnny English'' (2003– ...

* Top variety act:

Russ Abbot Russell Allan Abbot (born Russell Allan Roberts; 18 September 1947) is an English musician, actor and comedian. Born in Chester, he first came to public notice during the 1970s as the singer and drummer with British comedy showband the Black A ...

* Top comedy film:

Shirley Valentine ''Shirley Valentine'' is a one-character play by Willy Russell. Taking the form of a monologue by a middle-aged, working class Liverpool housewife, it focuses on her life before and after a transforming holiday abroad. Plot Wondering what ha ...

* Top radio comedy:

Victor Lewis-Smith Victor Lewis-Smith (12 May 1957 – 10 December 2022) was a British film, television and radio producer, a television and restaurant critic, a satirist and newspaper columnist. He was executive producer of the ITV1 Annual National Food & Drink ...

* Best stage comedy newcomer: Mike Doyle *

WGGB WGGB-TV (channel 40) is a television station in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, affiliated with ABC, Fox, and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Media alongside low-power CBS affiliate WSHM-LD (channel 33). The two stations share s ...

Award For Top Comedy Writer:

David Nobbs David Gordon Nobbs (13 March 1935 – 8 August 2015 ...

* Lifetime achievement award for stage:

Norman Wisdom Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom, (4 February 1915 – 4 October 2010), was an English actor, comedian, musician, and singer, best known for his series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966, in which he portrayed the endearingly inept charact ...

* Lifetime achievement award for radio:

Roy Hudd Roy Hudd (16 May 1936 – 15 March 2020) was an English comedian, actor, presenter, radio host, author and authority on the history of music hall entertainment. Early life Hudd was born in Croydon on 16 May 1936 to Evalina "Evie" (née Barham ...

* Lifetime achievement award for film comedy:

Peter Rogers Peter Rogers (20 February 1914 – 14 April 2009) was an English film producer. He is best known for creating the ''Carry On'' series of films. Life and career Rogers began his career as a journalist for his local paper, before graduat ...

(''

Carry On films ''Carry On'' is a British comedy franchise comprising 31 films, four Christmas specials, a television series and stage shows produced between 1958 and 1992. Produced by Peter Rogers, the ''Carry On'' films were directed by Gerald Thomas and st ...

'' producer) * Lifetime achievement award:

Ronnie Barker Ronald William George Barker (25 September 1929 – 3 October 2005) was an English actor, comedian and writer. He was known for roles in British comedy television series such as ''Porridge (1974 TV series), Porridge'', ''The Two Ronnies'', ...

1991

* Best new TV comedy: ''

Have I Got News for You ''Have I Got News for You'' (''HIGNFY'') is a British television panel show, produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC, which premiered on 28 September 1990. The programme focuses on two teams, one usually captained by Ian Hislop and one ...

'' * Best TV comedy actor: Richard Wilson (''

One Foot in the Grave ''One Foot in the Grave'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom written by David Renwick. There were six series (each consisting of six half-hour episodes) and seven Christmas specials over a period of ten years from early 1990 to late ...

'') * Best TV comedy actress:

Patricia Routledge Dame Katherine Patricia Routledge ( ; born 17 February 1929) is an English actress and singer, best known for her comedy role as Hyacinth Bucket in the popular BBC sitcom ''Keeping Up Appearances'' (1990–1995), for which she was nominated for ...

* Top TV comedy newcomer:

* Best TV Entertainment presenter:

Clive Anderson Clive Stuart Anderson (born 10 December 1952) is an English television and radio presenter, comedian, writer and former barrister. Winner of a British Comedy Award in 1991, Anderson began experimenting with comedy and writing comedic scripts dur ...

(''

Whose Line Is It Anyway ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?'' is a short-form improvisational comedy show created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson. The three major versions of the show are the original 1988 British radio programme (from which all subsequent versions are ada ...

'') * Best ITV/C4 sitcom: ''

Drop The Dead Donkey ''Drop the Dead Donkey'' is a British television sitcom that was first shown on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom between 1990 and 1998. It is set in the offices of "GlobeLink News", a fictional TV news company. Recorded close to transmission, it ...

'' * Best entertainment series: ''

Alas Smith and Jones ''Alas Smith and Jones'' is a British comedy sketch television series starring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones that originally ran for four series and two Christmas specials on BBC2 from 1984 to 1988, and later as ''Smith and Jones'' for six ...

'' * Top entertainment presenter:

* Top British entertainment performers:

Mel Smith Melvyn Kenneth Smith (3 December 1952 – 19 July 2013) was an English comedian, actor and filmmaker. He worked on the sketch comedy shows ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' and ''Alas Smith and Jones'' with his comedy partner, Griff Rhys Jones. Smi ...

and

* Top variety performers:

Vic Reeves James Roderick Moir (born 24 January 1959), commonly known by his stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian and artist. He has a double act with Bob Mortimer as Reeves & Mortimer. He is known for his surreal sense of humour. In 2003, Ree ...

and

Bob Mortimer Robert Renwick Mortimer (born 23 May 1959) is an English comedian, author, television presenter, writer and actor. He is one half of the comedy double act Reeves and Mortimer with Jim Moir, Vic Reeves, and appears in the ''Mortimer & Whitehouse ...

* Best comedy film: ''

Home Alone ''Home Alone'' is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dar ...

'' * Best radio comedy: ''

On The Hour ''On the Hour'' was a British radio programme that parodied current affairs broadcasting, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 1991 and 1992. Written by Chris Morris, Armando Iannucci, Steven Wells, Andrew Glover, Stewart Lee, Richard Herring ...

''/''The Million Pound Radio Show'' * Top radio comedy personality: Phil Holden * Top stage newcomer:

Jack Dee James Andrew Innes "Jack" Dee (born 24 September 1961) is an English stand-up comedian, actor, presenter, and writer known for his sarcasm, irony, and deadpan humour. He wrote and starred in the sitcom '' Lead Balloon'' and hosts the panel show ...

* Top comedy club performer:

Jeremy Hardy Jeremy James Hardy (17 July 1961 – 1 February 2019) was an English comedian. Born and raised in Hampshire, Hardy studied at the University of Southampton and began his stand-up career in the 1980s, going on to win the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, ...

Award For Top Comedy Writer: John Sullivan * Lifetime achievement:

Beryl Reid Beryl Elizabeth Reid (17 June 1919 – 13 October 1996) was a British actress. She won the 1967 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for '' The Killing of Sister George'', the 1980 Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for '' Born in th ...

* International lifetime achievement:

George Burns George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer, and one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, film, and television. His arched eyeb ...

1992

* Best new TV comedy: '' Bottom'' * Best TV comedy actor:

('' The Darling Buds of May'') * Best TV comedy actress:

Stephanie Cole Patricia Stephanie Cole (born 5 October 1941) is an English stage, television, radio and film actor, known for high-profile roles in shows such as '' Tenko'' (1981–1985), ''Open All Hours'' (1982–1985), ''A Bit of a Do'' (1989), '' Waiting ...

(''Waiting For God'') * Best TV comedy newcomer:

Alan Cumming Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer and presenter. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award. He re ...

(''Bernard and the Genie'') * Top TV comedy personality:

Paul Merton Paul James Martin (born 9 July 1957), known by the stage name Paul Merton, is an English comedian who is best known as one of the two regular panellists on the television show '' Have I Got News for You''. Known for his improvisation skill, M ...

* Top variety performer:

Les Dawson Leslie Dawson (2 February 1931 – 10 June 1993) was an English comedian, actor, writer, presenter, and pianist. He was known for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona, musical routines, and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife. Early li ...

* Best sitcom: ''

'' * Best ITV comedy: ''

Men Behaving Badly ''Men Behaving Badly'' is a British sitcom that was created and written by Simon Nye. It follows the lives of Gary Strang ( Martin Clunes) and his flatmates Dermot Povey ( Harry Enfield; series 1 only) and Tony Smart ( Neil Morrissey; series ...

'' * Best BBC sitcom: ''One Foot in the Grave'' * Best C4 sitcom: ''

Desmonds ''Desmond's'' is a British television sitcom broadcast by Channel 4 from 5 January 1989 to 19 December 1994. Conceived and co-written by Trix Worrell, and produced by Charlie Hanson and Humphrey Barclay, ''Desmond's'' stars Norman Beaton as bar ...

'' * Best TV comedy drama: ''

Murder Most Horrid ''Murder Most Horrid'' is a British black comedy anthology series starring Dawn French. It was broadcast on BBC Two for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999. Created by Paul Smith, who also co-created ''Colin's Sandwich'' (with Terry ...

'' * Best C4 personality: Chris Evans * Best comedy film: ''

Hear My Song ''Hear My Song'' is a 1991 British comedy-drama film directed by Peter Chelsom, who co-wrote the screenplay with Adrian Dunbar, based on the story of Irish tenor Josef Locke. It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 46th British ...

'' * Top comedy club performer:

Jo Brand Josephine Grace Brand (born 23 July 1957) is an English actress, comedian, presenter and writer. Starting her entertainment career with a move from psychiatric nursing to the alternative comedy stand-up scene and early performances on '' Satur ...

Award For Top Comedy Writer:

David Renwick David Peter Renwick (; born 4 September 1951) is an English author, television writer, actor, director and executive producer. He created the sitcom ''One Foot in the Grave'' and the mystery series ''Jonathan Creek''. He was awarded the Writers ...

* Lifetime Achievement:

Eric Sykes Eric Sykes (4 May 1923 – 4 July 2012) was an English radio, stage, television and film writer, comedian, actor and director whose performing career spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and performed with many other leading com ...

1993

* Best new TV comedy: ''

Absolutely Fabulous ''Absolutely Fabulous'' (often shortened to ''Ab Fab'') is a British television sitcom created and written by Jennifer Saunders, which premiered in 1992. It is based on the 1990 '' French and Saunders'' sketch " Modern Mother and Daughter", cr ...

'' * Best comedy actor:

Rik Mayall Richard Michael Mayall (; 7 March 1958 – 9 June 2014) was an English actor, comedian and writer. He formed a close partnership with Adrian Edmondson while they were students at Manchester University, and was a pioneer of alternative come ...

('' Rik Mayall Presents'') * Best comedy actress:

Joanna Lumley Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley (born 1 May 1946) is an Indian-born British actress, presenter, author, television producer, activist and former model. She has won two BAFTA TV Awards for her role as Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulo ...

(''Absolutely Fabulous'') * Top TV comedy newcomer:

Steve Coogan Stephen John Coogan (; born 14 October 1965) is an English-Irish actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer. His accolades include four BAFTA Awards and three British Comedy Awards, and nominations for two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Aw ...

* Top C4 entertainment presenter: Chris Evans * Best radio comedy: ''

Knowing Me, Knowing You "Knowing Me, Knowing You" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, released in February 1977 as the third single from the group's fourth album, '' Arrival'' (1976). It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, with ...

'' * Top variety entertainer:

Ken Dodd Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd (8 November 1927 – 11 March 2018) was an English stand-up comedy, comedian, actor and singer. He was described as "the last great music hall entertainer" and was primarily known for his live stand-up comedy, stand-up pe ...

* Best entertainment series: '' Barrymore'' * Best BBC sitcom: ''

'' * Best ITV sitcom: '' Watching'' * Best C4 sitcom: ''

'' * Best TV comedy drama: ''The Snapper'' * Top TV personality:

* Top female performer:

Jennifer Saunders Jennifer Jane Saunders (born 6 July 1958) is an English actress, comedian, singer, and screenwriter. Saunders originally found attention in the 1980s, when she became a member of The Comic Strip after graduating from the Royal Central School ...

and

Dawn French Dawn Roma French (born 11 October 1957) is a British actress, comedian and writer. She is known for writing and starring on the BBC sketch comedy series '' French and Saunders'' (1987–2007) with her best friend and comedy partner Jennifer Sa ...

* Best comedy film: ''

Groundhog Day Groundhog Day (, , , ; Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia: Daks Day) is a tradition observed regionally in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if ...

'' * Top stand-up:

Eddie Izzard Suzy Eddie Izzard ( ; born Edward John Izzard, 7 February 1962) is a British stand-up comedian, actor and activist. Her comedic style takes the form of what appears to the audience as rambling whimsical monologues and self-referential pantomi ...

Award For Top Comedy Writer:

Richard Curtis Richard Whalley Anthony Curtis (born 8 November 1956) is a British screenwriter, producer and director. One of Britain's most successful comedy screenwriters, he is known for romantic comedy-drama films, including ''Four Weddings and a Funeral' ...

* Lifetime achievement award:

1994

* Best comedy series: ''

'' * Best new TV comedy: '' Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge'' * Top TV comedy actor:

Stephen Tompkinson Stephen Phillip Tompkinson (born 15 October 1965) is an English actor, known for his television roles as Marcus in '' Chancer '' (1990), Damien Day in '' Drop the Dead Donkey'' (1990–1998), Father Peter Clifford in '' Ballykissangel'' (1996� ...

(''

'') * Top TV comedy actress:

Brenda Blethyn Brenda Blethyn ( Bottle; born 20 February 1946) is an English actress. Known for her character work and versatility, she is the recipient of various accolades, including a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Cannes Film Festival Award, as well as n ...

(''

Outside Edge ''Outside Edge'' is a play written by Richard Harris about a village cricket team trying to win a game of cricket whilst sorting out their various marital problems. Plot Roger is having trouble getting a team together for the afternoons fixt ...

'') * Best TV comedy newcomer: Chris Morris (''

The Day Today ''The Day Today'' is a British comedy television show that parodies television news and current affairs programmes, broadcast from 19 January to 23 February 1994 on BBC2. It was created by Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris and is an adap ...

'') * Best TV comedy series: ''Drop The Dead Donkey'' * Best BBC comedy series: ''

Red Dwarf A red dwarf is the smallest kind of star on the main sequence. Red dwarfs are by far the most common type of fusing star in the Milky Way, at least in the neighborhood of the Sun. However, due to their low luminosity, individual red dwarfs are ...

'' * Best C4 comedy: ''Drop The Dead Donkey'' * Best ITV comedy: '' Time After Time'' * Best comedy drama: ''

'' * Best male TV performer:

(''Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge'') * Top female comedy performer:

Tracey Ullman Tracey Ullman (born Trace Ullman; 30 December 1959) is a British-American actress, singer, dancer, screenwriter, producer, and director. Despite being frequently referred to as a comedian, Ullman considers herself a character actress. Critics h ...

(''Tracey Ullman Takes on New York'') * Best ITV entertainment presenter:

Michael Barrymore Michael Ciaran Parker (born 4 May 1952), known by his stage name Michael Barrymore, is an English comedian, influencer and television presenter of game shows and light entertainment programmes on British television in the 1980s, 1990s and 200 ...

* Best BBC entertainment presenter:

Noel Edmonds Noel Ernest Edmonds (born 22 December 1948) is an English businessman, and former television presenter, radio DJ, writer and producer. Edmonds first became known as a disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg before moving to BBC Radio 1 in the UK, pres ...

* Best Channel 4 entertainment presenter: Chris Evans (''

Don't Forget Your Toothbrush ''Don't Forget Your Toothbrush'' is a British light entertainment TV programme that aired on Channel 4 from 12 February 1994 to 25 February 1995 and was hosted by Chris Evans. Background ''Don't Forget Your Toothbrush'' was written ...

'') * Top theatre variety performer:

Billy Pearce Billy Pearce (born 1 February 1951) is an English performer, comedian, actor and entertainer, who appeared regular on UK television in the 1980s and 1990s, in which Pearce has been described as a "supreme entertainer". He particularly loves per ...

* Best comedy film: ''

Four Weddings and a Funeral ''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' is a 1994 British romantic comedy film directed by Mike Newell. It is the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to star Hugh Grant, and follows the adventures of Charles (Grant) and his circle of ...

'' * Top comedy writer:

Jack Rosenthal Jack Morris Rosenthal (8 September 1931 – 29 May 2004) was an English playwright. He wrote 129 early episodes of the ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' and over 150 screenplays, including original television plays, featur ...

* Best radio comedy: ''A Look Back to the Future'' * Best live stand-up:

Phil Kay Phil Kay (born 1969) is a Scottish stand-up comedian. Biography Education Kay was educated at Craigclowan Preparatory School in Perth, Scotland, and at nearby Glenalmond College. Early career Kay became known to the public when he won the ...

Award For Top Comedy Writer:

* Special award for Comedy:

Armando Iannucci Armando Giovanni Iannucci (; born 28 November 1963) is a Scottish satirist, writer, director, producer and performer. Born in Glasgow to Italian parents, Iannucci studied at the University of Glasgow followed by the University of Oxford. St ...

* Lifetime achievement:

Spike Milligan Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright and actor. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Raj, British India, where he spent his ...

June Whitfield Dame June Rosemary Whitfield (11 November 1925 – 29 December 2018) was an English radio, television and film actress. Whitfield's big break was a lead in the radio comedy '' Take It from Here'', which aired on the BBC Light Programme ...

1995

* Best comedy show: '' Rory Bremner Who Else'' * Best new TV comedy: ''

Father Ted ''Father Ted'' is a sitcom created by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews (writer), Arthur Mathews and produced by British production company Hat Trick Productions for British television channel Channel 4. It aired over three seri ...

'' * Top TV comedy actor:

Martin Clunes Alexander Martin Clunes (born 28 November 1961) is an English actor, director and television presenter. He is best known for portraying Martin Ellingham in the ITV comedy-drama series '' Doc Martin'', Gary Strang in the BBC sitcom ''Men Behavin ...

(''

'') * Top TV comedy actress:

Caroline Quentin Caroline Quentin (born Caroline Amanda Jane Jones; 11 July 1960) is an English actress, broadcaster and television presenter. Quentin became known for her television appearances, portraying Dorothy in ''Men Behaving Badly'' (1992–1998), Maddie ...

(''Men Behaving Badly'') * Top TV comedy newcomer:

Ardal O'Hanlon Ardal O'Hanlon (; born 8 October 1965) is an Irish comedian, actor, and author. He played Father Dougal McGuire in ''Father Ted'' (1995–1998), George Sunday/Thermoman in ''My Hero (British TV series), My Hero'' (2000–2006), and DI Jack Moone ...

(''

'') * Top female comedy performer:

* Top male comedy performers: John Bird and

John Fortune John Courtney Fortune (born John Courtney Wood; 30 June 1939 – 31 December 2013) was an English actor, writer and satirist, best known for his work with John Bird and Rory Bremner on the television series '' Bremner, Bird and Fortune''. Ea ...

* Best radio comedy: ''

I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' is a BBC radio comedy panel game. Billed as "the antidote to panel games", it consists of two teams of two comedians being given "silly things to do" by the host. The show was launched in April 1972 as a parody of ...

'' * Best BBC comedy series: ''

'' * Best ITV entertainment presenter:

* Best BBC entertainment presenter:

* Best Channel 4 entertainment presenter: Chris Evans * Top TV personality:

* Best ITV sitcom: ''

Is It Legal? ''Is It Legal?'' is a British television sitcom set in a solicitors office in Hounslow, west London, which ran from 12 September 1995 to 9 December 1998. It was produced by Hartswood Films and was shown on ITV for Series 1–2 and Channel 4 fo ...

'' * Best BBC sitcom: ''One Foot in the Grave'' * Best Channel 4 sitcom: ''

'' * Best comedy drama: ''

Preston Front ''All Quiet on the Preston Front'' was a British comedy-drama series broadcast on BBC One between 4 January 1994 and 8 September 1997. Conceived by Tim Firth, the programme charted the lives, misadventures & relationships of a group of friends ...

'' * Best entertainment series: ''

'' * Best comedy film: '' Bullets Over Broadway'' * Best stand-up comic:

Award For Top Comedy Writer:

Andy Hamilton Andrew Neil Hamilton (born 28 May 1954) is a British comedian, game show panellist, television director, comedy screenwriter, radio dramatist, novelist and actor. Early life and education Hamilton was born in Fulham, West London. He was educa ...

and

Guy Jenkin Guy Jenkin (born 27 April 1955) is a British film director and comedy writer who is best known for working together with Andy Hamilton on sitcoms and comedies such as '' Drop the Dead Donkey'' (1990–1998), '' Outnumbered'' (2007–2014), and ...

* Lifetime achievement for variety:

Bruce Forsyth Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson (22 February 1928 – 18 August 2017) was an English entertainer and television presenter whose career spanned more than 75 years. Forsyth came to national attention from the late 1950s through the Associated Te ...

* Lifetime achievement for comedy:

Bob Monkhouse Robert Alan Monkhouse (1 June 1928 – 29 December 2003) was an English comedian, television presenter, writer and actor. He was the host of television game shows including '' The Golden Shot'', '' Celebrity Squares'', '' Family Fortunes'' and ' ...

* Award for comedy:

Peter Cook Peter Edward Cook (17 November 1937 – 9 January 1995) was an English comedian, actor, satirist, playwright and screenwriter. He was the leading figure of the British satire boom of the 1960s, and he was associated with the anti-establishmen ...

1996

* Best comedy series: ''

The Fast Show ''The Fast Show'', also known as ''Brilliant'' in the United States, is a BBC comedy sketch show that ran on BBC Two, BBC 2 from 1994 to 1997, with specials in 2000 and 2014. The show's central performers were Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Si ...

'' * Best new TV comedy: ''

Thin Blue Line The "thin blue line" is a term that typically refers to the concept of the police as the line between law-and-order and chaos in society. The "blue" in "thin blue line" refers to the blue color of the uniforms of many police departments. The ...

'' * Top TV comedy actor:

Dermot Morgan Dermot John Morgan (31 March 1952 – 28 February 1998) was an Irish comedian and actor, best known for his role as the title character on the Channel 4 sitcom ''Father Ted''. Early life Morgan was born in Dublin, the son of Hilda "Holly" (née ...

(''

'') * Top TV comedy actress:

Pauline McLynn Pauline McLynn (born 11 July 1962) is an Irish character actress and author. She is best known for her roles as Mrs. Doyle in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Father Ted'', Libby Croker in the Channel 4 comedy drama '' Shameless'', Tip Haddem in the BBC ...

(''

'') * Top TV newcomer:

James Dreyfus James Louis de Zogheb Dreyfus (born 9 October 1968) is an English actor most notable for roles on television sitcoms '' The Thin Blue Line'' as Constable Kevin Goody, and '' Gimme Gimme Gimme'' as Tom Farrell. Dreyfus is most recently known for ...

(''The Thin Blue Line'') * Best BBC sitcom: ''

'' * Best ITV sitcom: '' The 10%ers'' * Top ITV entertainment presenter:

Cilla Black Priscilla Maria Veronica White (27 May 1943 – 1 August 2015), better known as Cilla Black, was an English singer and television presenter. Championed by her friends the Beatles, Black began her career as a singer in 1963. Her singles "A ...

* Top BBC1 entertainment presenter:

Ruby Wax Ruby Wax (; born 19 April 1953) is an American-British actress, comedian, writer, television presenter, and mental health campaigner. A classically-trained actress, Wax co-starred on the ITV sitcom '' Girls on Top'' (1985–1986), and came t ...

* Top C4/BBC2 entertainment presenter: Chris Evans (''

TFI Friday ''TFI Friday'' (Thank Four it's Friday) is an entertainment show that was broadcast on Channel 4 television in the United Kingdom. It was produced by Ginger Productions, written by Danny Baker, and hosted by Chris Evans, for the first five ...

'') * Best children's comedy: ''

Woof! ''Woof!'' is a British children's television series produced by Central Independent Television about the adventures of a boy who shapeshifts into a dog. Based on the book by Allan Ahlberg (who wrote several episodes of the series), it was dire ...

'' * Top female comedy performer:

Caroline Aherne Caroline Mary Aherne (24 December 1963 – 2 July 2016) was an English actress, comedian, writer and director. She was best known for performing as the acerbic chat show host '' Mrs Merton'', in various roles in '' The Fast Show'', and as Denise ...

('' Mrs Merton'') * Top male comedy performer:

Paul Whitehouse Paul Julian Whitehouse (born 17 May 1958) is a Welsh actor, writer, presenter and comedian. He was one of the main stars of the BBC sketch comedy series ''The Fast Show'' and has starred with Harry Enfield in the shows ''Harry & Paul'' and ''Ha ...

(''The Fast Show'') * Best comedy film: ''

Babe Babe may refer to: * Babe, a term of endearment * A newborn baby * An attractive (especially female) person People * Babe (nickname), a list of people * Jerome Babe (1837–1893), American inventor and miner * Thomas Babe (1941–2000), Ame ...

'' * Best radio comedy: '' People Like Us'' * Best comedy drama: ''

'' * Best entertainment series: ''TFI Friday'' * International comedy: ''

Frasier ''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey (screenwriter), Peter Casey, and David Lee (scr ...

'' * Top TV comedy personalities:

and

* Best stand-up:

Award For Top Comedy Writer:

Johnny Speight Johnny Speight (2 June 1920 – 5 July 1998) was an English television scriptwriter of many classic British sitcoms. Speight emerged in the mid-1950s, writing for radio comics Frankie Howerd, Vic Oliver, Arthur Askey, and Cyril Fletcher. For ...

* Lifetime achievement award: Dave Allen

1997

* Best comedy show: ''

'' * Best new TV comedy: '' The Harry Hill Show'' * Best TV comedy actor:

(''

'') * Best TV comedy actress:

(''

Vicar of Dibley ''The Vicar of Dibley'' is a British sitcom. It consists of three series, which aired on BBC One from 10 November 1994 to 1 January 2000, and several specials, the most recent of which aired on 23 December 2020. It is set in the fictional Oxfor ...

'') * Top comedy newcomer:

Graham Norton Graham William Walker (born 4 April 1963), known professionally as Graham Norton, is an Irish comedian, broadcaster, actor, and writer. He is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for the comedy chat show ''The Graham Norton Show'' (2007–present) ...

* Best C4 sitcom: ''

'' * Top BBC1 personality:

* Top ITV personality:

* Top BBC2/C4 personality:

* Best radio comedy: People Like Us * Best comedy film: ''

The Full Monty ''The Full Monty'' is a 1997 comedy film directed by Peter Cattaneo, starring Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, William Snape, Steve Huison, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Barber and Hugo Speer. The screenplay was written by Simon Beaufoy. The film is set ...

'' * Cockburn's funniest comedy moment: ''

'' * Best international comedy: ''

The Larry Sanders show ''The Larry Sanders Show'' is an American television sitcom set in the office and studio of a fictional late-night talk show. Created by Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein, the show ran for six seasons and List of The Larry Sanders Show episodes, ...

'' * Best BBC sitcom: ''

'' Christmas Special * Best ITV sitcom: '' Faith in the Future'' * Best Channel 4 sitcom: ''Father Ted'' Christmas Special * Best BBC comedy drama: ''

The Missing Postman ''The Missing Postman'' is a two-part comedy drama originally broadcast on BBC1 on the consecutive evenings of 29 and 30 March 1997. Adapted from the Mark Wallington novel, it received the award for Best BBC Comedy Drama at the British Comedy Awa ...

'' * Best ITV comedy drama: ''

Cold Feet ''Cold Feet'' is a British comedy-drama television series produced by Granada Television for the ITV (TV network), ITV network. The series was created and principally written by Mike Bullen as a follow-up to his 1997 Comedy Premieres, Comedy ...

'' * Best children's comedy: ''My Dad's A Boring Nerd'' * Best entertainment programme: ''An Evening With

Lily Savage Paul James O'Grady (14 June 1955 – 28 March 2023) was an English comedian, broadcaster, drag queen, actor, and writer. He achieved notability in the London gay scene during the 1980s with his drag persona Lily Savage, through which he gained ...

'' * Top stand-up comic:

* People's Choice: ''Only Fools and Horses'' *

achievement award:

Ray Galton Raymond Percy Galton (17 July 1930 – 5 October 2018) was an English radio and television scriptwriter. He was best known as part of the Galton and Simpson comedy writing partnership with Alan Simpson. Together they devised and wrote 1950s an ...

and Alan Simpson * Lifetime achievement award:

Stanley Baxter Stanley Livingstone Baxter (born 24 May 1926) is a retired Scottish actor, comedian, impressionist and author. Baxter began his career as a child actor on BBC Scotland and later became known for his British television comedy shows '' The Stanley ...

1998

* Best comedy series: '' Goodness Gracious Me'' * Best new TV comedy: ''

The Royle Family ''The Royle Family'' is a British sitcom produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series from 1998 to 2000, and specials from 2006 to 2012. It centres on the lives of a television-fixated Manchester family, the Royles, com ...

'' * Best TV comedy actor:

(''

I'm Alan Partridge ''I'm Alan Partridge'' is a British sitcom created by Steve Coogan, Peter Baynham and Armando Iannucci. Coogan stars as Alan Partridge, a tactless and inept broadcaster. The first series, broadcast in 1997, has Partridge living in a roadside h ...

'') * Best TV comedy actress:

Emma Chambers Emma Gwynedd Mary Chambers (11 March 1964 – 21 February 2018) was an English actress. She played Alice Tinker in the BBC comedy ''The Vicar of Dibley'' and Honey Thacker in the film ''Notting Hill'' (1999). Beginning her career in 1987 o ...

(''

'') * Top TV comedy newcomer:

Dylan Moran Dylan William Moran ( ; born ) is an Irish comedian, writer, actor and artist. He is best known for his observational comedy, the comedy series '' Black Books'' (which he co-wrote and starred in), and his work with Simon Pegg in films such as ' ...

(''

How Do You Want Me? ''How Do You Want Me?'' is a British television sitcom, produced by Kensington Films & Television, written by Simon Nye, and directed by John Henderson. Plot Dylan Moran starred as boy next door Ian Lyons, who recently eloped with country girl ...

'') * Best TV sitcom: ''I'm Alan Partridge'' * Best light entertainment series: ''

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (WWTBAM) is an international television game show franchise of British origin, created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill and Steven Knight. In its format, currently owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Televis ...

'' * Top BBC1 comedy personality:

Harry Enfield Henry Richard Enfield (born 30 May 1961) is an English comedian. He is known in particular for his television work, including '' Harry Enfield's Television Programme'', '' Harry Enfield & Chums'' and '' Harry & Paul'', across which he created ...

* Top BBC2 personality:

* Top ITV personality:

* Best children's comedy: ''

Sooty & Co ''Sooty & Co.'' is a British children's television series, created and presented by Matthew Corbett, produced by Granada Television, and aired on the Children's ITV block on ITV from 6 September 1993 to 14 December 1998. It is the sequel to t ...

'' * Best television comedy drama: ''

Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

'' * Best comedy film: ''

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' is a 1998 neo-noir black comedy crime film written and directed by Guy Ritchie. It follows a heist involving a confident young card sharp who loses £500,000 to a powerful crime lord in a rigged game of ...

'' * Best radio comedy: ''

Old Harry's Game ''Old Harry's Game'' is a British radio comedy written and directed by Andy Hamilton, who stars as the cynical, world-weary Satan. "Old Harry" is one of many names for the Devil. The show's title is a play on that of the 1982 television series ...

'' * Best stand-up comedian:

Tommy Tiernan Tommy Tiernan (; born 16 June 1969) is an Irish comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for his stand-up career, hosting '' The Tommy Tiernan Show'' (2017–present) and playing Gerry in the sitcom '' Derry Girls'' (2018–2022). Early l ...

writer of the year award:

Denis Norden Denis Mostyn Norden (born Denis Moss Cohen; 6 February 1922 – 19 September 2018) was an English comedy writer and television presenter. After an early career working in cinemas, he began scriptwriting during the Second World War. From 1948 t ...

and (posthumously)

Frank Muir Frank Herbert Muir (5 February 1920 – 2 January 1998) was an English comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. His writing and performing partnership with Denis Norden endured for most of their careers. Together they wr ...

* People's Choice:

* Lifetime achievement award:

Dame Thora Hird Dame Thora Hird (28 May 1911 – 15 March 2003) was an English actress. In a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in more than 100 films, as well as many television roles, becoming a household name and a British institution. Hird w ...

1999

* Best new TV comedy: ''

Dinnerladies Lunch lady, in Canada and the U.S., is a term for a woman who cooks and serves food in a school cafeteria. The equivalent term in the United Kingdom is dinner lady. The role is also sometimes known as cafeteria lady or school caterer. Sometimes ...

'' * Best TV comedy actor:

Ricky Tomlinson Eric "Ricky" Tomlinson (born 26 September 1939) is an English actor. He is best known for his television roles as Bobby Grant in the soap opera '' Brookside'' (1982–1988), DCI Charlie Wise in '' Cracker'' (1993–2006) and Jim Royle in '' T ...

(''

'') * Best TV comedy actress:

(''The Royle Family'', ''

Mrs Merton and Malcolm ''Mrs Merton and Malcolm'' was a six-episode British sitcom produced by Granada Television, and transmitted by BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporati ...

''). * Best male comedy newcomer:

Sacha Baron Cohen Sacha Noam Baron Cohen ( ; born 13 October 1971) is an English comedian, actor and performance artist. Known for his creation and portrayal of the fictional satirical characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, and Admiral General Haf ...

(''

The 11 O'Clock Show ''The 11 O'Clock Show'' was a satirical late-night British television comedy series on Channel 4 which featured topical sketches and commentary on news items. It ran between 30 September 1998 and 8 December 2000, most notably hosted by Iain Lee ...

'') * Best female comedy newcomer:

Jessica Stevenson Jessica Hynes (''née'' Stevenson) is a British actress, director and writer. Best known as a comedy actress, she has played Cheryl in ''The Royle Family'' (1998–2010), Siobhan Sharpe in ''Twenty Twelve'' (2011–2012) and ''W1A'' (2014–2 ...

(''

Spaced ''Spaced'' is a British television sitcom created, written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright, about the comedic, and sometimes surreal and action-packed, misadventures of Daisy Steiner and Tim Bi ...

'', ''The Royle Family'') * Best comedy entertainment personality:

* Best 'broken comedy': ''

Big Train ''Big Train'' is a British television sketch show created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan. The first series was broadcast on BBC Two in 1998, while the second, in which Linehan was not involved, aired in 2002. Overview The series starre ...

'' * Best comedy gameshow: ''

'' * Best comedy talkshow: ''

So Graham Norton ''So Graham Norton'' is a British television chat show hosted by Irish personality Graham Norton. It aired on Channel 4 from 3 July 1998 to 1 March 2002. Theme The show was primarily adult-orientated, with host Norton dishing out many sexual ...

'' * Best TV sitcom: ''The Royle Family'' * Best TV comedy-drama: ''

'' * Best comedy film: ''

Notting Hill Notting Hill is a district of West London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is known for being a wikt:cosmopolitan, cosmopolitan and multiculturalism, multicultural neighbourhood, hosting the annual Notting ...

'' * Best international comedy show: ''The Larry Sanders Show'' * Best comedy entertainment programme: ''Comic Relief'' * Best radio comedy: ''The Sunday Format'' * Best live stand-up: Bill Bailey *

Award For Top Comedy Writer:

* Lifetime achievement award: Barry Humphries, The Two Ronnies

2000

* Best TV comedy: ''

'' * Best new TV comedy: ''That Peter Kay Thing'' * Best TV comedy actor: James Nesbitt (''

'') * Best TV comedy actress: Sue Johnston (''

'') * Best TV comedy newcomer: Rob Brydon (''Marion and Geoff'') * Best TV comedy-drama: ''Cold Feet'' * Best TV comedy personality:

* Best comedy entertainment programme: ''Alistair McGowan's Big Impression'' * Best comedy film: ''East Is East (1999 film), East Is East'' * Best international TV show: ''The Simpsons'' * Best of British: ''The Vicar of Dibley'' * Best live comic: Sean Lock * People's Choice: ''SMTV Live'' *

writer of the year:

* Lifetime achievement award: Alan Bennett

2001

* Best TV comedy: ''

'' * Best new TV comedy: ''The Office (UK TV series), The Office'' * Best TV comedy actor: Rob Brydon (''Human Remains (TV series), Human Remains'') * Best TV comedy actress: Ronni Ancona * Best comedy newcomer: Johnny Vegas * Best comedy entertainment personality: Frank Skinner * Best TV comedy drama: ''Bob and Rose'' * Best comedy entertainment programme: ''

'' * Best international comedy TV show: ''Seinfeld'' * Best radio comedy: ''Dead Ringers (comedy), Dead Ringers'' * Best comedy film: ''Best in Show (film), Best in Show'' * Best live stand-up:

(Award not presented on night) * The AOL people's choice: ''

'' (Voted by viewing audience) * Writer of the year: Russell T Davies * Lifetime achievement award:

2002

* Best TV Comedy: ''The Office (UK TV series), The Office'' * Best new TV comedy: ''The Kumars at No 42'' * Best comedy actor: Ricky Gervais (''The Office'') * Best comedy actress: Kathy Burke (''Gimme Gimme Gimme (TV series), Gimme Gimme Gimme'') * Best comedy newcomer: Kris Marshall (''My Family'') * Best comedy entertainment Personality:

* Best comedy drama: ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' * Best comedy entertainment programme: ''V Graham Norton'' * Best international comedy show: ''Six Feet Under (TV series), Six Feet Under'' * Best comedy film: ''Bend It Like Beckham'' * People's choice award: ''Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights'' * Writer of the year: Peter Kay * Lifetime achievement award: Michael Palin

2003

* Best TV comedy: ''Coupling (UK TV series), Coupling'' * Best new TV comedy: ''My New Best Friend'' * Best comedy actor:

* Best comedy actress: Ronni Ancona * Best comedy newcomer: David Walliams (''Little Britain (sketch show), Little Britain'') * Best entertainment personality: Ant and Dec * Best comedy drama: ''

'' * Best comedy entertainment programme: ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' * International comedy show: ''Malcolm in the Middle'' * Best comedy film: ''Calendar Girls'' * People's choice award: ''Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' * Writer of the year: Mike Bullen * Lifetime achievement award: Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Croft

2004

* Best TV comedy: ''Little Britain (sketch show), Little Britain'' * Best new TV comedy: ''Nighty Night'' * Best TV comedy actor: Matt Lucas (comedian), Matt Lucas and David Walliams * Best TV comedy actress:

* Best comedy newcomer: Catherine Tate * Best comedy entertainment personality: Ant & Dec * Best comedy entertainment programme: ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' * Best TV comedy drama: ''Doc Martin'' * Best international comedy show: ''The Simpsons'' * Best comedy film: ''School of Rock'' * People's choice award: ''Little Britain'' * Writers of the Year: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant * Outstanding achievement: Matt Groening, French & Saunders, French and Saunders

2005

* Best TV comedy: ''Little Britain (sketch show), Little Britain'' * Best new TV comedy: ''The Thick of It'' * Best TV comedy actor: Chris Langham * Best TV comedy actress: Ashley Jensen * Best comedy newcomer: Ashley Jensen * Best international Show: ''The Simpsons'' * Best entertainment Programme: ''The X Factor (UK), The X Factor'' * Best comedy drama: ''Shameless (UK TV series), Shameless'' * Best comedy entertainment Personality: Paul O'Grady * Best comedy film: ''Festival (2005 film), Festival'' * People's choice award: ''The Catherine Tate Show'' declared actual winner (2008); "2007 British premium-rate phone-in scandal, mistakenly" awarded to ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' (2005) * Ronnie Barker Writers of the year: Matt Lucas (comedian), Matt Lucas and David Walliams * Outstanding achievement: Julie Walters and

2006

* Best Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''Harry Hill's TV Burp'' * Best Comedy Film: ''Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit'' * Best International Comedy TV Show: ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' * Britain's Best New TV Comedy: ''Star Stories'' * Best TV Comedy: ''Peep Show (British TV series), Peep Show'' * Best Stage Comedy: ''Little Britain (sketch show), Little Britain'' Live * People's Choice Award: ''Ant & Dec, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' * Best TV Comedy Actor: Stephen Merchant * Best TV Comedy Actress: Catherine Tate * Best TV Comedy Entertainment Personality: Harry Hill * Best Male Comedy Newcomer: Russell Brand * Best Female Comedy Newcomer: Charlotte Church * Best Live Standup Tour: Jimmy Carr * Ronnie Barker Award:

, Peter Baynham, Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer * Writers' Guild of Great Britain Special Award:

* Outstanding Contribution To Entertainment: Chris Tarrant

2007

* Best New Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''Al Murray's Happy Hour'' * Best Comedy Film: ''The Simpsons Movie'' * Best International Comedy TV Show: ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' * Britain's Best New TV Comedy: ''Gavin & Stacey'' * Best TV Comedy: ''Peep Show (British TV series), Peep Show'' * Best TV Comedy Actor: David Mitchell (comedian), David Mitchell (''Peep Show (British TV series), Peep Show'') * Best TV Comedy Actress: Liz Smith (actress), Liz Smith (''

: The Queen of Sheba'') * Best Comedy Entertainment Personality: Simon Amstell (''Never Mind The Buzzcocks'') * Best Male Comedy Newcomer: James Corden * Best Female Comedy Newcomer: Ruth Jones (actress), Ruth Jones (''Gavin & Stacey'') * Best Live Standup: Alan Carr * Ronnie Barker Award: Simon Pegg * British Comedy Lifetime Achievement Award: Stephen Fry

2008

* Best Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''Harry Hill's TV Burp'' * Best Comedy Film: ''Hot Fuzz'' * Britain's Best New British TV Comedy: ''The Inbetweeners'' * Best TV Comedy: ''Gavin & Stacey'' * Best TV Comedy Actor: Ricky Gervais (''Extras (TV series), Extras'') * Best TV Comedy Actress: Sharon Horgan (''Pulling (TV series), Pulling'') * Best Comedy Entertainment Personality: Alan Carr (''The Sunday Night Project'') * Best Male Comedy Newcomer: Simon Bird * Best Female Comedy Newcomer: Katy Brand * Best TV Comedy Drama: ''Drop Dead Gorgeous (TV series), Drop Dead Gorgeous'' * Best Live Standup Performer: Russell Brand * Best Comedy Panel Show: ''QI'' * Ronnie Barker Award:

* British Comedy Lifetime Achievement Award: Jasper Carrott * Outstanding Contribution to Comedy: Geoffrey Perkins

2009

* Best Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''Harry Hill's TV Burp'' * Best Situation Comedy: ''Outnumbered (UK TV series), Outnumbered'' * Best New British TV Comedy: ''Psychoville'' * Best Comedy Panel Show: ''

'' * Best TV Comedy Drama: ''Pulling (TV series), Pulling Special'' * Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy: Peter Kay * Best Television Comedy Actress: Katherine Parkinson (''The IT Crowd'') * Best Television Comedy Actor: Simon Bird (''The Inbetweeners'') * Best Comedy Entertainment Personality: Harry Hill * Ronnie Barker Award: Graham Linehan * Best Comedy Film: ''In the Loop (film), In the Loop'' * Best Live Standup Performer: Michael McIntyre * Best British Comedy: ''Outnumbered (UK TV series), Outnumbered'' * British Lifetime Achievement Award: Terry Wogan * Best Male Comedy Newcomer: Charlie Brooker (''You Have Been Watching'') * Best Female Comedy Newcomer: Ramona Marquez (''Outnumbered (UK TV series), Outnumbered'') * Best Sketch Show: ''Harry and Paul''

2010

* Best Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''Newswipe'' * Best Comedy Panel Show: ''Would I Lie to You? (British game show), Would I Lie To You?'' * Best Comedy Entertainment Personality: Harry Hill * Best Male TV Comic: Michael McIntyre * Best Female TV Comic:

* British Comedy Academy Lifetime Achievement Award: Roy Clarke * Best New British TV Comedy: ''Miranda (TV series), Miranda'' * Best Male Comedy Breakthrough Artist: John Bishop (comedian), John Bishop * Best Female Comedy Breakthrough Artist: Samantha Spiro (''Grandma's House'') * Best Sketch Show: ''Horrible Histories (2009 TV series), Horrible Histories'' * Best Sitcom: ''The Inbetweeners'' * Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award: Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong * Best TV Comedy Actor: Peter Capaldi * Best TV Comedy Actress: Miranda Hart * Best Comedy Performance in a British Film: Kayvan Novak * People's Choice Award for the King Or Queen of Comedy 2010: Miranda Hart

2011

* Best Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle'' * Best Comedy Panel Show: ''Shooting Stars (British TV series), Shooting Stars'' * Best Comedy Entertainment Personality:

* Best Male TV Comic: Stewart Lee * Best Female TV Comic:

* British Comedy Academy Lifetime Achievement Award: ''Have I Got News For You'' * Best New Comedy Programme: ''Fresh Meat (TV series), Fresh Meat'' * Best Sketch Show: ''Horrible Histories (2009 TV series), Horrible Histories'' * Best Sitcom: ''Twenty Twelve'' * Best Comedy Drama: ''Psychoville'' * British Comedy Academy Outstanding Achievement: ''The Inbetweeners'' * Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist: Renton Skinner, Angelos Neil Epithemiou * Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award:

* Best TV Comedy Actor: Darren Boyd * Best TV Comedy Actress: Miranda Hart * People's Choice Award for the King or Queen of Comedy 2011: Sarah Millican * Channel 4 Award for Special Contribution to Comedy: Lee Evans (comedian), Lee Evans

2012

* Best Comedy Entertainment Personality: Charlie Brooker * Best Sitcom: ''Hunderby'' * Best Male Television Comic: Lee Mack * Best Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''Harry Hill's TV Burp'' * Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist: Morgana Robinson * Best TV Comedy Actress: Rebecca Front * Best New Comedy Programme: ''Hunderby'' * Best Female Television Comic:

* Best Sketch Show: ''Cardinal Burns'' * People's Choice Award for the King or Queen of Comedy 2012: Jack Whitehall * Writers' Guild Award: Reeves and Mortimer * Best TV Comedy Actor: Peter Capaldi * British Comedy Academy Outstanding Achievement Award:

2013

The 2013 awards were presented at a two-hour ceremony hosted by

on 12 December and shown live on

. * Best Comedy Panel Show: ''Would I Lie to You? (British game show), Would I Lie to You?'' * Best Comedy Entertainment Personality: Alan Carr * Best Sitcom: ''Getting On (UK TV series), Getting On'' * Best Male Television Comic: Lee Mack * Best Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''The Graham Norton Show'' * Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist: Adam Hills * Best TV Comedy Actress: Miranda Hart * Best New Comedy Programme: ''Plebs (TV series), Plebs'' * Best Female Television Comic: Nina Conti * Best Sketch Show: ''Harry & Paul'' * People's Choice Award for the King or Queen of Comedy 2013: Jack Whitehall * Writers' Guild Award:

* Best TV Comedy Actor: Jack Whitehall * British Comedy Academy Outstanding Achievement Award:

* British Comedy International Achievement: Will Ferrell

2014

* Best TV Comedy Actress: Katherine Parkinson * Best Comedy Film: ''The Inbetweeners 2'' * Best Male Television Comic: Lee Mack * Best Sketch Show: ''Harry & Paul, Harry and Paul's Story of the Twos'' * Best Female Television Comic: Aisling Bea * Best Comedy Entertainment Personality:

* Best TV Comedy Actor:

* Best Comedy Drama: ''Rev (TV series), Rev'' * Best New Comedy Programme: ''Toast of London'' * Best Comedy Panel Programme: ''Would I Lie to You? (British game show), Would I Lie to You?'' * Best Sitcom: ''Moone Boy'' * King of Comedy: Jack Whitehall * Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist: Nick Helm * Best Comedy Entertainment Programme: ''The Graham Norton Show'' * The Writers' Guild Award of Great Britain: Brendan O'Carroll * British Comedy Academy Outstanding Achievement Award: Monty Python * Best Internet Comedy Short: ''Carpark'' * Best International Comedy Programme: ''Modern Family''

National Comedy Awards (2022–)

In August 2020,

announced the launch of the National Comedy Awards, a new annual awards ceremony event with multiple categories all decided by a public vote. Produced in collaboration with Hungry Bear Media, the awards ceremony is linked to Channel 4's ''Stand Up to Cancer (UK), Stand Up to Cancer'' charity drive, with comedy fans being encouraged to donate in order to help accelerate life-saving research. Phil Harris, Channel 4's head of entertainment, said: "This is an award show for our times. Fans will be able to vote on the people, some established and others less so, who really make them laugh. We will be celebrating some incredible comedy talent while supporting the incredible Stand Up to Cancer. It promises to be a very special night of TV." Aiming to celebrate "the UK's most brilliant comedy content and creators", the first ceremony was due to be held in the spring of 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the new date of on 15 December 2021 being set by Hungry Bear Media and Channel 4. The first ceremony was due to be held at the Roundhouse (venue), Roundhouse in London, with Channel 4 due to broadcast the event two days later as part of their Friday night comedy line-up. Due to the ongoing pandemic and concerns over the Omicron variant, the show was cancelled by the organisers a week before it was due to be staged and Channel 4 said that it would be rescheduled for another time. The ceremony was finally held on 2 March 2022 and broadcast on Channel 4 three days later. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Tom Allen (comedian), Tom Allen, with presenters including Matt Lucas, Jessica Hynes, Al Murray and Meera Syal. It included a tribute to Sean Lock.

Ceremonies

Awards

2022

2023

Controversies

Investigation of alleged irregularities and deception

At the 2005 ceremony, the wrong show received the People's Choice Award. The award was "mistakenly given" to ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' even though ''The Catherine Tate Show'' received the most tabulated votes and should have been declared the winner, and Ant & Dec were asked to return their 2005 award. Charged by the awards show with investigating the allegations of irregularities, the independent law firm Olswang summarized its findings as follows: "Robbie Williams was invited to present an award. It was understood that he would be happy [to do so] if the recipients were Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. In order to ensure his attendance, this assurance was given. But it could not be ''definitively'' established that Williams' involvement led to the wrong winner being announced" [italics added]. ''Saturday Night Takeaway'' did, however, receive the People's Choice Award at the #2006, British Comedy Awards 2006.

Phone-in scandal

Beginning on 26 July 2007, British tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspapers reported the alleged involvement of the British Comedy Awards in the 2007 British premium-rate phone-in scandal, 2007 British television phone-in scandal. ITV announced that they postponed the British Comedy Awards 2007 due to the voting irregularities. In a statement, the company said: "Pending conclusion of the investigation, broadcast of the British Comedy Awards 2007 will be postponed. ... ITV will not make any further comment regarding this matter until the conclusion of the investigation." It was announced on 21 September 2007 that the British Comedy Awards 2007 would not be screened by ITV1; however, it was not confirmed then that the Awards would still take place in December, and it was not ruled out that they could be screened by another channel. The 2007 awards did take place on 5 December 2007, but that show was not televised. In early May 2008

announced its fining and sanctioning

in a press release. On 15 August 2008, it was announced that a similar scandal could have been committed in the award ceremony at the #2005, 2004 Awards. Following the The Russell Brand Show prank calls, ''Russell Brand Show'' prank calls row and his 12-week unpaid suspension from all of his BBC shows,

resigned from presenting the 2008 awards, in agreement with

, as he did not want to "take away from the awards themselves or the many talented winners of the awards."

replaced

as the host of the British Comedy Awards. Ross returned to presenting the awards in 2009.

Ratings

Ratings from BARB.

References

External links

*
British Comedy Awards
' – Official website hosted by Unique Communications Group, the parent company of British Comedy Awards producer Michael Hurll Television (MHTV); site provides annual lists of winners.
The National Comedy Awards
– Official website * * {{British Comedy Guide, tv, the_national_comedy_awards 1990 British television series debuts 2014 British television series endings 2022 British television series debuts British comedy and humour awards ITV comedy Channel 4 comedy British television awards Lifetime achievement awards 1990 establishments in the United Kingdom 2014 disestablishments in the United Kingdom 2022 establishments in the United Kingdom Awards established in 1990 Awards disestablished in 2014 Awards established in 2022 Annual events in the United Kingdom

The British Comedy Awards (1990–2014)

Winners

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2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

National Comedy Awards (2022–)

Ceremonies

Categories

Awards

2022

2023

Controversies

Investigation of alleged irregularities and deception

Phone-in scandal

Ratings

See also

References

External links