British Comedy Awards 2008

Well it's that time of year again. No, not Christmas. It's time for the British Comedy Awards 2008, a must-watch show in any comedy fans diary. It's not the biggest award ceremony for ITV and it's definitely not the most glamourous (comedians are hardly know for their sense of style, just look at Graham Norton) but it is definitively British and that's why we love it.

It allows us a chance to reminisce over the things that have made us giggle, laugh and chuckle over the past year. So let's take a look at the winners, and losers, at this year's event.

The BBC shows seemed to clear up at this year's awards, winning a total of five out of the nine awards. Ricky Gervais won best comedy actor for his role in the Christmas special of Extras, beating David Mitchell and James Cordon. Rather surprisingly due to the fact that very few people have heard of her, Sharon Horgan won Best Comedy Actress for her role in Pulling, a comedy about a bride-to-be, beating Olivia Coleman (Peep Show) and Ashley Jensen (Extras).

Peep Show had rather a bad year at the awards, despite series five getting some very good reviews, it lost all three of the categories it was nominated for. Gavin and Stacey was awarded the Best Tv Comedy award ahead of Peep Show and Benidorm.

One even more surprising, and rather controversial, winner of the evening was Russell Brand. He won an award for the Best Live Stand-up Performer. This was very unexpected as Jonathon Ross had just lost his category of Best Entertainment Programme, losing to a delighted, and non-existent (at least at the award ceremony) Harry Hill who had lost his first category (Comedy Entertainment Personality) to Alan Carr.

Jonathon Ross was originally signed to present the awards but the role was given to Angus Deayton who dismissed the mass outcry over the Sachs scandal.

As much as I'd like to say the awards are were full of tears, drama and laughter, only the latter is true. Well what were you expecting.


Photo provided by the guardian.co.uk