Comedy.co.uk Awards 2018 winners revealed
- Derry Girls, Friday Night Dinner, Taskmaster and Vic & Bob have won in the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2018
- Count Arthur Strong, Dead Ringers, The Unbelievable Truth and Joe Lycett's Obsessions were the radio winners
- Inside No. 9 takes the crown for Comedy Of The Year 2018, as voted by the public
The winners of the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2018 have been announced.
For the fifth year running comic-horror anthology Inside No. 9 has been voted Best TV Comedy Drama. It also picks up Comedy Of The Year for the second year running in British Comedy Guide's awards, which are entirely based on a public poll.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 picks up both TV sitcom prizes - the Best New and Best Returning categories - for Derry Girls and Friday Night Dinner, respectively.
The full results are:
Comedy Of The Year 2018 / Best TV Comedy Drama
Inside No. 9
(BBC Two, BBC Studios)
Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton say of their double win: "Wow, what a fantastic way to start the week filming Series 5.
"Having written an episode that highlights how corrupt and meaningless awards are, we'd like to backtrack and say just how important this particular award is to us, and we're all very moved by it. It's all down to having the best fans in the business - you stole our hearts. Cheese and Crackers would be over the moon. Sincerely, thanks."
Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning at the BBC, comments: "British comedy is in robust health with the breadth and excellence of these worthy winners. Inside No. 9 is the most inventive and prolific comedy being made in the world right now and it's terrific for Reece and Steve to get recognised for the sheer quality of what they are able to create and perform. It's firmly cemented itself as a contemporary classic and getting the double two years running is a great honour, thanks to all the comedy fans."
Best New TV Sitcom
Derry Girls
(Channel 4, Hat Trick Productions)
Lisa McGee, creator and writer of Derry Girls, says: "This is so amazing! We are absolutely thrilled! Thank you, British Comedy Guide, and thank you to everyone who voted, you're all legends."
Best Returning TV Sitcom
Friday Night Dinner
(Channel 4, Big Talk Productions / Popper Pictures)
Written by Robert Popper and starring Paul Ritter, Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Tom Rosenthal and Mark Heap, Series 5 of the hit sitcom was broadcast in May and June.
Popper says: "Ich, und das ganze Friday Night Dinner Team freuen uns riesig ueber diese vortreffliche Auszeichnung. Ehre sei dem Allmaechtigen. Tarvu sei Lob und Preis!"
("I, and the entire Friday Night Dinner team, are delighted to win this prestigious award. Glory be to The Almighty. Praise Tarvu!")
Best Radio Sitcom
Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show!
(BBC Radio 4, Komedia Entertainment / Smooth Operations)
Count Arthur Strong says: "I am literally highly delighted on behalf of all involved to accept this prestigious award for Best Radio Sitcom, for the SECOND TIME (please note BBBC). When I was evacuated to Doncaster as a small boy during the war, I never thought for one minute that this accolade would be happening to me today. How could I? I'm not sodding Nostrodamus. Bless all who voted for me. This is how you do a flipping referendum. Looking forward to receiving the cheque. End of this message."
Best TV Sketch Show
Vic & Bob's Big Night Out
(BBC Four, BBC Studios)
Securing the Best TV Sketch Show title for a second year running, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer quip: "After all these years it is especially poignant to win an award voted for by the British public. We wish everyone involved a restful night's sleep."
The BBC's Shane Allen adds: "Another title retention for Vic and Bob, who share the affirmation that their work is better than ever and they remain at the top of the comedy tree after 30 years as pioneers."
Best Radio Sketch Show
Dead Ringers
(BBC Radio 4, BBC Studios)
Dead Ringers also wins for a second year running, its third in total. Producer and creator Bill Dare says: "We are chuffed to bits to get this award for another year, especially since it's voted for by listeners and fans, and I think the BCG visitors know their onions when it comes to comedy. It's all down to a really dedicated team of writers and performers and a crazy political situation which has put challenges and opportunities our way at relentless pace. I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to vote. (The series comes back in June when all this mess will be over and everyone in Britain will be calm and happy.)"
Best TV Panel Show
Would I Lie To You?
(BBC One, Zeppotron)
The truth-or-lies parlour game picks up its sixth win this year, and second running. Peter Holmes, creator and executive producer of the series, says: "I was so excited to hear we'd won, I fell off my bike. Thanks to everyone who voted for us and sorry to the driver of the Vauxhall Corsa who swerved into Holland and Barrett."
Best Radio Panel Show
The Unbelievable Truth
(BBC Radio 4, Random Entertainment)
Host David Mitchell comments: "I'm delighted and honoured that The Unbelievable Truth has won the Best Radio Panel Show vote - but I still think there should be another vote next year because, while it's important to respect these democratic decisions, it would be insane if they were irreversible."
The Unbelievable Truth celebrates a third successive victory in this category, and also won in 2011.
Best TV Entertainment Show
Taskmaster
(Dave, Avalon Television)
Taskmaster wins for a third successive year. Creator, writer and star Alex Horne says: "Huge thanks to everyone who voted and anyone who watches. Mainly though, thanks to Greg Davies, my master, the Taskmaster, whom I shall obediently serve always and who deserves an award more than anyone else in the world. Love from Alex Horne, the Taskmaster's assistant."
Best Radio Entertainment Show
Joe Lycett's Obsessions
(BBC Radio 4, BBC Studios)
Talking about his series' win, Joe Lycett says: "I am BUZZING that Obsessions has been awarded Best Radio Entertainment Show of 2018! Huge thanks to the wonderful team at Radio 4 who made it possible - Julia McKenzie, Suzy Grant, James Kettle, Laura Major, Mike Shephard and David Thomas. And of course thanks to the Obsessives, the audiences, the VOPs and particularly Nick Owen for making my dreams come true."
This was the 13th year of The Comedy.co.uk Awards. All 409 radio and television programmes to broadcast a new episode during 2018 were longlisted in the initial fortnight's round of voting at the start of January, with the top six in each of the ten awards categories making up a final fortnight's shortlist. No jury or other judging process is involved in deciding the winners.
Voting for the 2019 awards will open in early January 2020. Comedy.co.uk Awards history