Comedy.co.uk Awards 2023 winners
- The final series of Ghosts won both Comedy Of The Year and Best Returning TV Sitcom in the 2023 Comedy.co.uk Awards
- Queen Of Oz, Taskmaster, Horrible Histories, Would I Lie To You? and Good Omens were the other TV winners
- Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen?, Dead Ringers, The Unbelievable Truth and You're Dead To Me won in the radio categories
The winners of the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2023 have been announced, recognising the best television and radio of the last calendar year.
Two rounds of public voting throughout January saw the 351 new productions to air during the year whittled down to a shortlist of six in each of ten categories, with voters also asked to pick a single favourite Comedy Of The Year.
In their 18th year, the award winners this year are lead by the final series of BBC One sitcom Ghosts, which picks up both Best Returning TV Sitcom - for a third year running - and the overall Comedy Of The Year.
Catherine Tate's British-Australian BBC comedy Queen Of Oz, following a disgraced member of the Royal Family who is sent Down Under, was voted Best New TV Sitcom.
Elsewhere, Taskmaster takes the title of Best TV Entertainment Show for a seventh time and Would I Lie To You? wins Best TV Panel Show for a seventh year running - its eleventh in total.
There were also prizes for Good Omens, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen? (starring French & Saunders), The Unbelievable Truth and You're Dead To Me.
Best Returning TV Sitcom & Comedy Of The Year: Ghosts
BBC One's Ghosts, made by Monumental Pictures, returned for a final, fifth series and Christmas special during 2023 - not to mention a Comic Relief short guest starring Kylie Minogue. The sitcom was created by and stars Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond, and also features Charlotte Ritchie, Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Lolly Adefope in leading roles.
The six creators say: "We are dead chuffed to receive these awards and hugely grateful to everyone who voted for Ghosts. Our greatest hope was to go out on a high, so to have the final series recognised in this way is the cherry on top of five incredible years.
"Luckily, ghosts never die, so we very much look forward to next year's nomination for Best Returning Sitcom on a technicality."
Best New TV Sitcom: Queen Of Oz
Queen Of Oz was the voters' favourite sitcom to make its television debut last year. Created, co-written by and starring Catherine Tate, she sent the video message above and says: "Thank you so much to everyone who voted, what a wonderful surprise. I'm genuinely thrilled and touched. Thank you!"
Best Radio Sitcom: Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen?
Starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, this Radio 4 comedy by CPL Productions focuses on two sisters who have avoided each other for decades but are forced together once more.
Writer David Quantick says: "It's fantastic to hear that British Comedy Guide has given Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen? the award for Best Radio Sitcom of 2024 because not only do I love British Comedy Guide but also it's a public vote. Thanks again from me and everyone on the show!"
Dawn and Jennifer say: "We don't know who David Quantick is sleeping with on the board of these comedy awards... but we're grateful that he does!"
Best TV Sketch Show: Horrible Histories
Despite only airing four regular episodes and a BBC Proms special in 2023, the children's comedy series remains a firm favourite with viewers, trouncing all other competitors in this category for another year.
Ensemble cast members and contributing writers Jessica Ransom (above), Harrie Hayes, Tom Stourton, Inel Tomlinson and Ethan Lawrence recorded a video message:
Best Radio Sketch Show: Dead Ringers
Bill Dare's satirical sketch series aired a range of now-customary Christmas specials during 2023, as well as its twenty-third regular series.
Producer and creator Dare expressed his thanks again to all voters, whilst cast member Jess Robinson recorded the above video.
Best TV Panel Show: Would I Lie To You?
The panel show favourite's 16th series, made by Zeppotron for BBC One, was again voted Best TV Panel Show.
Rob Brydon quips: "Thank you to all the Comedy.co.uk readers who voted for us, this is a lovely surprise. I will now make way for David and Lee who have doubtless supplied humorous rather than heartfelt quotes."
David Mitchell says: "Thank you so much for this award. The consistent support that Comedy.co.uk readers have shown Would I Lie To You? in recent years has been one of the few constants in a frightening and changing world, though of course this will only make the shock all the more deracinating when you inevitably turn on us."
Lee Mack added: "This is the final year I spend 3 weeks locked in my bedroom endlessly voting. It's not fair. I still only have a Commodore 64 which uses dial up and it takes forever. I'm done with this. Rob and David pull your finger out and put a shift in."
Best Radio Panel Show: The Unbelievable Truth
David Mitchell claims the double for Panel Show awards in both mediums, as the host of BBC Radio 4 comedy The Unbelievable Truth. Series 29 aired last year, with another recording soon.
Mitchell quips: "Enormous thanks to everyone who voted for The Unbelievable Truth for the Comedy.co.uk Awards. Your continuing support of the show is greatly appreciated and instrumental in stopping us doing a podcast instead."
Best TV Entertainment Show: Taskmaster
On Channel 4, Avalon's hit challenge show broadcast two series (15 and 16) and a New Year Treat during 2023. Its enduring popularity sees the show pick up a further win in this hotly-contested category.
Series 17 and 18 are due to air later this year, with another New Year Treat special expected in the opening days of 2025.
Best Radio Entertainment Show: You're Dead To Me
Greg Jenner's history-based Radio 4/podcast series You're Dead To Me secured victory for a third year running. He sent the following video thank-you:
Best TV Comedy Drama: Good Omens
The second - penultimate - series of the fantasy comedy based on Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's 1990 novel was released through Amazon Prime Video in July, four years since Series 1's debut.
A list of the shows that were shortlisted in each category can be found via the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2023 page. Voting for the best of this year's comedy programmes will open in early January 2025.
For more details and for a history of the awards, see the Comedy.co.uk Awards homepage