British Press Guild 2007 Awards

Yet another awards ceremony to report on (do they ever end?!?). This time the results come from the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards (who?). Anyway, here are the results which are in some way comedy-related...

Best comedy/entertainment - The Royle Family: Queen of Sheba

Best TV performer in non-acting role - Russell Brand

Radio broadcaster of the year - Sandy Toksvig

Radio programme of the year - Down The Line

On accepting the award for Best TV performer In A Non-Acting Role, Russell Brand said he was honoured to receive an award from "an organisation that before I got this bit of paper I didn't know existed". He went on to point out that the Guild could have titled his award better: "Every last word in that [award name] is a devaluation of the actual achievement... it's like Best Non-Acting Performer... On A Wednesday." Brand finished off his speach by being rude to Ally Ross, The Sun's TV critic and reminding everyone how much sex he was having.

On collecting the award for Radio Broadcaster of the Year Sandi Toksvig quipped: "On behalf of all the mature female broadcasters, thank God for radio."

On accepting the award for Best Comedy / Entertainment programme on behalf of the Royle Family team Sue Johnston said she hoped Caroline Aherne was at home writing another episode. "Not without me!" Liz Smith (who played the dying Norma in the special) quickly came back with.

Stephen Fry, who won the Best Single Documentary/Factual Programme award for The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, thanked the TV industry "for making such dross most of the time. It makes my work look so much better". He went on to assure the members of the Broadcasting Press Guild: "I read all of you and your columns at least twice a day."

Next up is the Golden Rose Awards.