British Comedy Guide

Royal Television Society announces award winners

Tuesday 17th March 2020, 10:48pm

Derry Girls. Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the winners of its prestigious Programme Awards for 2020 tonight.

Held behind closed doors and streamed to nominees and the public via the web in light of the current Covid-19 health scare, the ceremony - in partnership with Audio Network - was hosted by writer and comedian Paul Merton.

Winners include stand-up comic London Hughes, actor Saoirse-Monica Jackson (pictured above), and Fleabag.

Wayne Garvie, Chair of the RTS Programme Awards said: "We are all facing an incredibly difficult time and rightfully have made responsible changes to the format of the RTS Programme Awards. Despite this, we would like to acknowledge the incredible contribution of all our nominees to the UK's television output and celebrate our deserving winners. This is my last year in the role of Chair of the RTS Programme Awards and throughout my tenure I have been proud to witness the outstanding talent in the UK, and have been repeatedly inspired by the creativity across our industry."

The full list of comedy winners and nominees are as follows:

Breakthrough Award: Tanya Moodie (Motherland)

Motherland. Meg (Tanya Moodie)

Judges described her as "Genuinely, a star in the making".

Nominees: Aisling Bea for This Way Up, Tim Renkow for Jerk.

Comedy Performance (Female): Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls)

Derry Girls. Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

The judges praised "A truly stand-out performance in a brilliantly funny series, she confidently commits to the character despite the craziness of the world she inhabits".

Nominees: Diane Morgan for Motherland, Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Fleabag.

Comedy Performance (Male): Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education)

Sex Education. Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa). Copyright: Eleven Film

Judges said his performance is "Perfectly balanced, combining slapstick and big comic set pieces with moments of tender emotion and great heart in a truly wonderful series".

Nominees: Alex Murphy & Chris Walley for The Young Offenders, Youssef Kerkour for Home.

Entertainment Performance: London Hughes (Don't Hate The Playaz)

Don't Hate The Playaz. London Hughes

The judging panel called London "Authentic, witty, and with an infectious personality".

Nominees: Mo Gilligan for The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan, Stephen Mulhern for In For A Penny.

Scripted Comedy: Fleabag

Fleabag. Image shows from L to R: Claire (Sian Clifford), Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Copyright: Two Brothers Pictures

Judges called the second series "Beautifully accomplished, supremely well written and performed".

Nominees: Derry Girls, Stath Lets Flats.

Writer (Comedy): Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag)

Fleabag. Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Copyright: Two Brothers Pictures

Commenting on the writer win, judges added: "A truly stand-out performance in a brilliantly funny series, she confidently commits to the character despite the craziness of the world she inhabits."

Nominees: Danny Brocklehurst for Brassic, Laurie Nunn for Sex Education.

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