Romesh Ranganathan, Fleabag and I’m A Celebrity’s Joel Dommett were big winners at the Chortle Comedy Awards tonight
Ranganathan took the best tour award for Irrational, though he was pipped at the post for best TV comedian by Richard Ayoade, presenter of Channel 4’s Travel Man.
The BBC’s Fleabag was named best TV comedy, while Dave’s Taskmaster, featuring Greg Davies and Alex Horne, took home the TV entertainment prize.
In the TV actor category, where all nominees were women, Olivia Colman triumphed for her roles in Fleabag and Channel 4’s Flowers.
Bridget Christie won best live show for her stand-up performance, Because You Demanded It, inspired by her anger at the Brexit vote.
Dommett won the breakthrough award, while other winners include Sara Pascoe, for her book Animal, Adam Buxton, for his podcast, and Elis James and John Robins for their Radio X Show.
With the British Comedy Awards not currently running, the Chortle Awards - now in their 16th year – are the most prestigious accolades covering the full breadth of the comedy world.
Special awards went to Noel Faulkner, the owner of the Comedy Cafe in East London which has been forced to close its doors after 26 years because of eye-watering rent hikes; and Comedians’ Boxing, the huge community event in Blyth, Northumberland, organised by stand-up Kai Humphries and his brother Gav, which raised money for local cancer-stricken toddler Kian Musgrove.
Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Richard Gadd took the comedians’ comedian award, voted on by his peers.
The event was held at Up The Creek Comedy Club, hosted by Clive Anderson. Celebrities attending included Vic Reeves, The Jump’s Amy Willerton and Megan Mckenna from Towie and Ex On The Beach.
Winners were picked via an online poll of 6,000 comedy fans, after shortlists were drawn up by a panel of critics and independent comedy industry experts.
The full list of winners is:
Best Newcomer
Tom Ward
Best Compere
Justin Moorhouse
Breakthrough Act
Joel Dommett
Club Comedian
Carl Donnelly
Variety and Character Award
Lolly Adefope
Best Show
Bridget Christie: Because You Demanded It
Best Tour
Romesh Ranganathan: Irrational
Best TV Comedy
Fleabag
Best TV Comedy Entertainment
Taskmaster
Best TV Actor
Olivia Colman
Best TV Comedian
Richard Ayoade
Radio Award
Elis James and John Robins
Book Award
Animal by Sara Pascoe
Internet Award
Adam Buxton podcast
Comedians’ Comedian
Richard Gadd
Offstage Contribution
Noel Faulkner
Event Of The Year
Comedians’ Boxing
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