British Comedy Awards

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By JODY THOMPSON

Feeling blue: Sam Faiers and her Only Way Is Essex co-star Amy Childs were both wearing blue floor length gowns at tonight's British Comedy Awards


Russell Brand cancels appearance to look after ill friend

Miranda Hart big winner on the night with three awards

Host Jonathan Ross keeps audience in stitches with gags


There was no nothing funny about The Only Way Is Essex stars Sam Faiers and Amy Childs's appearance on the British Comedy Awards red carpet tonight when they turned up in two seriously impressive blue gowns.

The reality TV stars and glamour models had scrubbed up incredibly well with Sam, 19, in a slash-necked, floor-length baby blue frock whereas Amy, 20, went for a neon shade as they joined the cream of the UK's comedy stars at London's IndigO2.

Together with Dancing On Ice star - and Peter Andre's new girlfriend - Elen Rivas, the reality girls even managed to challenge Hollywood star Goldie Hawn in the style stakes.


Reality stars: Sam and Amy were joined by their Only Way Is Essex co-star Harry Derbidge at the bash at London's Indigo2


The ceremony, hosted by Jonathan Ross, was being shown live for the first time on Channel Four after transferring from ITV.

Miranda Hart was the big winner on the night, walking off with a hat-trick of awards - even beating Ant and Dec in the People's Choice award, which was voted for by the public - despite the cameras being live with the Geordie pair backstage at the Liverpool Britain's Got Talent auditions.

Sam and Amy joined their Only Way Is Essex co-star Harry Derbridge on the blue carpet at the bash, along with the likes of Elen Rivas, Sheridan Smith, Goldie Hawn, Ulrika Jonsson, Jerry Hall and Stacey Solomon.

They also presented the award for Best Comedy Entertainment Personality to TV Burp's Harry Hill - although he didn't accept the award himself, sending comedy character Wagbo up onto the stage instead to the amusement of the reality TV trio.

Other stars presenting awards included Duran Duran, impressionist Ronnie Ancona, diver Tom Daley, Wonder Of The Solar System presenter Professor Brian Cox, David Mitchell and Robert Webb and Tinchy Stryder.


Golden girl: Goldie Hawn wore a shimmering frock and matching shoes as she arrived to present Best TV Comedy Actor to Thick Of It star Peter Capaldi


Blue carpet style: Dancing On Ice star Elen Rivas was wearing an unusual off-the-shoulder black dress with silver embroidery detailing



Funny girls: Legally Blonde star Sheridan Smith was wearing a short teal dress whereas Stacey Solomon plumped for a nude frock with red heels


Host Ross kicked off the evening with a string of gags directed at fellow comics and celebrities, branding Eamonn Holmes an 'elephant in the room' and describing Simon Amstell's acting as 'so wooden Ray Mears tried to make a canoe out of him.'

He also joked about Sir Elton John and partner David Furnish's baby Zach, quipping: 'David, if you're watching, the baby needs changing. Elton's bored with it already.'

However, the bash had to make do without Russell Brand, who pulled out of the ceremony to look after an ill friend.

It would have been the first time that Brand and Ross had been reunited for a broadcast since the notorious Sachsgate affair.



Surprise: Michael McIntyre was given his Best Male Comic award by his Britain's Got Talent co-judge Amanda Holden live during filming


Applause: Michael thanked the audience at the Liverpool BGT auditions for his award as Amanda and David Hasselhoff clapped too


The comedian hinted at the scandal in a video message played as he accepted the award for Outstanding Contribution To Comedy.

Saying that even though he spent most of his time now in the U.S. he still managed to keep up with British comedy.

He joked: 'I have even found a way to rip off the BBC iPlayer, after all the damage I've done to them already! Haha, Jonathan, what did you do? You were supposed to be a father figure!'

But Brand added: 'I've never been more proud to be British than since I've come to America.

The first award, Best Male Comic, went to Michael McIntyre. He was presented with his award live at the Liverpool auditions of Britain's Got Talent by co-judge Amanda Holden.


Comedy hat-trick: Miranda Hart was the biggest winner on the night, walking off with three gongs


To the genuine surprise of McIntyre, she gave him the gong, saying: 'It gives me and the Great British public a massive honour to give you the award for the best floppy haired and nodding head comedian, congratulations!'

To wild applause from the audience, he said: 'It's a genuine surprise, I didn't know what was going on! It's such an honour and a thrill and it's so nice to be here with such a supportive audience.'

The next award - given by Lauren Laverne and Phil 'The Power' Taylor was for Best Comedy Panel Show and went to Would I Lie To You?

Lee Mack, Rob Brydon and David Mitchell took to the stage to pick up the award, surrounded by the BBC show's producers.

Accepting the award, Mack joked: 'We'd just like to thank the creators of Call My Bluff for not suing us.'

Best New TV Comedy went to BBC2's Miranda. The star of the show, Miranda Hart, said she was 'genuinely thrilled' as she picked up the first of three gongs.


Night out: Inbetweeners stars Emily Head, Joe Thomas, Blake Harrison and Simon Bird took time off from filming their movie for the bash



Partners: Jerry Hall and boyfriend Warwick Hemsley were also at the ceremony


Other winners included Harry Hill, who the Comedy Entertainment Personality award, presented by the Only Way Is Essex stars, Peep Show writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, who won the Writer's Guild Of Great Britain Award, The Thick Of It star Peter Capaldi, who won Best TV Comedy Actor, presented by Goldie Hawn.

Although she confessed onstage that she rarely watched television and hadn't seen any of the nominees, she said as she presented the award: 'Honouring comedians is so important I take my hat off to all of you. We deserve to be recognised.'
Capaldi replied: 'I used to have a labrador called Goldie.'


All smiles: Ulrika Jonsson looked like she was bursting for the loo in PVC trousers as Jonathan Ross's wife Jane Goldman showed her usual quirky style


Miranda Hart was the biggest winner on the night, landing gongs for Best Comedy Actress as well as Best New British TV Comedy and the public-voted People's Choice award.

Fellow female funny girl Jo Band meanwhile won Best TV Female Comic, and received her gong from Professor Brian Cox.

Teen comedy The Inbetweeners won Best Sitcom and The British Comedy Lifetime Achievement Award went to Roy Clarke, the writer of numerous hit shows including Last of the Summer Wine and Open All Hours.


Hair do: Charlie Brooker, who won for his show Screenwipe, had his hair re-styled by host Jonathan Ross


Charlie Brooker, the star of the satirical show Newswipe, which won the Best Comedy Entertainment Programme, thanked Sky News which he said provided 'about 85%' of his material.

Best Male Breakthrough Artist went to John Bishop, but as he was on tour and couldn't be there in person, so award presenter accepted it on his behalf.

Best Female Breakthrough artist meanwhile went to Samantha Spiro who played Simon Amstell's auntie in BBC2's Grandma's House.


Funny men: Pineapple Dance Studios star Louie Spence and Dara O'Briain mug for the cameras as they arrive


CBBC's Horrible Histories meanwhile was the first ever children's show to win at the British Comedy Awards when it landed the Best Sketch Show category.

The award ceremony was held for the first at the Indigo2 in south-east London and was on Channel 4 for the first time in 20 years after it transferred in a three-year deal.

The show has attracted its fair share of scandal over the years, including gags that have backfired as well as voting controversy.

Channel 4 promised to bring the ceremony 'bang up to date, reinvigorating the brand and reverting to a live broadcast, injecting spontaneity, excitement and edge into the new-look awards show'.





British Comedy Awards 2011 Best Male TV Comic



British Comedy Awards 2011 Jonathon Ross Opening Monologue



British Comedy Awards 2011 Best Sketch Show



British Comedy Awards 2011 Best Sitcom



British Comedy Awards 2011 Best TV Comedy Actress



British Comedy Awards 2011 Best Female TV Comic



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