Brits dominate Golden Rose shortlist

British comedy shows are to dominate this year's Golden Rose awards festival in Montreux.

The international event salutes the best television from around the world, with 21 countries represented in the awards' shortlist.

Yet in the sitcom and comedy categories, almost half the nominees are from the UK.

Multiple award-winners including The Office, Phoenix Nights and I'm Alan Partridge have made the final round in the sitcom category.

Even shows like Rik Mayall's Believe Nothing and Harry Enfield's Celeb, that were slated by the critics at home, are on the shortlist.

Other vying for the Silver Rose in this category include Marion and Geoff, Barbara and the American hospital comedy Scrubs.

British nominees for the comedy award are 2DTV, The Sketch Show, The All New Harry Hill Show, Double Take, The Richard Taylor Interviews, Smack The Pony and Shoreditch Twat, a Comedy Lab pilot aired by Channel 4.

The BBC fared badly in this category, with only Double Take's nomination to its name, while ITV, not renowned for its comedy output, picked up three nods.

In another category, Sport Relief, which included Johnny Vegas's revival of children's quiz show Runaround, was nominated for best variety show, and Your Face or Mine, the E4 show fronted by Jimmy Carr, is in the running for best gameshow.

The festival takes place in Switzerland from May 13 to 18. Silver Roses are awarded in six categories, with the Golden Rose going to the best show overall.

Published: 31 Mar 2003