Award for BBC comedy chief

BBC comedy supremo Jon Plowman has been hailed for his outstanding contribution to the world of television.

Last night, he was given the Judges’ Award at the Royal Television Society’s programme awards, in recognition of his 25-year career with the BBC.

He started producing the likes of Harty, Pop Quiz and Wogan, and in 1988 produced the first seven-hour Comic Relief telethon.

His comedy credits as producer include A Bit Of Fry And Laurie, Smith And Jones, Bottom and Absolutely Fabulous, and since being made head of comedy entertainment in 1994, he has been executive producer on  The Office, Little Britain, Shooting Stars, The League of Gentlemen, People Like Us and The Thick Of It among scores of others.

Comedy’s other big winner at last night’s ceremony was Catherine Tate, who won the prizes for best entertainment show and best comedy performance.

Judges called her ‘a multi-talented performer who has quickly established herself as an A-list comedienne’ and said her BBC Two show ‘gets under your skin with its iconic characterisation, and brilliant consistency of performance and ideas’.

The Thick Of It also added to its tally of awards, beating Peep Show and Much Ado About Nothing to win the best sitcom/comedy drama award.

Its citation said: ‘The winner’s collaborative production process and use of improvisation makes it a thoroughly believable drama with laugh out loud comedy moments.’

However its writers, who had been shortlisted in the comedy writing category alongside The Smoking Room’s Brian Dooley, lost out to Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong for Peep Show.

Published: 15 Mar 2006