A Hill of a night
Harry Hill has triumphed at the British Comedy Awards – taking two prizes from favourites Ant and Dec.
The comic won the comedy personality award, while his TV Burp show won best comedy entertainment programme.
Stephen Merchant beat Extras co-star Ricky Gervais to take the best actor prize.
But their show missed out in the best TV comedy award, losing to Peep Show.
Gervais sent a message via video from New York.
‘A British comedy award, quite a prize. Not to me, I've won American ones,’ he joked. ‘But to people in that room this is probably the highlight of their career.
‘Enjoy the night. I'm off to have dinner with Jerry Seinfeld and Ben Stiller.’
Little Britain won the award top stage show, as voted by FHM and Zoo readers.
And in probably one of the strangest awards for a comedy night, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? host Chris Tarrant was honoured with an outstanding contribution to entertainment award.
The full list of winners is:
Best TV comedy actor: Stephen Merchant (Extras)
Best TV comedy actress: Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Xmas Special)
Best comedy entertainment personality: Harry Hill
Best male comedy newcomer: Russell Brand
Best female comedy newcomer: Charlotte Church
Best new TV comedy: Star Stories
Best TV comedy: Peep Show
Best comedy entertainment programme: Harry Hill's TV Burp
Best international comedy show: Curb Your Enthusiasm
People's choice award: Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
Best comedy film: Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Best live stand-up tour: Jimmy Carr: Gag Reflex
Best stage comedy: Little Britain
Outstanding contribution to entertainment: Chris Tarrant
Ronnie Barker writers’ award: Sacha Baron Cohen, Dan Mazer, Anthony Hines and Peter Bayhnam for Borat
Published: 14 Dec 2006