Boosh head Chortle winners

The Mighty Boosh, Jason Byrne and Robin Ince have all triumphed in this year’s Chortle Awards.

They last night scooped accolades for best touring show, best headliner and best compere respectively.

We Are Klang won the best sketch, variety or character act category, while Josie Long was named best breakthrough act. Carl Donnelly won the newcomer’s award.

The Free Fringe movement scooped two awards – for innovation and for best offstage contribution. It allows performers to go to the Edinburgh Fringe at little cost, in shows that audiences don’t have to pay to see.

The outstanding contribution to comedy prize was awarded, posthumously, to Linda Smith. Her partner Warren Lakin and friend Jeremy Hardy paid touching tribute to her.

The full list of winners, announced at a London ceremony fronted by Dara O’Briain, was:

Best newcomer: Carl Donnelly

Breakthrough act: Josie Long

Best compere: Robin Ince

Best headliner: Jason Byrne

Best sketch, variety or character act: We Are Klang

Best full-length show: The Mighty Boosh tour

Award for innovation: Free Fringe

Best off-stage contribution: Free Fringe

Venue awards: The Comedy Store, The Funny Side Of Covent Garden; Comedy At The Cottage Redhill; Spa-Tickes, Leamington Spa; The Glee, Cardiff; The Stand, Edinburgh; Long Live Comedy, Newcastle

Outstanding contribution to comedy: Linda Smith

Footage from the ceremony at the Soho Revue Bar will be posted here later.

Published: 14 Mar 2007