And Richard Curtis haiiled

John Oliver and his team picked up a Writer’s Guild Of America gong last night.

The 11-strong writing crew behind his HBO series Last Week Tonight scooped the award for comedy and variety series.

Saturday Night Live, which is riding a high with its Donald Trump and Sean Spicer spoofs, won the sketch series gong. A total of 36 writers were credited on its citation, showing the investment that goes into the scripts.

Comic Relief and Red Nose Day founder Richard Curtis received the Valentine Davies Award, the guild’s top humanitarian honour. 

Last month, WGA West president Howard A. Rodman praised the writer of Blackadder and Love Actually as ‘an exemplar of empathy’.

He said: ‘He is not only one of our best screenwriters but a man who has used his gifts and his position to combat poverty and injustice. His work resonates strongly on the screen, and his charitable efforts have transformed the lives of the thousands upon thousands of refugees and children in need worldwide.’

Much-garlanded FX comedy Atlanta, written by Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Stefani Robinson and Paul Simms won the best comedy series and best new series.

And Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, written by Robert Carlock, picked up the episode comedy trophy.

Published: 20 Feb 2017