Special award for comedy writer and producer

Comedy writer and producer Henry Normal is to receive a Bafta special award.

Norman, who co-founded Baby Cow Productions wuith Steve Coogan, will be honoured at an event on June 28, where he will also be interviewed by John Bishop.

Normal stepped down from the company last year and had returned to his roots as a performance poet, including making two Radio 4 shows, A Normal Family and A Normal Life, about bringing up his autistic son.

He said: ‘I'm stunned that Bafta would give me such an honour. I've spent my days having a laugh with some of the country’s funniest people for over 20 years and have managed to get paid for it. I don't think I'll believe it fully until I'm displaying it matter-of-factly on the dinner table for my in-laws every time they visit.’

Krishnendu Majumdar, the chair of Bafta’s television committee, said: ‘Without Henry Normal, some of the finest and most distinctive British television comedies would not have been made – including The Royle Family, Paul and Pauline Calf, The Mighty Boosh, The Mrs Merton Show and Gavin & Stacey to name but a few. 

‘Across his career, he has taken creative risks to grow his craft and has consistently championed emerging talent by bringing much-celebrated comedy writers and performers to the forefront, such as James Corden, Ruth Jones, Noel Fielding, Caroline Aherne, Rob Brydon and Julia Davis.  

‘His contribution to the industry is enormous and I’m thrilled that he will be receiving this special award.’

Normal began his career on the Manchester comedy circuit, and after guest slots on various TV shows got his break co-writing and starring in Channel 4’s Packet of Three in 1991 alongside Frank Skinner and Jenny Eclair.

His other credits as a producer include Alan Partridge, Hunderby, Nighty Night, Marion and Geoff, Moone Boy, Camping, the 2016 series of Red Dwarf and the Oscar-nominated film Philomena.

Published: 15 Jun 2017