Britcoms up for prestigious international award

British comedies including Fleabag, People Just Do Nothing and Witless have been shortlisted for the prestigious Palm d’Or international TV festival.

The UK again dominates the genre with three out of the four nominees in the sitcom category and half in the comedy section.

Up for best sitcom are Gold’s Henry IX, about a king, played by Charles Edwards, having a midlife crisis, BBC Three’s People Just Do Nothing, about the pirate radio station Kurupt  FM; and  Witless, also for BBC Three, starring Kerry Howard and Zoe Boyle as two women in the witness protection programme after witnessing a gangland murder.

Completing the shortlist is Finnish show Wingman, about two neighbours who get into scrapes.

Up for best comedy are Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s much decorated Fleabag, and Brexaggedon?!,  Jolyon Rubenstein and Heydon Prowse’s half-hour special satirising the EU referendum.

They  are shortlisted alongside Australia’s Here Come the Habibs – a controversial sitcom about a Lebanese-Australian family who move into a wealthy suburb after winning the lottery, which has been slammed for its 'racial stereotypes’ – and Germany’s Kroymann, a sketch show featuring performer  Maren Kroymann.

Winners will be announced in Berlin on September 19.

Jeroen Depraetere of the European Broadcasting Union  which organises the ceremony, said: ’Once again the Rose d’Or Awards can provide a place where the global entertainment gold standard can shine brightly.’

Published: 22 Aug 2017