Recognition from the South Bank awards

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith have another trophy for their mantlepiece after Inside No 9 won a South Bank Sky Arts Award.

Their accolade in the comedy category was presented by their League Of Gentlemen co-star Mark Gatiss last night.

Catastrophe and This Country had also been nominated.

Meanwhile, the family comedy movie Paddington 2 was victorious in the film category.

Other winners at the ceremony, hosted by  Melvyn Bragg,  included  Stormzy;   Craig Brown’s biography of Princess Margaret’s life, Ma’am Darling and BBC One drama Howards End.

The Times Breakthrough Award was presented to saxophonist Nubya Garcia. Sophie Willan had been shortlisted in that category to represent comedy.

 Bragg said: ‘This is as strong as any list we have ever had. The arts in the UK, a £92billion industry, are second only to the US. 

‘Regrettably, government policy in cutting arts teaching out of so many schools fails to take this on board. This year’s awards celebrate what can happen when arts are encouraged from school-age onwards.’

Australia’s biggest TV awards, the Logies were also handed out last night.

Comedian Dilruk Jayasinha – who is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe next month –  won the  Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent, and topical panel show Have You Been Paying Attention? was named most popular comedy.

Published: 2 Jul 2018