Edging out Derry Girls and Jordan Gray

Jack Rooke’s Channel 4 comedy series Big Boys won the comedy award at last night’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

The show, which stars Dylan Llewellyn and Jon Pointing as unlikely university friends, was up against stand-up Jordan Gray and  fellow Channel 4 programme Derry Girls in the 27th year of the accolades.

Rooke - below on the red carpet, and beneath that posing with his award with stand-up Sophie Duker – took home a bespoke trophy designed by Sir Grayson Perry at the ceremony in The Savoy London.

Comic Leo Reich had been shortlisted for the breakthrough award – which features one nominee from every artform  – but lost out to one-legged dancer Musa Motha, who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent this year. 

The outstanding achievement award went to author Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed on stage in New York last year, leaving him without sight in one eye

He said: ‘This is a high honour indeed, and I’m delighted to be receiving it in the company of so many extraordinary figures in so many different arts, all being recognized for exceptional work. Artists, of all sorts, make up a community I’m proud to belong to, and it’s good to be celebrating that community together.’

Host Melvyn Bragg said: ‘As demonstrated by our winners and performers at this year’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards, British artists are continuing to excel themselves in every genre. The indomitable spirit of the arts in Britain goes from strength to strength - an example for all other industries.’

The ceremony will air on Sky Arts at 10pm on Thursday. Channel director of Sky Arts, Phil Edgar-Jones added: ‘The winners of this year’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards really do demonstrate the resurgence of the arts in the UK post pandemic – congratulations to them all. 

‘And we are so thrilled that Salman Rushdie has accepted the Outstanding Achievement award that recognises his incredible body of work and exceptional bravery.’

Here’s Gray on the red carpet. After the ceremony, she tweeted his congratulations to Rooke, saying: 'Didn't win, but MY GOD it couldn't have gone to a sweeter guy and a better show.'

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

• CLASSICAL MUSIC: Gavin Higgins' Concerto Grosso for Brass Band and Orchestra – The Tredegar Band with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Proms
• COMEDY: Big Boys - Roughcut Television/Channel 4
• DANCE: Light of Passage – The Royal Ballet
• FILM: Aftersun 
• LITERATURE: The New Life – Tom Crewe
• OPERA: The Rhinegold - English National Opera
• POP: RAYE – My 21^st Century Blues
• THEATRE: Prima Facie – Harold Pinter Theatre
• TV DRAMA: Happy Valley - Lookout Point/BBC One
• VISUAL ART: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Fly In League With The Night - Tate Britain
• THE TIMES BREAKTHROUGH AWARD: Dance - Musa Motha
• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Salman Rushdie

Published: 3 Jul 2023