Sweet victory alongside some funny choices
It was the industry's choice of the best of British comedy but they are not always right. Ricky Gervais had a point in saying: "Who runs this debacle?" when asking why Peep Show was not nominated.
The Friday night Channel 4 sitcom is The Office's natural successor, brilliantly nailing modern life's daily frustrations. Peep Show costar David Mitchell was nominated for best newcomer but lost to Ashley Jensen, Maggie from Gervais's Extras, who deservedly also bagged best comedy actress. Extras' haul of two matched Little Britain, which inevitably won best TV comedy, while Matt Lucas and David Walliams collected the Ronnie Barker Writer of the Year Award.
The night was billed as the battle between Gervais and Little Britain, but BBC4's The Thick Of It also won two awards and will surely win more viewers when it transfers to BBC2 next year.
The sitcom, which picks up where Yes, Minister left off to mercilessly satirise spinobsessed modern government, won best new comedy and its star, Chris Langham, won best television comedy actor.
This was a sweet victory for Langham, 56, who was too ill to attend. Twenty-five years ago his career seemed over. He was drinking heavily and was sacked from Not The Nine O'Clock News. He took stock, cleaned up his act and has become one of comedy's most reliable writer/performers.
The BBC's brightest hope, Catherine Tate, may actually have been bovvered - as her teenage character Lauren might say - to go home empty-handed after being up for three gongs.
Most bizarre winner? A toss-up between The X Factor which I'd never realised was a comedy entertainment programme and Festival - best comedy film? You must be joking.
