Comedy.co.uk Awards 2014 results
Comedy writer John Finnemore was the big winner in the 2014 awards, taking home three prizes, including Comedy Of The Year for his sitcom Cabin Pressure.
Best New TV Sitcom: Detectorists
Somewhat of a 'sleeper hit', Detectorists - written by and starring Mackenzie Crook - played out in October and November on BBC Four. Loved by audiences and critics alike, the gentle comedy focuses on a couple of metal detectorists on the quest for treasure - or at very least something more interesting than a ring-pull.
W1A, House Of Fools and Catherine Tate's Nan also proved very popular - but, showing how divisive a genre comedy is, Nan also picked up the most negative votes in this category...
Best Returning TV Sitcom: Miranda
It may have continued to attract naysayers, but the two special finale episodes of Miranda Hart's sitcom, broadcast over the Christmas period, were again a huge popular hit. Attracting around 7 million viewers each, it bowed out on a real high for many fans. No surprise, then, that it has been voted the Best Returning British TV Sitcom of 2014.
Toast Of London, Outnumbered and Not Going Out were the runners up in this category.
Best Radio Sitcom: Cabin Pressure
No big surprises that this Radio 4 series, widely regarded as the best radio sitcom in many a year, takes the Best British Radio Sitcom 2014 title - and just as in the Returning TV Sitcom category, this was for a two-part finale.
Written by (and co-starring) the prolific John Finnemore, the series charts the goings-on at tiny airline MJN Air. Its popularity was only boosted by the presence of Benedict Cumberbatch, who stars as lead character Martin.
If you missed any of the series, you could do far worse than ordering the hit comedy on CD or as a download.
Best TV Sketch Show: Horrible Histories
Factually-accurate kids' series Horrible Histories romped home with the most votes in this category for a fourth year running. We'd say this was an incredible feat if the series hadn't been of such consistently great quality - indeed, in 2014 only two new specials were broadcast, showing the extent of its appeal.
Best Radio Sketch Show: John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme
John Finnemore proves his talent with this second win of 2014, and further cements his place - secured last year - as the Comedy.co.uk Awards' most successful ever writer.
Starring and written solely by the man himself, the fourth series of his sketch show proved equally as successful as the previous three, attracting both large audience numbers and great critical acclaim.
Almost 9 full years since its last full series, the return of BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers came a very respectable second place.
Best TV Panel Show: Would I Lie To You?
BBC One's riotous parlour game took the hard-fought TV Panel Show gong for 2014.
Having returned for an eighth series in the autumn, host Rob Brydon and team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack were on as good form as ever, providing many laugh-out-loud moments over nine episodes.
This was a very tight contest. QI and 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown were closely behind in the voting.
Best Radio Panel Show: I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
Having passed the frankly mind-boggling 450 episode mark in this year, the 61st and 62nd series of the "antidote to panel games" took 2014's Best British Radio Panel Show title. It was the third year running for the wildly popular series, and the fifth time in the Award's history.
The continued success of the series illustrates just how much audiences value classic, proven formats, and programmes with a wide audience appeal. And to think, the BBC were scared that the lovely Samantha was offending listeners!
Huge congratulations to Barry, Graeme, Tim, Jack and the rest of the team.
Best TV Entertainment Show: The Graham Norton Show
Graham Norton, the King of Chat, continues his reign at the top, with his show claiming the title of Best British TV Entertainment Show for the fourth year in a row.
Attracting the calibre of guest that competitors can now only dream of, and fresh from a similar range of wins at December's industry-voted British Comedy Awards, Graham has had a good 12 months.
Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, The Last Leg and Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle also proved popular with voters in this category.
Best Radio Entertainment Show: Susan Calman Is Convicted
Scottish comic Susan Calman proved a great draw this year both on radio and television. It was, however, the second series of her solo radio show, Susan Calman Is Convicted, that gained particular praise.
Again, the win is a return for the show concerned, having taken that same title for its first series in 2013, too. Voters loved how the show combined big laughs with heartfelt emotional moments.
The Now Show, Mark Steel's In Town and Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section were also popular.
Best TV Comedy Drama: Inside No. 9
Following up on the black sitcom Psychoville, Shearsmith and Pemberton's series of one-off, deeply dark comic plays proved a cult hit when it debuted in February 2014. The second episode, the near-silent A Quiet Night In, was a particular highlight for many.
Comedy Of The Year: Cabin Pressure
Now by far and away the Awards' most successful ever comedy writer, John Finnemore picks up a third win for 2014, as the Cabin Pressure finale specials see the sitcom voted the single best comedy on TV or radio in the entire year.
It's the first time radio has managed to beat TV to win this title, making it a particularly notable accolade. It's perhaps not a huge surprise though, as the Radio 4 show amassed millions of fans around the world, with applications for tickets to the final recording breaking BBC records (over 22,000 applied for 300 seats).
A huge congratulations to John and the rest of the cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Roger Allam, and Stephanie Cole.
Editors' Award: Blandings
This is the award the Editors of British Comedy Guide handed to the show, person, channel, or indeed anything else comedy related they thought deserved some extra recognition.
The BCG Editors' Award goes to Blandings, Guy Andrews' adaptation of the classic PG Wodehouse stories starring Timothy Spall, Jennifer Saunders, Jack Farthing and Tim Vine.
Returning during February and March to large audiences in its Sunday evening timeslot, the second series of this gentle comedy attracted millions of viewers each week, but was sadly axed. It's this brand of family-friendly comedy that has a broad appeal across the audience that has been at the root of BBC comedy's success in the past, so we feel it a great shame it's not set to return.
The resurgence in studio sitcoms has continued throughout 2014, albeit not all have been quite so suitable for multi-generational viewing. From House Of Fools to Not Going Out via Birds Of A Feather and now the storming ratings success of Still Open All Hours, broadcasters seem to finally be rediscovering the potential power of the studio-based sitcom, particualrly those that appeal across generations and can unite a family in front of the TV screen with that most powerful of drugs: laughter. Even Comedy Central are getting in on the act with formats like I Live With Models.