Mitchell and Webb look set for British Comedy Awards win

Published Tuesday 14 November 2006 at 13:30 by Liz Thomas

David Mitchell and Robert Webb have racked up five nominations for this year’s British Comedy Awards, capping a remarkable year for the comic actors.

While the pair have been much lauded for some time with the popularity of Peep Show, famously described by Ricky Gervais as “best thing on television”, it is only this year that they secured a primetime comedy show on BBC2.

That Mitchell and Webb Look - an adaptation of the Radio 4 show - proved a ratings winner and has also been nominated as Britain’s Best New TV Comedy of 2006, alongside another of the duo’s shows, Channel 4’s Peep Show. Channel 4’s Star Stories, Five’s Suburban Shootout and BBC shows Extras and The Thick of It are also contenders.

In the Best TV Comedy Actor category, Mitchell and Webb will face competition from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, for their roles in Extras. There is also an accolade for Best Stage Comedy, which this year, sees Little Britain, Robin Ince’s Book Club, The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You, The Mighty Boosh and The Two Faces of Mitchell and Webb, all in contention.

Surprisingly Russell Brand has been nominated in the Best Male Newcomer category. He faces competition from Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins, and Kevin Bishop. Meanwhile in the equivalent section for women, Charlotte Church, Katherine Parkinson and Miranda Hart are all on the list.

Now in its 17th year, the ceremony will take place on December 13 and is hosted by Jonathan Ross. The event will be screened live on ITV1 and ITV2.

Full list below:

Best TV Comedy Actor of 2006

• David Mitchell & Robert Webb - Peep Show (Objective for Channel 4)
• Ricky Gervais - Extras (BBC Comedy For BBC One)
• Stephen Merchant - Extras (BBC Comedy For BBC One)

Best TV Comedy Actress of 2006

• Catherine Tate - The Catherine Tate Xmas Special (Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Two)
• Katherine Parkinson - The IT Crowd (Talkback Thames for Channel 4)
• Tamsin Greig - Green Wing (Talkback Thames for Channel 4)

Best Comedy Entertainment Personality of 2006

• Ant & Dec - Saturday Night Takeaway/ I’m a Celebrity…Get me Out of Here/ Poker Face (ITV Productions/Talkback Thames for ITV1)
• Harry Hill - Harry Hill’s TV Burp (Avalon Television for ITV1)
• Paul Merton - Have I Got News for You Hat Trick Productions for BBC One)

Best Male Comedy Newcomer 0f 2006

• Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins - The Friday Night Project (Princess Productions for Channel 4)
• Kevin Bishop - Star Stories (Objective Productions for Channel 4)
• Russell Brand - Russell Brand’s Got Issues (Vanity Project for E4)

Best Female Comedy Newcomer of 2006

• Charlotte Church - The Charlotte Church Show (Monkey for Channel 4)
• Katherine Parkinson - The IT Crowd (Talkback Thames for Channel 4)
• Miranda Hart - Hyperdrive (BBC Comedy for BBC Two)

Britain’s Best New TV Comedy of 2006

• Star Stories - (Objective Productions for Channel 4)
• Suburban Shootout - (Feelgood Fiction for Five and Paramount Comedy)
• That Mitchell & Webb Look - (BBC Comedy for BBC Two)

Best TV Comedy of 2006

• Extras - (BBC Comedy for BBC Two)
• Peep Show - (Objective Productions for Channel 4)
• The Thick of It - (BBC Comedy for BBC Four)

Best Comedy Entertainment Programme of 2006

• Ant & Dec Christmas Takeaway (ITV Productions for ITV1)
• Harry Hill’s TV Burp (Avalon Television for ITV1)
• Have I Got News for You (Hat Trick Productions for BBC One)

Highland Spring People’s Choice Award, as voted for by readers of FHM, Heat and Zoo Magazine and ITV1 viewers on the night.

• Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV Productions for ITV1)
• Extras (BBC Comedy for BBC Two)
• 8 Out of 10 Cats (Zeppotron For Channel 4)
• Friday Night With Jonathan Ross (Open Mike Productions for BBC One)
• Green Wing (Talkback Thames for Channel 4)
• Little Britain (BBC Comedy For BBC One)
• Northern Lights (ITV Productions for ITV1)
• That Mitchell & Webb Look (BBC Comedy for BBC Two)

Best Comedy Film for 2006

• Confetti - Fox Searchlight Pictures/BBC Films/Wasted Talent (distributed by Fox Searchlight)
• Little Miss Sunshine - Fox Searchlight Pictures/Big Beach/Bona Fide (distributed by Fox Searchlight)
• Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit - Aardman Animations (distributed by Dreamworks / UIP)

Best International Comedy Show for 2006

• Curb Your Enthusiasm - HBO Entertainment for More 4
• Everybody Hates Chris - Chris Rock Enterprises/3 Arts Entertainment/Paramount Network Television for Five
• The Office: An American Workplace - NBC Universal for ITV2

Best Live Stand Up Tour for 2006, as voted for by readers of FHM and Zoo Magazine

• Al Murray - …And Another Thing
• Jimmy Carr - Gag Reflex
• Lee Evans - XL - UK Tour 2005
• Lee Mack - The 2006 Stand Up Tour
• Ross Noble - Fizzy Logic
• Russell Brand - Shame

Best Stage Comedy for 2006, as voted for by readers of FHM and Zoo Magazine

• Little Britain
• Robin Ince’s Book Club
• The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You
• The Mighty Boosh
• The Two Faces of Mitchell and Webb