The winners of the first National Comedy Awards for Stand Up To Cancer have been announced at the inaugural ceremony at Camden Roundhouse in London this evening (Wed 2 Mar). The awards celebrating Britain’s favourite funny people were hosted by Tom Allen, with trophies being handed out by stars of comedy and entertainment including Matt Lucas, Meera Syal, Jamie Demetriou, Jessica Hynes and Joel Dommett.
The National Comedy Awards for Stand Up To Cancer honours both emerging and established comedy talent, with the British public voting on key prizes, alongside two additional special recognition awards voted for by industry peers. The categories honour the genre in all its forms with nods to fan-favourites across recent scripted and unscripted comedy, live shows, and the latest, podcast jokers all vying for votes.
Tom Allen opened the show with a special acknowledgement for “our brother in comedy President Zelenskyy and the courageous people of Ukraine”.
Full exclusive coverage of The National Comedy Awards ceremony hosted by Tom Allen airs Saturday at 9pm on Channel 4 and watch free on All 4.
The Winners
Sex Education scooped a clean sweep of awards in the scripted categories with Emma Mackey winning Outstanding Comedy Actress, Asa Butterfield winning Outstanding Comedy Actor, Ncuti Gatwa winning Outstanding Supporting Role and the series itself triumphing in the Best Scripted Comedy category. On collecting his award, Asa Butterfield jokingly thanked “thousands of Brazilian teenage girls” for voting.
Harry Hill led a special tribute to his friend Sean Lock, who later in the evening was announced as winner in the Outstanding Male Comedy Entertainment Performance for 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
In two special recognition awards, Billy Connolly was awarded the Victoria Wood Lifetime Achievement Award and Sharon Horgan received the Caroline Aherne Outstanding Achievement in Writing Award.
The hotly contested Best Stand-Up Show award was won by Ricky Gervais.
Katherine Ryan received the Outstanding Female Comedy Entertainment Performance for 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and on collecting her trophy talked about Jimmy Carr’s roast jokes, remarking “that’s a genre of comedy he happens to be the best at, and I think it’s really important that we all protect that genre, even if people get offended by it.”
Best Comedy Entertainment Show was awarded to Taskmaster, with Greg Davies thanked voters and “the person who is undeniably at the heart of it, is little Alex Horne”.
After a meteoric year on little and large screens, Munya Chawawa was voted Best Breakthrough Performer. He joked “There was a time that I really did believe that my future would be touring small northern towns as a JLS tribute act; thanks to this award, that will not happen for at least another five years.”
Chris and Rosie Ramsey’s podcast Shagged, Married, Annoyed was voted Best Comedy Podcast. On stage, Rosie told her husband Chris “I love you… There’s nobody else I’d rather win this award with”.
National Comedy Awards nominees and winners
Best Scripted Comedy
Sex Education (winner)
Ghosts
This Way Up
Motherland
Outstanding Comedy Actress
Aisling Bea (This Way Up)
Charlotte Ritchie (Ghosts)
Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts)
Emma Mackey (Sex Education) (winner)
Outstanding Comedy Actor
Greg Davies (The Cleaner)
Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) (winner)
Lee Mack (Not Going Out)
Matthew Baynton (Ghosts)
Outstanding Supporting Role
Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) (winner)
Diane Morgan (Motherland)
Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education)
Lolly Adefope (Ghosts)
Best Comedy Entertainment Show
Taskmaster (winner)
Rob & Romesh Vs:
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Would I Lie To You
Outstanding Female Comedy Ent Performance
Daisy May Cooper (Taskmaster)
Rosie Jones (Trip Hazard)
Katherine Ryan (8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown) (winner)
Sandi Toksvig (QI)
Outstanding Male Comedy Ent Performance
Mo Gilligan (The Lateish Show)
Sean Lock (8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown) (winner)
Mike Wozniak (Taskmaster)
James Acaster (Hypothetical)
Best Comedy Podcast
Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble
My Therapist Ghosted Me
Shagged Married Annoyed (winner)
Rob Beckett & Josh Widdecombe’s Parenting Hell
Best Stand-Up Show
Sarah Millican
Ricky Gervais (winner)
Katherine Ryan
Mo Gilligan
Jason Manford
Comedy Breakthrough Performer
Judi Love
Joanne McNally
Munya Chawawa (winner)
Rosie Jones
Rose Matafeo
Caroline Aherne Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Writing
Sharon Horgan
Victoria Wood Lifetime Achievement Award
Billy Connolly
