Backstage at the British Comedy Awards 2010
The British Comedy Awards took place on Saturday, and backstage, along with an assortment of national press, British Comedy Guide waited by the complimentary Haribo to question the winners...
The British Comedy Awards are easily the most prestigious of the comedy ceremonies, and so attract the biggest names from the industry - Dara O'Briain, Rob Brydon and Noel Fielding were some of the comedians walking down the blue carpet. This year there was even a sprinkle of Hollywood stardust on the proceedings, as Goldie Hawn turned up to present Peter Capaldi with the award for Best TV Comedy Actor for his role as Malcolm Tucker in The Thick Of It.
It was an apt time to reflect on the role of media relations, and Capaldi could have been excused for a wry smile when asked by the media scrum of what he thought Andy Coulson may be feeling after being forced to resign as David Cameron's director of communications: "I don't know," Capaldi said. "Let's hack into his phone and find out."
The Inbetweeners crew, fresh from their recent trip around the country in aid of Comic Relief, indulged us with tales of what shenanigans they managed to get up to during their own school days. To the surprise of the rest of the gang, Simon Bird confessed to throwing fruit at a teacher - a melon if you are asking.
Also on the media's red carpet was the cast of Misfits. Speaking to British Comedy Guide, Antonia Thomas - who plays Alisha in the show - talked about what it was like to play a typically British take on a superhero... "It was fun, fun and unpredictable, and wasn't the obvious kind of part to play which is why it was so good to be able to put yourself into it."
Though the guys didn't reveal which superpowers they may possess in the third series, they did confirm that they are looking forward to where the characters go, with Iwan Rheon (who plays Simon) adding: "We're just so lucky to be involved and it's been written so well, every script is amazing."
The big winner of the evening was undoubtedly Miranda Hart, who after picking up three gongs admitted that now may be the time to ponder making her West End debut... and not simply because she likes saying 'debut'.
Disappointingly for fans, the comedienne revealed that there may be a bit of a wait for Series 3 of Miranda. She told the back-stage reporters: "I actually just got back off holiday to discover there is a series three... so I have no idea what it will be about." She did confirm the rumours that her show could be moving to the corporation's flagship channel: "I hear BBC One are interested, so that's very exciting," she said.
If Miranda Hart was the epitome of the gracious winner, taking questions from the assembled reporters with patience, Alan Davies wandered into the waiting media pack like a heavyweight champion remembering past glorious bouts with the British National Press. After a number of simple questions about his favourite comedian, Davies was asked about the recent complaints about QI received from the Japanese Embassy (which revolved around a joke on QI about the man who survived both Hiroshima and Nagasaki)...
The BBC has issued an apology for any offence caused, however Davies thought it apt to go one step further and apologise for the whole of WWII itself. "I think we've bitten off more than we can chew here, insulting the whole of Japan, I think they might come around and take my stereo away," Davies said. "We're really sorry about that war - Sorry! Glad that's cleared up. I can keep my DVD recorder now?"
Host Jonathan Ross was similarly gung-ho with his answers when he dropped in after the show, especially when the question of Sachsgate came up. It has been two years since he and Russell Brand had caused a media (some could say media-made) storm when making a lewd phonecall to Andrew Sachs...
Determined to put this episode behind him, Ross made a point of acknowledging his responsibility, but pointed out that he made sure that everyone mentioned in the call was made aware that it would be broadcast before it went out on air... "For fuck's sake can't we move on, I'm fucking begging you. We're both fairly responsible people, I know what we did was stupid, but it was pre-recorded and I kept phoning to make sure everyone was ok to put it out, and everyone was cool with it."
"I would like it to be the end of it as I want Russell to be able to move on with things and I'd like to pick up a paper and not read the word 'Sachsgate' in it. However you make your bed you lie in it, so I have to take responsibility with it, however ultimately I am happy with my life and if I wasn't in TV anymore I would still be happy with my life."
Reporting and video by Tim Clark