Ross takes aim at celebrities at the comedy awards

The British Comedy Awards opened on Saturday night with a flurry of gags from host Jonathan Ross.

Who should win at the British Comedy Awards?

Ahead of Saturday night's ceremony on Channel 4, Michael Deacon picks out who deserves to win.

Video - BCA 2011: King or Queen of Comedy nominees

On Saturday night the cream of British comedy talent will gather for the British Comedy Awards. We look at some of the nominees' best clips, including David Mitchell, Miranda Hart and Michael McIntyre.

The British Comedy Awards' most controversial jokes

The annual ceremony has a history of provocative gags made on the night by presenters, guests and nominees. Here are five of the most contentious.

The return of cuddly comedy

The nominations for Saturday's British Comedy Awards are full of comics you would happily introduce to your grandmother. How refreshing.

British Comedy Award predictions

Top comedy writer Paul Kerensa (Miranda and Not Going Out) gives his predictions...

Just in time for its 22nd birthday, the comedy back-slapping bash gets a transfer from ITV1 to Channel 4 and a general spruce-up. This revamped ceremony is being broadcast live from London's O2 Arena and the often recklessly risqué Jonathan Ross remains as host. His traditional acerbic opening monologue - edgy enough on ITV, likely to be even nearer the knuckle now - should have station executives shifting nervously in their seats. For the first time, there's a live public vote for the year's top funny person, to be crowned "King or Queen of Comedy". Out in the crowd, the cream of the UK's comedy talent will eat, drink, be merry, then forget to pull gracious faces when they don't win. In another first, those industry types will be joined by the great unwashed, as some tickets have been on sale to viewers. Expect Michael McIntyre and Miranda Hart to lead the race for gongs. Tonight's proceedings have been heavily trailed by a week of build-up programming, so there's a lot invested in the event itself delivering both entertainment and headlines - while avoiding the phone-in scandals and voting irregularities that dogged its last years on ITV.

Wossy and Brand to appear together at Comedy Awards

The British Comedy Awards are going for maximum mayhem after inviting Russell Brand to join Jonathan Ross on stage - going out LIVE on TV.

Frankie Boyle is snubbing British Comedy Awards

Petulant Frankie Boyle has "thrown his toys out of the pram" and snubbed this weekend's British Comedy Awards - after allegedly being sidelined.

Channel 4 is rather pleased with itself for poaching comedy's annual awards bash from ITV and this show launches its week-long build-up to next Saturday's live event. It reveals the nominees, rewinds last year's best comedy clips and includes interviews with Miranda Hart, the cast of The Inbetweeners, Frank Skinner and Graham Norton.