The British Comedy Awards 2015 are to be delayed until next year.

The ceremony, which usually takes place in December, is now expected to take place in the first half of 2016.

The delay is a result of the fact that the Awards' producers have yet to sign contracts with the event's new broadcast partner. As was reported earlier in the year, The British Comedy Awards has now left Channel 4 after five years on the network.

Unique Productions, the production company behind the awards, have confirmed in a statement: "We are disappointed to announce that the British Comedy Awards celebrating the best comedy from 2015 will take place next year rather than at Christmas."

British Comedy Guide understands that, following the news that the awards were leaving Channel 4, a TV network approached producers with view toward a multi-year deal. However, delays at the as yet un-named broadcaster have left organisers unable to proceed with planning this year's awards, meaning there is now not enough time to organise a ceremony before Christmas.

This was also the case when the awards moved from ITV to Channel 4, with the awards focusing on 2010 broadcast in January 2011.

Unique Productions explain: "This is a repeat of what happened the last time the Awards changed host broadcaster in 2010. On that occasion even though we had concluded formalities months earlier it was still not possible to organise the necessary logistics for December."

British Comedy Guide has learned that producers are using this period of change to examine how the awards could be adapted and expanded to celebrate more aspects of British comedy - for example, potentially recognising achievements in radio comedy, and expanding on last year's moves to celebrate the best online comedy series.

The producers say: "We want to use this change of broadcaster to realise where possible some of our long held plans to make the Awards bigger and better and to enable the Academy to support comedy across Great Britain. Naturally that widens the discussions beyond simply 'moving' the Awards.

"We hope to be able to provide details of our broadcast partner and detailed plans before too long. We are always heartened by the support and encouragement from the industry, which has also inspired certain aspects of our current plans."