Derry Girls has won the Best Comedy Programme in the Broadcast Awards 2023.

The awards, organised by the TV trade magazine, were handed out at a ceremony last night.

Praised for its bold approach to "blending a particularly troubled period of time with laugh-out-loud comedy", the final series of Hat Trick Productions' sitcom was a clear winner for the judges.

The organisers note: "Series 3 of the sitcom delivers comedy and emotional gut-punches as Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and James get their GCSE results and vote on the Good Friday Agreement.

"The show's impact has been far-reaching, with references in The Simpsons, the House of Commons and Dáil Éireann (the Irish Parliament). It has also been widely praised for educating UK fans about a period of history they weren't taught in school.
"Writer Lisa McGee is the first woman to be awarded the Freedom of the City of Derry, while Derry itself has seen a tourism boom - with a Derry Girls mural in the heart of the city, themed tours, and props from the show on permanent display at the Ulster Museum.

"'The show is comedy genius on every level', said one judge, with another noting the consistently strong performances from the entire cast.

"McGee's writing and ability to create 'loveable, funny characters who you grow to love as friends' was another highlight for the judges, alongside the show's 'belly laughs with a strong political core'."

The other comedies shortlisted were Am I Being Unreasonable, which was described by judges as "a funny panic attack across six half-hours that keeps you laughing and guessing until the last frame", Big Boys ("executed with originality and humour, without ever downplaying the emotions of its main characters"), Cheaters ("Playing with format on its modest budget, the 10-minute episodes leave audiences to make up their own minds on who, if anyone, is in the wrong"), Stath Lets Flats ("a true comedy in a world of dark comedies and dramedies") and Wedding Season ("high-octane action, murder, thrills and, of course, romance").

Meanwhile the comedy drama This Is Going To Hurt triumphed in the Best Drama Series Or Serial category.

Broadcast says: "This adaptation of Adam Kay's bestselling memoir follows a junior doctor as he struggles to balance his personal life with the pressures of working on an overstretched and underresourced NHS maternity ward.

"The BBC/AMC co-pro sets out to reflect the cross-section of society that filters through the doors of a publicly funded hospital while raising the question of who looks after our carers. Kay himself takes on writing duty for the drama and does not flinch from depicting the full, exhausting experience of being a junior doctor on screen.

"Played by Ben Whishaw, Dr Adam Kay is an anti-hero who is battling his own ego, as well as the bureaucracy and pressures of NHS life. He is ably supported by a cast that includes newcomer Ambika Mod as Shruti Acharya, a freshfaced, talented junior doctor.

"'The series seamlessly combines sharp wit, the harrowing realism of the maternity ward and operating theatre, perfectly formed characters, award-worthy acting and, most importantly, represents the challenges the NHS faces and the human impact that has', said one judge, while another described it as 'devastating, terrifying and hilarious'.

"Lauded by the medical community, This Is Going To Hurt sparked a national debate over how we treat our frontline medical workers."

The drama shortlist also featured the comedy dramas Bad Sisters and Landscapers alongside The Responder, The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe and Top Boy.

Winners in other categories included Lee Mack's quiz show The 1% Club. The full list of results can be seen on Broadcast's website