Gervais completes Bafta hat trick

Ricky Gervais has completed a Bafta hat-trick, winningthe award for best comedy performance for the third year running.

The Office also won best sitcom for the third year in a row , this time for the two-part Christmas special which brought the series to an end.

Collecting his performance trophy, Gervais said: "Oh dear - it's better being the underdog.

"It's probably the last time I'll be up here for a while - this is an end to the chapter - apart from the DVD."

Gervais almost missed out on even being nominated because a BBC blunder meant his name was not submitted, although Bafta bent the rules to allow him as a late entrant.

On accepting the best sitcom prize, Gervais said: "This is fantastic. I've just found out the first one was a clerical error."

His rivals for best comedy performance included Office co-star Martin Freeman, who plays Tim, and Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

But the last pair had cause for celebration when Little Britain won the best comedy award, ahead of Bo Selecta, Creature Comforts and Double Take.

The announcement of their victory was greeted by a huge cheer from the audience at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Jonathan Ross was a double winner, taking home prizes for best entertainment performance and best entertainment programme, both for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.

Published: 18 Apr 2004