Full list of nominations

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have both been nominated for British Comedy Awards, despite the furore over the Andrew Sachs phone calls.

Ross, who pulled out of hosting the ceremony in the wake of the hoo-ha over the Radio 2 broadcast, has been nominated for his Friday night chat show, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.

The show, which is up against Harry Hill’s TV Burp and The Sunday Night Project, is currently off-air as part of the presenter's three-month suspension from the BBC in the wake of the crude messages he left on the Fawlty Towers stars answerphone.

Meanwhile, Brand has been shortlisted for best live stand-up alongside Alan Carr and Michael McIntyre.

The nominations were decided by panel of TV executives and writers, including Chortle editor Steve Bennett, after the tabloid storm erupted over Brand and Ross’s behaviour.

In other categories, Ricky Gervais, James Corden and David Mitchell have been nominated for best comedy actor; while Extras star Ashley Jensen, Pulling’s Sharon Horgan and Peep Show's Olivia Colman are up for best actress.

Ant and Dec, Graham Norton, Harry Hill and Sunday Night Project star Alan Carr will compete for best comedy entertainment personality.

This full list of nominations is:

Best TV Comedy Actor of 2008
David Mitchell – Peep Show (Objective for Channel 4)
James Corden – Gavin & Stacey (Baby Cow for BBC Three)
Ricky Gervais – Extras: Christmas Special (BBC Comedy for BBC One)

Best TV Comedy Actress of 2008
Ashley Jensen – Extras: Christmas Special (BBC Comedy for BBC One)
Olivia Colman – Peep Show (Objective for Channel 4)
Sharon Horgan – Pulling (Silver River for BBC Three)

Best Comedy Entertainment Personality of 2008
Alan Carr – Friday Night Project/Sunday Night Project (Princess Productions for Channel 4)
Ant & Dec – I’m a Celebrity .. Get Me Out of Here/Saturday Night Takeaway/Britain’s Got Talent (ITV Productions for ITV1/ITV Productions & Gallowgate for ITV1/SYCO Television & TalkBack Thames for ITV1)
Graham Norton – The Graham Norton Show (So Television for BBC Two)
Harry Hill – Harry Hill’s TV Burp (Avalon Television for ITV1)

Best New British TV Comedy of 2008
The Kevin Bishop Show (Objective for Channel 4)
No Heroics (Tiger Aspect for ITV2)
The Inbetweeners (Bwark for E4)

Best TV Comedy of 2008
Benidorm (Tiger Aspect for ITV1)
Gavin & Stacey (Baby Cow for BBC Three)
Peep Show (Objective for Channel 4)

Best TV Comedy Drama of 2008
Drop Dead Gorgeous (Hat Trick for BBC Three)
Mutual Friends (Hat Trick for BBC One)
Skins (Company Pictures for E4)

Best Comedy Entertainment Programme of 2008
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (Hotsauce TV for BBC One)
Harry Hill’s TV Burp (Avalon Television for ITV1)
The Sunday Night Project (Princess Productions for Channel 4)

Best Live Stand-Up Performer of 2008
Alan Carr
Michael McIntyre
Russell Brand

Best Male Comedy Newcomer of 2008
Dan Clark – How Not To Live Your Life (Brown Eyed Boy for BBC Three)
Simon Bird – The Inbetweeners (Bwark for E4)
Steve Edge – The Cup (Hartswood Films for BBC Two)

Best Female Comedy Newcomer of 2008
Anna Crilly – Lead Balloon (Open Mike for BBC Two)
Isy Suttie – Peep Show (Objective for Channel 4)
Katy Brand – Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show (World’s End for ITV2)

Best Comedy Panel Show of 2008
Have I Got News for You (Hat Trick for BBC One)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks (TalkBack Thames for BBC Two)
QI (TalkBack Thames for BBC Two)

The awards will be broadcast live on ITV1 on Saturday December 6, although no host to replace Ross has yet been announced.

Last night Radio 2 said that Ross would return to his Saturday-morning show following his suspension on January 24.

Published: 14 Nov 2008