Double success in British Comedy Guide accolades

Red Dwarf has been named comedy of the year in a poll conducted by the British Comedy Guide.

The sitcom also scooped the award for best returning TV sitcom 2016 in the awards, which are voted on entirely by readers.

Co-creator Doug Naylor joked: ‘This award will really help me next time I need to persuade one of the guys to climb into a prosthetic monster costume with six other creature performers and stay in there for half a day with no toilet breaks.’

The sci-fi comedy airs on Dave, which also scooped the best TV entertainment show with Taskmaster, fronted by Greg Davies and Alex Horne.

Ben Elton's Upstart Crow, was named best new TV sitcom and Inside No. 9 won best TV comedy drama despite broadcasting just one episode in the dying days of 2016; the Devil Of Christmas.

The winners of other categories are:

Best TV sketch show: Horrible Histories

Best TV panel show: 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown

Best radio sitcom: Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show

Best radio panel show: The Unbelievable Truth

Best radio entertainment show 2016: The Now Show

Best radio sketch show: John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme

Finnemore said of his win: ‘I am absolutely delighted that Souvenir Programme has joined the proud roll-call of Things The Public Voted For In 2016; alongside Trump, Brexit, and Boaty McBoatface.’

Published: 23 Jan 2017