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Bo Burnham

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In 2006, when he was just 16, Bo Burnham started writing comic songs about teenage angst and posting them on YouTube, attracting millions of views. He then started playing live and in August 2008, four days after his 18th birthday, he became the youngest person to record a Comedy Central special. He released his first CD in March 2009. Nominated for best music or variety act in the 2014 Chortle Awards.

Bo Burnham scoops Rose D'Or

Other honours for Horrible Histories and Call My Agent!

Bo Burnham’s lockdown special Inside has been named best comedy at this year’s Rose d’Or international TV awards.

And fellow Netflix show Call My Agent!, from France, was named best comedy-drama.

To win his award, Burnham edged out British shows Famalam, Motherland and Staged, which were also among the nominees in the comedy category.

The comedian has already won three Emmy awards for the special – but it has controversially been ruled out of best comedy album at the Grammys, which instead chose to shortlist Louis CK and Dave Chappelle.

Also at last night’s Rose d’Or ceremony, Horrible Histories Black History Special won the children and youth category.

And a previously announced, the emerging talent award was given to We Are Lady Parts creator Nida Manzoor.

Receiving her award, she said: ‘Making We Are Lady Parts was such a joy and the show has been with me for some years, so to have finally been able to make it with such an excellent cast and crew, has really meant the world to me. To be receiving an award that’s so close to my heart, is just really overwhelming. ‘

And she thanked the broadcasters and producers ‘who have really allowed me the space and scope, to tell the story I wanted to tell, in the way I wanted to tell it’.

On winning the comedy-drama and sitcom award, Call My Agent producer Harold Valentin said: ‘This show has travelled a long road. Thee idea began in 2005.

‘We wrote and rewrote the scripts 15 to 20 times to achieve the quality of professional and personal plots, and then when we tried to find French movie stars to guest – we had so many refusals, the show was almost cancelled. But if you keep going – there is always a way. Thank you so much Rose d’Or’

Channel 4’s Help, starring Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham that highlighted the impact that Covid-19 pandemic had on care homes, came top in the drama category – beating Squid Game and Bridgerton. And Strictly Come Dancing was awarded the studio entertainment trophy

Last night’s virtual ceremony was hosted by Sue Perkins.

»Review of Bo Burnham: Inside

Published: 30 Nov 2021