In 2021 C4 launched the National Comedy Awards and BGC (see full list of nominees here) suggested that these were possibly to replace The British Comedy Awards (which had ended in 2014).
C4 broadcast the awards (hosted by Tom Allen and held at Camden Roundhouse) on March 5th 2022 (see BGC here).
Sean Lock had died in August 2021 and there was a special segment honouring him, that resulted in a standing ovation.
Jimmy had been longlisted for the category of Outstanding Male Comedy Entertainment Performance, for his role in 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. I’m sure he wouldn’t have minded that the public voted for his friend, Sean Lock (the posthumous winner).
Jimmy was also longlisted for Best Stand-Up Show for his Terribly Funny tour (original version).
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown was also shortlisted for Best Comedy Entertainment Series and the shortlist for this category was:
- Taskmaster – winner
- 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
- Rob and Romesh Vs
- Would I Lie To You?
Around this time Jimmy was getting a lot of heat for a joke from the His Dark Material special, which had released on Christmas Day 2021. Even before the “noise” started it was the most watched Netflix special in the UK (see here). Details of the joke / controversy are here.
Katherine Ryan won Outstanding Female Comedy Entertainment Performance (again – for Cats Countdown) and, in her acceptance speech, thanked Jimmy and referenced the controversy by saying:
“…that’s a genre of comedy he happens to be the best at, and I think it’s really important that we all protect that genre, even if people get offended by it.”
A comment that was well received within the room, not so much on X.
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