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14 March 2007
Simon Amstell, Richard Curtis and Stephen Merchant Win RTS TV Awards
"I'm thrilled. that it's nearly over," says Extras star at three-hour-long ceremony
Simon Amstell, Richard Curtis, Caroline Aherne and Stephen Merchant came out on top at the Royal Television Society's 2007 Awards. Industry heavyweights were out in force for the boozy backslapping occasion.
The Royle Family one-off 'The Queen of Sheba' beat Green Wing and Extras to the plaudit of Best Sitcom, and earned Caroline Aherne the title of Best Comedy Writer. But Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe, Stephen Fry's [link to interview] documentary on manic depression and The Friday Night Project all lost out in their non-comedy-specific categories.
The biggest cheers of the night came for the last two winners, Simon Amstell and Stephen Merchant, although that may have been due to relief that the 28-category awards were coming to an end.
Simon Amstell, who arrived with his mum on his arm and stayed sober throughout the night, beat Harry Hill and Justin Lee Collins & Alan Carr, the hosts of Channel 4's The Friday Night Project, to win Best Entertainment Performance.
Although he admitted "I've never won anything before" he appeared underwhelmed by the accolade.
"I haven't got an acceptance speech," he said, "but I prepared something in case I didn't win to say to the rest of my table: 'The Friday Night Project? You're taking the piss! Harry Hill? Oh fair enough. It could be worse: I could be Kate Thornton'."
He finished by saying that if the night went on any longer "I think we all might die."
The lanky Merchant, who bounded onstage to collect his Best Comedy Performance award for playing agent Darren Lamb in Extras, had not prepared a speech either. "I thought it's not televised so it's not worth it," he said to rippling laughter. "I'll save that for the BAFTAs. This is nice, but we all know where the big ones are, fingers crossed."
The Judges Award went to TV veteran, charity campaigner and film writing legend Richard Curtis. Ben Elton, who presented the award to Curtis, pointed out that his charity Comic Relief has raised half a billion pounds. "The world is definitely a better place with him in it," said Elton. And in a televised montage of gushing tributes, Victoria Wood said: "he could charm the jam into a sandwich."
The self-deprecating Curtis said that the "very sweet" Elton was exaggerating, and protested that the Popcorn author had "written all the best jokes in Blackadder." He thanked everyone involved in Comic Relief, and finished by saying "I believe that television can make the world a better place."
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