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British Comedy Awards dropped by Channel 4

Where do they go next? (June 2015)

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adamiow
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jun/16/channel-4-drops-british-comedy-awards-jonathan-ross

Channel 4 have dropped the British Comedy Awards, with last year being the last edition to air on the channel.

A bit of a surprise, but the quality has dropped in recent years. It isn't the appointment to view it used to be.

I assume it will reappear on either Channel 5/Comedy Central or Sky.
:-(
A former member
Last years was kinda non eventful not like the year before

BR
Brekkie
It's never found an audience on C4, not helped really by C4's comedy output not being as strong as it once was. Wouldn't be hugely surprised if it returned to ITV - enough time has passed to forget why on earth they dropped it in the first place.
LL
Larry the Loafer
I hope it finds a home. The quality has dropped over the years but I still like it.
WH
Whataday Founding member
It's never found an audience on C4, not helped really by C4's comedy output not being as strong as it once was. Wouldn't be hugely surprised if it returned to ITV - enough time has passed to forget why on earth they dropped it in the first place.


I'm not sure the comedy output of the channel has much to do with things when you consider it sat quite comfortably on ITV for years.
HC
Hatton Cross
Now, I can see Dave picking this up and running with it..

But. they need to pre-record it about an hour before transmission so they can tighten up the flow 'on the fly' and it'll be great watch.
It's the long pauses, Ross waiting for the autocue operator to cycle through and find the right bit of script and camera cuts to tables of increasingly plastered comedians as the night wears on that it looses it for me.

Still, Jonathan Ross's deeply rude and personal jibe opening monologue is still a highlight of the tv year..
LL
London Lite Founding member
Now, I can see Dave picking this up and running with it..


A combined Channel 5/Comedy Central bid could work.
JC
JCB
Ironically on Channel 4, which always seemed a more obvious fit, the show has felt far more tamed than it ever did on mainstream comedy free ITV.
SW
Steve Williams
JCB posted:
Ironically on Channel 4, which always seemed a more obvious fit, the show has felt far more tamed than it ever did on mainstream comedy free ITV.


Well, last year was the first one ever that was pre-recorded the night before - on the "born risky" Channel Four!

I'd like the Comedy Awards to continue, British comedy is vibrant enough and important enough to justify an awards ceremony of its own rather than a few BAFTAs. Given the Beeb have recently announced the Ronnie Barker Lecture to encourage serious discussion of comedy I wouldn't mind if they picked them up.
LL
Larry the Loafer
But. they need to pre-record it about an hour before transmission so they can tighten up the flow 'on the fly' and it'll be great watch.
It's the long pauses, Ross waiting for the autocue operator to cycle through and find the right bit of script and camera cuts to tables of increasingly plastered comedians as the night wears on that it looses it for me.


I think the live element is what gives it the most appeal. Granted it *is* an awards ceremony, but most people watch it because it mainly consists of comedians trying to amicably out-do each other in terms of either funny material or shock value, and it ends up becoming unpredictable and anarchic. When you pre-record it, it loses a little something and feels a bit too "safe".


Given the Beeb have recently announced the Ronnie Barker Lecture to encourage serious discussion of comedy I wouldn't mind if they picked them up.


When you consider the controversy it often generates, I think the BBC could do without that risk.
AN
Andrew Founding member
It'll go one of two ways, either back to ITV or further out of the mainstream to Dave.

It's always treading a thin line though as you have the mainstream comedies that are watched in large numbers but generally sneered at by many in the industry (stuff like Mrs Brown) alongside trendy niche comedy that is the thing of the moment but in reality watched by very few.
SW
Steve Williams
When you consider the controversy it often generates, I think the BBC could do without that risk.


It sat perfectly well on ITV for many years when that channel was incredibly conservative, even after the Clary and Milligan incidents it was still live every year. If they can show Have I Got News For You at 9pm, they can show the Comedy Awards.

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