Jack Whitehall wins top comedy award again

Jack Whitehall in his role as teacher Alfie Wickers in BBC Three's Bad Education

Comedian Jack Whitehall has been named "king of comedy" at the British Comedy Awards for the third year running.

The Bad Education star did not collect the award in person, sending his father Michael in his place.

Graham Norton was another no-show at this year's event, accepting his awards for best comedy entertainment programme and best comedy entertainment personality via video message.

Jonathan Ross hosted the ceremony, to be shown on Channel 4 on Wednesday.

Harry Enfield was named best TV comedy actor for Harry and Paul's Story of The Twos, the spoof documentary celebrating 50 years of BBC Two, which he made with Paul Whitehouse.

The same programme was named best sketch show at this year's event, held at the Fountain television studios in Wembley, north west London.

Ross poked fun at the venue's apparent remoteness in his opening remarks, joking that "even the Ebola virus can't be bothered to get the Tube here".

The chat show host also made jokes at the expense of Jeremy Clarkson, Griff Rhys Jones and Rolf Harris, the former TV entertainer who was jailed this year for committing 12 indecent assaults against four girls.

Brendan O'Carroll attended the event with wife and co-star Jennifer Gibney

"This year comedy, like Rolf Harris's lawn, has grown and grown," he told an audience that included former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! winner Carl Fogarty.

The IT Crowd's Katherine Parkinson was named best TV comedy actress, while Toast Of London, co-created by The IT Crowd's Matt Berry, was named best new comedy.

Not Going Out star Lee Mack was crowned best male TV comic and Chris O'Dowd's Sky One series Moone Boy was named best sitcom.

Brendan O'Carroll received a special honour from the Writers' Guild of Great Britain for his sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys, while the Monty Python team were given a lifetime achievement award.

There were also prizes for The Inbetweeners 2, winner of the best comedy film award, and BBC One's Rev, which was named the year's best comedy drama.