Absent star jokes about Sachs scandal in video acceptanceBy Rachelle Money
RUSSELL BRAND was in unrepentant mood last night after dedicating a British Comedy Award to his Sachsgate partner in crime Jonathan Ross. Kelly Brook announced Brand as Best Live Stand-Up Performer of 2008 to huge cheers from the audience.
Brand, who is working in the US after quitting his Radio 2 show, gave a video acceptance speech in which the award was handed to him by American comedian Adam Sandler.
Brand, to huge laughter, asked Sandler if he would like to do a radio show. He dedicated the award to the "kingmaker" Ross, saying " It's a shame he's not here to host the awards," and thanked everyone involved in his stand-up career.
Turning to Sandler, he said: "I do radio shows. I'm quite good at them, I'm edgy."
Brand, who beat Alan Carr and Michael McIntyre to win the award, resigned from his Radio 2 programme, and Ross was suspended from the BBC for three months after a furore over lewd phonecalls the pair made to veteran actor Andrew Sachs.
Ross's bad luck continued last night after he lost out on an award weeks after being forced to step down as the host of this year's event.
Ross was nominated for best comedy entertainment programme for his BBC One show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, along with the Sunday Night Project, but was beaten by Harry Hill's TV Burp .
The radio and television presenter was suspended from his £18 million BBC contract for making lewd phonecalls on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show to actor Andrew Sachs. The comedians made prank calls to the Fawlty Towers actor in which Brand boasted of having having had sex with Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie.
Last night's hosting duties were left to another disgraced former BBC presenter, Angus Deayton. The former Have I Got News For You? presenter was sacked six years ago over allegations concering his private life. Deayton, referring to Brand's absence, said he was: "In Honolulu preparing for a major Hollywood blockbuster movie with Dame Helen Mirren, and no doubt distraught at losing his 9pm slot on Radio 2."
Deayton also quipped that Ross must be waiting at home anxiously wondering if the phone would ever ring again - giving him an insight into the life of his brother Paul Ross.
In a public apology at the time over his prank phonecall to Sachs, Ross said his remarks were "juvenile and thoughtless." Brand said in a statement that he took "complete responsibility" for the incident.
He said: "As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that, given the subsequent coverage, I will stop doing the show."
"I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that, at the core of the rude comments and silly songs, were the real feelings of a beloved comic actor and a sweet and big-hearted young woman."
Brand had presented his Saturday night show since November 2006 and is believed to have been paid more than £200,000 a year. BBC director general Mark Thompson said the incident had been a "gross lapse of taste."
The Best Comedy Panel Show went to QI, Best Comedy Actress was Scots comedian Ashley Jensen for Extras, and Best Comedy Actor was Ricky Gervais for his Christmas Special.
There was a poignant moment in the show when the late comedy producer Geoffrey Perkins was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Comedy Award. The former BBC TV head of comedy died in a road accident three months ago aged 55.
Perkins first made his mark as a radio producer on The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and worked with comedians including Deayton, Catherine Tate and Harry Enfield. The award was received by his daughter Charlotte who said he would have been "extremely surprised and utterly honoured".
Hollywood actress and The Licks singer Juliette Lewis presented Best Comedy Drama of 2008 to darkly comic BBC3 show Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Television writer David Renwick, known for One Foot In The Grave, was given the Ronnie Barker Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award.
Jasper Carrott was honoured for his long career with a lifetime achievement award.
