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British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance

Film award


Film award

FieldValue
nameBritish Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance
imageLycettPascoeGreen290518-11 (42449359001) (cropped).jpg
caption2024 Recipient: Joe Lycett
presenterBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
countryUnited Kingdom
year1969 (presented in 1970)
holderJoe Lycett for Late Night Lycett (2025)
websitehttp://www.bafta.org/

The British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance is an award given out by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts at their annual BAFTA Television Awards ceremony.

This category has had minor name changes:

  • From 1958 to 1962 it was presented as an individual award named Best Light Entertainment Artist.
  • From 1963 to 1965 it was awarded as Best Light Entertainment Personality
  • From 1967 to 1999 it was awarded as Best Light Entertainment Performance.
  • Since 2000 the award has been known as Best Entertainment Performance.

Prior to the 1994 ceremony, acting performances in comedy roles were included in this category. Since 1994 they have been recognised in the Best Comedy Performance category.

Winners and nominees

1950s

YearPerformer
1958
Tony Hancock
1959
Alan Melville

1960s

YearPerformerProgramme
1960
Tony Hancock
1961
Stanley Baxter
1962
Eric Sykes
1963
Michael Bentine
1964
Morecambe and Wise
1965
Millicent Martin
1966
Peter Cook, Dudley Moore*Not Only... But Also*
John BirdNot So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life
Charlie DrakeThe Worker
Benny HillThe Benny Hill Show
Terry ScottScott on Birds; Scott on Money; Scott on Food; Hugh and I; Christmas Night with the Stars
1967
Alan Bennett
1968
Alan Bennett
1969
Marty Feldman*Marty*

1970s

YearPerformerProgramme
1970
Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise*The Morecambe and Wise Show*
Ronnie BarkerHark at Barker
John CleeseMonty Python's Flying Circus
Spike MilliganThe World of Beachcomber; Q.5; Curry and Chips
1971
Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise*The Morecambe and Wise Show*
John CleeseMonty Python's Flying Circus
Ronnie CorbettFrost Show; No – That's Me Over Here!
Frankie HowerdUp Pompeii!
Arthur LoweDad's Army
1972
Ronnie Barker & Ronnie Corbett*The Two Ronnies*
Dick EmeryThe Dick Emery Show
Benny HillThe Benny Hill Show
1973
Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise*The Morecambe and Wise Show*
Arthur LoweDad's Army
Monty Python TeamMonty Python's Flying Circus
1974
Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise*The Morecambe and Wise Show*
Dave AllenDave Allen At Large
Stanley BaxterThe Stanley Baxter Big Picture Show
Ronnie Barker & Ronnie CorbettThe Two Ronnies
1975
Stanley Baxter*The Moving Picture Show*
Ronnie BarkerPorridge
Michael CrawfordSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Arthur LoweDad's Army
1976
Ronnie Barker*Porridge*
Ronnie Barker & Ronnie CorbettThe Two Ronnies
Stanley BaxterThe Stanley Picture Show Part III
John CleeseFawlty Towers
1977
Penelope Keith*The Good Life*
Ronnie BarkerOpen All Hours; The Two Ronnies
Richard BriersThe Good Life; One-Upmanship
Leonard RossiterThe Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
1978
Ronnie BarkerPorridge & *The Two Ronnies*
Penelope KeithThe Good Life; The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show
Arthur LoweDad's Army
Leonard RossiterThe Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin; Rising Damp
1979
Ronnie BarkerGoing Straight & *The Two Ronnies*
Leonard RossiterThe Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin; The Losers; Rising Damp
Donald SindenTwo's Company
Elaine Stritch

1980s

YearPerformerProgramme
1980
John Cleese*Fawlty Towers*
Ronnie BarkerThe Two Ronnies
Penelope KeithTo The Manor Born
Andrew SachsFawlty Towers
1981
Rowan Atkinson*Not the Nine O'Clock News*
Barry HumphriesAn Audience with Dame Edna Everage
Maureen LipmanAgony
Pamela StephensonNot the Nine O'Clock News
1982
Nigel Hawthorne*Yes Minister*
Dave AllenThe Dave Allen Show
Paul EddingtonYes Minister
Stanley BaxterThe Stanley Baxter Series
1983
Nigel Hawthorne*Yes Minister*
Rowan AtkinsonNot the Nine O'Clock News
Judi DenchA Fine Romance
Paul EddingtonYes Minister & Let There Be Love
1984
Tracey Ullman*Three of a Kind*
Ronnie Barker & Ronnie CorbettThe Two Ronnies
Judi DenchA Fine Romance
Jasper CarrotCarrot's Lib
1985
Judi Dench*A Fine Romance*
Lenny HenryThe Lenny Henry Show
Julia McKenzieFresh Fields
Ruth MadocHi-de-Hi!
Paul NicholasJust Good Friends
1986
Victoria Wood*Victoria Wood As Seen On TV*
Ronnie BarkerOpen All Hours & The Two Ronnies
David JasonOnly Fools and Horses
Gorden Kaye'Allo 'Allo!
1987
Nigel Hawthorne*Yes, Prime Minister*
David JasonOnly Fools and Horses
Nicholas Lyndhurst
Paul EddingtonYes, Prime Minister
Julie WaltersVictoria Wood As Seen On TV
Victoria Wood
1988
Nigel Hawthorne*Yes, Prime Minister*
Rowan AtkinsonBlackadder the Third
Paul EddingtonYes, Prime Minister
Barry HumphriesThe Dame Edna Experience
1989
Victoria Wood*An Audience with Victoria Wood*
Dawn FrenchFrench and Saunders
Barry HumphriesOne More Audience with Dame Edna
David JasonOnly Fools and Horses

1990s

YearPerformerProgrammeNetwork
1990
Rowan Atkinson*Blackadder Goes Forth*BBC One
Barry HumphriesThe Dame Edna ExperienceITV
David JasonOnly Fools and HorsesBBC One
Victoria WoodVictoria Wood
1991
David Jason*Only Fools and Horses*BBC One
Rowan AtkinsonThe Return of Mr. BeanITV
Dawn FrenchFrench and SaundersBBC Two
Nicholas LyndhurstOnly Fools and HorsesBBC One
1992
Richard Wilson*One Foot in the Grave*BBC One
Rowan AtkinsonThe Curse of Mr. BeanITV
Haydn GwynneDrop the Dead DonkeyChannel 4
Patricia RoutledgeKeeping Up AppearancesBBC One
1993
Joanna Lumley*Absolutely Fabulous*BBC One
Patricia RoutledgeKeeping Up AppearancesBBC One
Richard WilsonOne Foot in the Grave
Jennifer SaundersAbsolutely Fabulous
1994
Richard Wilson*One Foot in the Grave; One Foot in the Algarve*BBC One
Rowan AtkinsonMr. BeanITV
Rory BremnerRory Bremner...Who Else?Channel 4
Annette CrosbieOne Foot in the GraveBBC One
Paul MertonHave I Got News for YouBBC Two
1995
Rory Bremner*Rory Bremner...Who Else?*Channel 4
Michael BarrymoreBarrymoreITV
Steve CooganKnowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan PartridgeBBC Two
Victoria WoodVictoria Wood: Live in Your Own HomeBBC One
**1996
(42nd)**
Rory Bremner*Rory Bremner...Who Else?*Channel 4
Caroline AherneThe Mrs. Merton ShowBBC One
Paul MertonHave I Got News for YouBBC Two
Peter UstinovAn Evening with Peter UstinovITV
**1997
(43rd)**
John Bird & John Fortune*Rory Bremner...Who Else?/The Long John's*Channel 4
Caroline AherneThe Mrs. Merton Christmas ShowBBC One
Paul MertonHave I Got News for YouBBC Two
Rory BremnerRory Bremner... Who Else?Channel 4
**1998
(44th)**
Paul Whitehouse*The Fast Show*BBC Two
Kathy BurkeHarry Enfield & ChumsBBC One
Harry Enfield
Paul MertonHave I Got News for YouBBC Two
**1999
(45th)**
Michael Parkinson*Parkinson*BBC One
John Bird & John FortuneRory Bremner... Who Else?Channel 4
Kathy BurkeHarry Enfield's Yule Log ChumsBBC One
Billy Connolly30 Years of Billy Connolly

2000s

YearPerformerProgrammeNetwork
**2000
(46th)
**
Graham Norton*So Graham Norton*Channel 4
John Bird & John FortuneBremner, Bird and FortuneChannel 4
Sacha Baron CohenThe 11 O'Clock Show
Michael ParkinsonParkinsonBBC One
**2001
(47th)
**
Graham Norton*So Graham Norton*Channel 4
Angus DeaytonHave I Got News for YouBBC One
Paul Merton
Rory BremnerBlair Did It All Go Wrong?Channel 4
**2002
(48th)
**
Graham Norton*So Graham Norton*Channel 4
Anthony McPartlin & Declan DonnellyPop IdolITV
Paul MertonHave I Got News for YouBBC One
John Bird & John FortuneBremner, Bird and FortuneChannel 4
**2003
(49th)
**
Paul Merton*Have I Got News for You*BBC One
Sanjeev BhaskarThe Kumars at No. 42BBC Two
Meera Syal
Angus DeaytonHave I Got News for YouBBC One
**2004
(50th)
**
Jonathan Ross*Friday Night with Jonathan Ross*BBC One
Stephen FryQIBBC Four/BBC Two
Boris JohnsonHave I Got News for YouBBC One
Paul Merton
**2005
(51st)
**
Paul O'Grady*The Paul O'Grady Show*ITV
Stephen FryQIBBC Four/BBC Two
Anthony McPartlin & Declan DonnellyI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!ITV
Paul MertonHave I Got News for YouBBC One
**2006
(52nd)
**
Jonathan Ross*Friday Night with Jonathan Ross*BBC One
Jeremy ClarksonTop GearBBC Two
Jack DeeJack Dee Live at the ApolloBBC One
Noel EdmondsDeal or No DealChannel 4
**2007
(53rd)
**
Jonathan Ross*Friday Night with Jonathan Ross*BBC One
Anthony McPartlin & Declan DonnellyAnt and Dec's Saturday Night TakeawayITV
Stephen FryQIBBC Four/BBC Two
Paul MertonHave I Got News for YouBBC One
**2008
(54th)
**
Harry Hill*Harry Hill's TV Burp*ITV
Simon AmstellNever Mind the BuzzcocksBBC One
Alan Carr & Justin Lee CollinsThe Friday Night ProjectChannel 4
Stephen FryQIBBC Two
**2009
(55th)
**
Harry Hill*Harry Hill's TV Burp*ITV
Stephen FryQIBBC One/BBC Two
Anthony McPartlin & Declan DonnellyI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!ITV
Jonathan RossFriday Night with Jonathan RossBBC One

2010s

YearPerformerProgrammeNetwork
**2010
(56th)
**
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly*I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!*ITV1
Stephen FryQIBBC Two/BBC One
Harry HillHarry Hill's TV BurpITV1
Michael McIntyreMichael McIntyre's Comedy RoadshowBBC One
**2011
(57th)
**
Graham Norton*The Graham Norton Show*BBC One
Rob BrydonThe Rob Brydon ShowBBC Two
Stephen FryQIBBC Two
Harry HillHarry Hill's TV BurpITV1
**2012
(58th)
**
Graham Norton*The Graham Norton Show*BBC One
Alan CarrAlan Carr: Chatty ManChannel 4
Harry HillHarry Hill's TV BurpITV1
Dara Ó BriainMock the WeekBBC Two
**2013
(59th)
**
Alan Carr*Alan Carr: Chatty Man*Channel 4
Anthony McPartlin & Declan DonnellyI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!ITV
Sarah MillicanThe Sarah Millican Television ProgrammeBBC Two
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton ShowBBC One
**2014
(60th)
**
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly*Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway*ITV
Charlie Brooker10 O'Clock LiveChannel 4
Sarah MillicanThe Sarah Millican Television ProgrammeBBC Two
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton ShowBBC One
**2015
(61st)
**
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly*Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway*ITV
Leigh FrancisCelebrity JuiceITV2
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton ShowBBC One
Claudia WinklemanStrictly Come Dancing
**2016
(62nd)
**
Leigh Francis*Celebrity Juice*ITV2
Stephen FryQIBBC Two
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton ShowBBC One
Romesh RanganathanAsian ProvocateurBBC Three
**2017
(63rd)
**
Michael McIntyre*Michael McIntyre's Big Show*BBC One
Adam HillsThe Last LegChannel 4
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton ShowBBC One
Claudia WinklemanStrictly Come Dancing
**2018
(64th)
**
Graham Norton*The Graham Norton Show*BBC One
Adam HillsThe Last LegChannel 4
Michael McIntyreMichael McIntyre's Big ShowBBC One
Sandi ToksvigQIBBC Two
**2019
(65th)
**
Lee Mack*Would I Lie To You?*BBC One
Anthony McPartlin & Declan DonnellyAnt & Dec's Saturday Night TakeawayITV
David MitchellWould I Lie To You?BBC One
Rachel ParrisThe Mash ReportBBC Two

2020s

YearPerformerProgrammeNetwork
**2020
(66th)
**
Mo Gilligan*The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan*Channel 4
Frankie BoyleFrankie Boyle's New World OrderBBC Two
Lee MackWould I Lie To You?BBC One
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton Show
**2021
(67th)
**
Romesh Ranganathan*The Ranganation*BBC Two
Adam HillsThe Last LegChannel 4
Bradley WalshBeat the ChasersITV
Claudia WinklemanStrictly Come DancingBBC One
David MitchellWould I Lie to You? at Christmas
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton Show
**2022
(68th)**
Big Zuu*Big Zuu's Big Eats*Dave
Alison HammondI Can See Your VoiceBBC One
Michael McIntyreMichael McIntyre's The Wheel
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton Show
Joe LycettJoe Lycett's Got Your BackChannel 4
Sean Lock8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
**2023
(69th)**
Claudia Winkleman*The Traitors*BBC One
Lee MackThe 1% ClubITV
Mo GilliganThe Lateish Show with Mo GilliganChannel 4
Rosie JonesRosie Jones' Trip Hazard
Big ZuuBig Zuu's Big EatsDave
Sue PerkinsSue Perkins: Perfectly LegalNetflix
2024
(70th)
Joe Lycett*Late Night Lycett*Channel 4
Anthony McPartlin and Declan DonnellyI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!ITV
Big ZuuBig Zuu's Big EatsDave
Hannah WaddinghamEurovision Song Contest 2023 BBC One
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton Show
Rob Beckett & Romesh RanganathanRob & Romesh VsSky Max
2025
(71st)
Joe Lycett*Late Night Lycett*Channel 4
Claudia WinklemanThe TraitorsBBC One
Stacey SolomonSort Your Life Out
Graham NortonThe Graham Norton Show
Anthony McPartlin & Declan DonnellyAnt & Dec's Saturday Night TakeawayITV1
Romesh Ranganathan & Rob BeckettRob & Romesh VsSky Max

Performers with multiple wins and nominations

Multiple wins

The following people have been awarded the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance multiple times: 6 wins

  • Graham Norton

4 wins

  • Ronnie Barker
  • Nigel Hawthorne
  • Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise

3 wins

  • Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly
  • Romesh Ranganathan
  • Jonathan Ross

2 wins

  • Rowan Atkinson
  • Rory Bremner
  • Harry Hill
  • Richard Wilson
  • Victoria Wood
  • Joe Lycett

Multiple nominations

The following people have been nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance multiple times: 13 nominations

  • Graham Norton

12 nominations

  • Ronnie Barker

10 nominations

  • Paul Merton

8 nominations

  • Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly
  • Stephen Fry

7 nominations

  • Rowan Atkinson

5 nominations

  • Rory Bremner
  • Ronnie Corbett
  • Harry Hill
  • David Jason
  • Victoria Wood

4 nominations

  • Stanley Baxter
  • John Bird & John Fortune
  • John Cleese
  • Paul Eddington
  • Nigel Hawthorne
  • Barry Humphries
  • Arthur Lowe
  • Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise
  • Jonathan Ross
  • Claudia Winkleman

3 nominations

  • Alan Carr
  • Judi Dench
  • Adam Hills
  • Penelope Keith
  • Michael McIntyre
  • Leonard Rossiter
  • Richard Wilson
  • Lee Mack

2 nominations

  • Caroline Aherne
  • Dave Allen
  • Kathy Burke
  • Angus Deayton
  • Leigh Francis
  • Dawn French
  • Nicholas Lyndhurst
  • Sarah Millican
  • David Mitchell
  • Michael Parkinson
  • Romesh Ranganathan
  • Patricia Routledge
  • Mo Gilligan
  • Big Zuu

References

References

  1. "Arqiva British Academy Television Awards". Bafta.org.
  2. "Television – 1965". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
  3. "Awards Database – The BAFTA site". Bafta.org.
  4. "Awards Database – The BAFTA site". Bafta.org.
  5. "Awards Database – The BAFTA site". Bafta.org.
  6. "Awards Database – The BAFTA site". Bafta.org.
  7. Kanter, Jake. (2020-07-31). "BAFTA TV Awards Winners: Night Of Surprises, As 'Chernobyl' & 'The End Of The F***ing World' Take Two Prizes Each".
  8. (2021-04-28). "BAFTA TV 2021: Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards".
  9. (30 March 2022). "Bafta TV awards 2022: full list of nominations".
  10. Ritman, Alex. (22 March 2023). "BAFTA TV Awards: 'This is Going to Hurt,' 'The Responder' Lead Pack of Nominees". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
  11. (14 May 2023). "Bafta TV awards 2023: the full list of winners". The Guardian.
  12. Szalai, Georg. (March 20, 2024). "BAFTA TV Awards: 'The Crown,' 'Black Mirror' Lead Nominations".
  13. Richardson, Hollie. (27 March 2025). "Bafta TV awards 2025 nominations: full list". [[The Guardian]].
  14. Kanter, Jake. (11 May 2025). "BAFTA TV Awards Complete Winners: 'Mr Bates Vs The Post Office' & 'Mr Loverman' Win Big Prizes". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
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