Comic's Choice

British TV series or programme

Comic's Choice

Genre	Chat show Clip show
Written by	Bill Bailey Lee Stuart Evans
Directed by	Peter Orton
Presented by	Bill Bailey
Theme music composer	Bill Bailey
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	5 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Amanda Kean Mark Brosnan
Editor	Gavin Ames
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	45 minutes per episode
Production company	Unique Television
Original release
Network	Channel 4
Release	16 January (2011-01-16) – 20 January 2011 (2011-01-20)

Comic's Choice is a British comedy chat show hosted by the comedian Bill Bailey, and broadcast on Channel 4. The programme ran for a single series of five episodes, and was shown during January 2011. Each episode, Bailey would interview another British comedian, and invite them to discuss some of their favourite comedians or comedy television programmes.^[1] The series was produced by Unique Television Production.

History

Comic's Choice was broadcast in anticipation of the British Comedy Awards, which were being shown on Channel 4 for the first time on 22 January 2011, having been broadcast on ITV for 20 years^[2] – Comic's Choice was broadcast in the week leading up the event. The five guests on the show were Alan Davies, Lee Mack, Jo Brand, Jessica Hynes and Sean Lock.^[3] Each guest picked three nominations for various British Comedy Award categories (such as Best Sitcom and Best Male Comic), and would then discuss them and select their winner during the episode. Discussing the show, its producers stated: "With other smaller, alternative categories and audience interaction thrown in, the show will be not just informative and entertaining – but fun, funny and memorable."^[4]

Reviews of Comic's Choice were generally positive, with Steven Cookson of Suite 101 describing it as "a great deal of fun".^[5] Bailey's hosting was praised, with Tom Sutcliffe of The Independent calling him the programme's "saving grace", and stating: "[He's] got a manner that somehow makes the format work."^[6] A review of a more critical nature came from Henry Venning of The Stage, who described the show's format as "flimsy" and "confusing".^[7]

Episodes

Winners are given in bold. The Guilty Pleasure category had only one nominee.

No.

Title

Directed by

Written by

Original airdate

"Alan Davies"

Peter Orton

Bill Bailey
Lee Stuart Evans

16 January 2011 (2011-01-16)

Best Male Comic:

Dave Allen
Noel Fielding
Tony Hancock

Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist:

Sacha Baron Cohen
Chris Morris
Isy Suttie

Best Comedy Actor:

Guilty Pleasure:

It Ain't Half Hot Mum

Best Comedy Entertainment Programme:

The Morecambe & Wise Show
Tiswas
The Graham Norton Show

"Lee Mack"

Peter Orton

Bill Bailey
Lee Stuart Evans

17 January 2011 (2011-01-17)

Best Male Comic:

Outstanding Contribution to Comedy:

Guilty Pleasure:

Freddie Starr

Best Comedy Actor:

Best Comedy Entertainment Programme:

Shooting Stars
Friday Night Live
An Audience with Kenneth Williams

"Jo Brand"

Peter Orton

Bill Bailey
Lee Stuart Evans

18 January 2011 (2011-01-18)

Best Female Comic:

Best Sitcom:

Best Children's Comedy:

Horrible Histories
Sorry, I've Got No Head
The Basil Brush Show

Best Comedy Panel Show:

Have I Got News for You
Would I Lie to You?
QI

Outstanding Contribution to Comedy:

"Jessica Hynes"

Peter Orton

Bill Bailey
Lee Stuart Evans

19 January 2011 (2011-01-19)

Best Comedy Actress:

Best Sketch Show:

Best British Comedy Performance in Film:

Margaret Rutherford in Blithe Spirit
Christopher Guest in This Is Spinal Tap
Norman Wisdom in The Early Bird

Best Black Comedy:

Steptoe and Son
Human Remains
Derek and Clive

The Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award:

Craig Cash & Caroline Aherne, The Royle Family
Noel Fielding & Julian Barratt, The Mighty Boosh
Connie Booth & John Cleese, Fawlty Towers

"Sean Lock"

Peter Orton

Bill Bailey
Lee Stuart Evans

20 January 2011 (2011-01-20)

Best Sitcom:

Porridge
I'm Alan Partridge
Father Ted

Best Stand-up:

Best Comedy Actress:

Best Comedy Entertainment Personality:

References

^ "Biography (Part Two)". Billbailey.co.uk. 2011. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
^ Lambert, Doug (23 January 2011). "Miranda Hart wins big at British Comedy Awards". Felling, Tyne and Wear: ATV Today. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
^ O'Donovan, Gerard (13 January 2011). "Today's TV highlights". The Daily Telegraph. London. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 613316876. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
^ "Bill Bailey talks funny". Chortle. 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
^ Cookson, Steven (17 January 2011). "Comic's Choice: Alan Davies on Channel 4". Vancouver: Suite 101. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
^ Sutcliffe, Tom (17 January 2011). "The Weekend's TV: Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait, Sun, Channel 4, Comic's Choice, Sun, Channel 4". The Independent. London. ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 240904920. Archived from the original on 18 January 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
^ Venning, Harry (21 January 2011). "TV review". The Stage. London: The Stage Media. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.