Award-winner Brand gets the last laugh

CONTROVERSIAL comic Russell Brand won best stand-up comedian at the British Comedy Awards last night.

Brand, who quit his Radio 2 show in the wake of the Andrew Sachs prank calls scandal, accepted the award to rapturous applause – and dedicated the honour to his "king maker", and fellow accused, Jonathon Ross. Brand, who was not present at the ceremony because of work commitments in the US, made his speech via video link.

Scottish comedian Ashley Jensen, star of Extras and Ugly Betty, was beaten to the Best Comedy Acress award by Sharon Horgan of the BBC3 show Pulling, while Ricky Gervais took the award for Best Comedy Actor. Alan Carr won the award for Best Comedy Entertainment Personality.