# British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series)

The British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Programme or Series was first presented at the 1981 ceremony. According to British Academy of Film and Television Arts the category "includes programmes that capture the idea of comedy being central to the editorial of the programme and includes panel-led shows, chat shows where comic content plays a big part, stand-up and comedy clip shows".
Since the 2000 BAFTA TV Award ceremony there has been a separate award category for Best Situation Comedy. This category had previously been presented from 1973-1980 (when there was no Best Comedy Series award). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s 'Situation Comedies' were included in the Best Comedy Programme or Series category.
Name variations for this category:
* 1981–1992: Best Comedy Series
* 1992–2007: Best Comedy Programme or Series
* 2007–2013: Best Comedy Programme
* 2014–present: Best Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Programme

## Winners and nominees
### 1960s

Best Comedy Series
| Year | Recipient(s) | Title |
| 1965 | Joe McGrath | Joe McGrath |
| 1966 | Michael Mills | The World Of Wooster Comedy Playhouse: Sam The Samaritan 90 Years On - Churchill Birthday Programme |
| 1966 | Dick Clement | The Likely Lads Comedy Playhouse: Barnaby Spoot and the Exploding Whoopee Cushion |
| 1966 | David Croft | Hugh and I A Slight Case of... Dick Emery Show |
| 1966 | Shaun O'Riordan | The Worker The Tigers Are Burning Emergency Ward Ten The Braden Beat Front Page Story |
| 1967 | Dick Clement | Dick Clement |
| 1968 | Michael Mills | Michael Mills |

### 1980s

Best Comedy Series
| Year | Title | Recipient(s) | Broadcaster |
| 1981 | Yes Minister | Sydney Lotterby | BBC Two |
| 1981 | Agony | John Reardon | ITV |
| 1981 | Shelley | Anthony Parker | ITV |
| 1981 | Butterflies | Sydney Lotterby, John B Hobbs | BBC Two |
| 1981 | To the Manor Born | Gareth Gwenlan | BBC One |
| 1982 | Yes Minister | Peter Whitmore | BBC Two |
| 1982 | A Fine Romance | James Cellan Jones | ITV |
| 1982 | Hi-de-Hi! | David Croft, John Kilby | BBC One |
| 1982 | To the Manor Born | Gareth Gwenlan | BBC One |
| 1983 | Yes Minister | Peter Whitmore | BBC Two |
| 1983 | Hi-de-Hi! | David Croft, John Kilby | BBC One |
| 1983 | Last of the Summer Wine | Alan J. W. Bell | BBC One |
| 1983 | A Fine Romance | James Cellan Jones | ITV |
| 1984 | Hi-de-Hi! | John Kilby | BBC One |
| 1984 | A Fine Romance | Don Leaver | ITV |
| 1984 | Last of the Summer Wine | Sydney Lotterby | BBC One |
| 1984 | Only Fools and Horses | Ray Butt | BBC One |
| 1985 | The Young Ones | Paul Jackson | BBC Two |
| 1985 | A Fine Romance | Don Leaver | ITV |
| 1985 | Hi-de-Hi! | David Croft | BBC One |
| 1985 | Just Good Friends | Ray Butt | BBC One |
| 1986 | Only Fools and Horses | Ray Butt | BBC One |
| 1986 | Last of the Summer Wine | Alan J. W. Bell | BBC One |
| 1986 | 'Allo 'Allo! | David Croft | BBC One |
| 1986 | Open All Hours | Sydney Lotterby | BBC One |
| 1987 | Just Good Friends | Sue Bysh, Ray Butt | BBC One |
| 1987 | Duty Free | Vernon Lawrence | ITV |
| 1987 | Only Fools and Horses | Ray Butt | BBC One |
| 1987 | Ever Decreasing Circles | Harold Snoad | BBC One |
| 1987 | 'Allo 'Allo! | David Croft | BBC One |
| 1987 | Yes, Prime Minister | Sydney Lotterby | BBC Two |
| 1988 | Blackadder the Third | Mandie Fletcher, John Lloyd | BBC One |
| 1988 | Ever Decreasing Circles | Harold Snoad | BBC One |
| 1988 | Bread | Robin Nash | BBC One |
| 1988 | 'Allo 'Allo! | David Croft | BBC One |
| 1988 | Yes, Prime Minister | Sydney Lotterby | BBC Two |
| 1989 | Only Fools and Horses: "Christmas Special" | Tony Dow, Gareth Gwenlan, John Sullivan | BBC One |
| 1989 | After Henry | Simon Brett, Peter Frazer-Jones | ITV |
| 1989 | Bread | Robin Nash, Carla Lane | BBC One |
| 1989 | 'Allo 'Allo! | Jeremy Lloyd, David Croft, Martin Dennis, Susan Belbin | BBC One |

### 1990s

Best Comedy Series
| Year | Title | Recipient(s) | Broadcaster |
| 1990 | Blackadder Goes Forth | Richard Boden, Richard Curtis, Ben Elton & John Lloyd | BBC One |
| 1990 | After Henry | Simon Brett, Peter Frazer-Jones | ITV |
| 1990 | The New Statesman | Tony Charles, Geoffrey Sax, Laurence Marks, Maurice Gran | ITV |
| 1990 | Only Fools and Horses | Tony Dow, Gareth Gwenlan, John Sullivan | BBC One |
| 1991 | The New Statesman | Maurice Gran, Laurence Marks, David Reynolds & Geoffrey Sax | ITV |
| 1991 | Drop the Dead Donkey | Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin, Liddy Oldroyd | Channel 4 |
| 1991 | May to December | Paul Mendelson, Verity Lambert, Sydney Lotterby | BBC One |
| 1991 | One Foot in the Grave | David Renwick, Susan Belbin | BBC One |
| 1991 | Only Fools and Horses | Tony Dow, Gareth Gwenlan, John Sullivan | BBC One |
Best Comedy Programme or Series
| Year | Title | Recipient(s) | Broadcaster |
| 1992 | One Foot in the Grave | Susan Belbin, David Renwick | BBC One |
| 1992 | The Curse of Mr. Bean | Richard Curtis, Robin Driscoll, Rowan Atkinson, John Howard Davies | ITV |
| 1992 | Drop the Dead Donkey | Guy Jenkin, Andy Harnilton, Liddy Oldroyd | Channel 4 |
| 1992 | Only Fools and Horses | Tony Dow, Gareth Gwenlan, John Sullivan | BBC One |
| 1993 | Absolutely Fabulous | Jon Plowman, Jennifer Saunders, Bob Spiers | BBC Two |
| 1993 | One Foot in the Grave | Susan Belbin, David Renwick | BBC One |
| 1993 | Birds of a Feather | Terry Kinane, Laurence Marks, Maurice Gran, Candida Julian-Jones | BBC One |
| 1993 | Waiting for God | Gareth Gwenlan, Michael Aitkens | BBC One |
| 1994 | Drop the Dead Donkey | Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin, Liddy Oldroyd | Channel 4 |
| 1994 | Rab C. Nesbitt | Colin Gilbert, Ian Pattison | BBC Two |
| 1994 | Chef! | Charlie Hanson, John Birkin, Peter Tilbury | BBC One |
| 1994 | Desmond's | Humphrey Barclay, Paulette Randall, Jan Sargent | Channel 4 |
| 1995 | Three Fights, Two Weddings and a Funeral | Geoff Posner, David Tyler | BBC Two |
| 1995 | Absolutely Fabulous | Jon Plowman, Bob Spiers, Jennifer Saunders | BBC One |
| 1995 | One Foot in the Grave | Susan Belbin, David Renwick | BBC One |
| 1995 | Drop the Dead Donkey | Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin, Liddy Oldroyd | Channel 4 |
| 1996 | Father Ted | Graham Linehan, Declan Lowney, Arthur Matthews, Geoffrey Perkins | Channel 4 |
| 1996 | One Foot in the Grave | Susan Belbin, David Renwick | BBC One |
| 1996 | Absolutely Fabulous | Jon Plowman, Bob Spiers, Jennifer Saunders | BBC One |
| 1996 | Men Behaving Badly | Beryl Vertue, Martin Dennis, Simon Nye | BBC One |
| 1997 | Only Fools and Horses | Tony Dow, Gareth Gwenlan & John Sullivan | BBC One |
| 1997 | Father Ted | Lissa Evans, Graham Linehan, Declan Lowney, Arthur Matthews | Channel 4 |
| 1997 | Absolutely Fabulous | Jon Plowman, Janice Thomas, Bob Spiers, Jennifer Saunders | BBC One |
| 1997 | Game On | Geoffrey Perkins, Sioned Wiliam, John Stroud, Andrew Davies, Bernadette Davis | BBC Two |
| 1998 | I'm Alan Partridge | Peter Baynham, Dominic Brigstocke, Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci | BBC Two |
| 1998 | One Foot in the Grave | Esta Charkham, Christine Gernon, David Renwick | BBC One |
| 1998 | The Vicar of Dibley | Jon Plowman, Sue Vertue, Dewi Humphreys, Richard Curtis, Paul Mayhew-Archer | BBC One |
| 1998 | Men Behaving Badly | Beryl Vertue, Martin Dennis, Simon Nye | BBC One |
| 1999 | Father Ted | Andy DeEmmony, Lissa Evans, Graham Linehan, Arthur Matthews | Channel 4 |
| 1999 | The Vicar of Dibley | Jon Plowman, Sue Vertue, Dewi Humphreys, Richard Curtis, Paul Mayhew-Archer | BBC One |
| 1999 | Dinnerladies | Geoff Posner, Victoria Wood | BBC One |
| 1999 | The Royle Family | Glenn Wilhide, Mark Mylod, Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, Henry Normal | BBC Two |

### 2000s

Best Comedy Programme or Series
| Year | Title | Recipient(s) | Broadcaster |
| 2000 | The League of Gentlemen | The League of Gentlemen | BBC Two |
| 2000 | Best of Ali G | Dan Mazer, James Bobin | Channel 4 |
| 2000 | Smack the Pony | Victoria Pile, Dominic Brigstocke | Channel 4 |
| 2000 | People Like Us | Jon Plowman, Paul Schlesinger, John Morton | BBC Two |
| 2001 | Da Ali G Show | Da Ali G Show | Channel 4 |
| 2001 | Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned | David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, Peter Orton | ITV |
| 2001 | Smack the Pony | Victoria Pile and the production team | Channel 4 |
| 2001 | Victoria Wood with All The Trimmings | Jemma Rodgers, John Birkin, Victoria Wood | BBC One |
| 2002 | The Sketch Show | The Sketch Show | ITV |
| 2002 | Brass Eye Special | Chris Morris, Phil Clarke, Tristram Shapeero | Channel 4 |
| 2002 | Bremner, Bird and Fortune | Geoff Atkinson, Steve Connelly, David G. Croft | Channel 4 |
| 2002 | The Kumars at No. 42 | Richard Pinto, Sharat Sardana, Lissa Evans | BBC Two |
| 2003 | Alistair McGowan's Big Impression | Gareth Carrivick, Charlie Hanson, Alistair McGowan | BBC One |
| 2003 | Smack the Pony | Victoria Pile, Steve Connelly | Channel 4 |
| 2003 | Bremner, Bird and Fortune | Geoff Atkinson, Steve Connelly, David G. Croft | Channel 4 |
| 2003 | Look Around You | Robert Popper, Peter Serafinowicz, Tim Kirkby | BBC Two |
| 2004 | Little Britain | Matt Lucas, Myfanwy Moore, David Walliams | BBC Three |
| 2004 | Bo' Selecta! | Spencer Millman, Leigh Francis, Ben Palmer | Channel 4 |
| 2004 | Creature Comforts: Cats or Dogs | Julie Lockhart, Richard Goleszowski, Nick Park | ITV1 |
| 2004 | Doubletake | Doubletake | BBC Two |
| 2005 | Little Britain | Geoff Posner, Matt Lipsey, Matt Lucas, David Walliams | BBC One |
| 2005 | The Catherine Tate Show | Geoffrey Perkins, Gordon Anderson, Catherine Tate | BBC Two |
| 2005 | Harry Hill's TV Burp | Nick Symons, Peter Orton, Harry Hill | ITV |
| 2005 | The Mark Steel Lectures | Jon Rolph, Michael Cumming, Mark Steel | BBC Four |
| 2006 | Help | Jane Berthoud, Chris Langham, Declan Lowney, Paul Whitehouse | BBC Two |
| 2006 | The Catherine Tate Show | The Catherine Tate Show | BBC Two |
| 2006 | Creature Comforts | Julie Lockhart, Gareth Owen, Richard Goleszowski | ITV1 |
| 2006 | Little Britain | Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Geoff Posner, Declan Lowney | BBC One |
| 2007 | That Mitchell and Webb Look | Gareth Edwards, David Kerr, David Mitchell, Robert Webb | BBC Two |
| 2007 | The Catherine Tate Show | Gordon Anderson, Aschlin Ditta, Geoffrey Perkins, Catherine Tate | BBC Two |
| 2007 | Little Britain Abroad | Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Matt Lipsey, Geoff Posner | BBC One |
| 2007 | Little Miss Jocelyn | Gary Reich, Jemma Rodgers, Gareth Carrivick, Jocelyn Jee Esien | BBC Three |
| 2008 | Fonejacker | Kayvan Novak, Mario Stylainides, Helen Williams, Ed Tracy | E4 |
| 2008 | The Armstrong & Miller Show | Alexander Armstrong, Ben Miller, Jeremy Dyson, Mario Stylianides | BBC One |
| 2008 | Russell Brand's Ponderland | Russell Brand, Matt Morgan, Jack Bayles, Gareth Roy | Channel 4 |
| 2008 | Star Stories | Lee Hupfield, Elliot Hegarty, Kevin Bishop, Phil Clarke | Channel 4 |
| 2009 | Harry & Paul | Harry Enfield, Sandy Johnson, Geoffrey Perkins, Paul Whitehouse | BBC One |
| 2009 | The Peter Serafinowicz Show | Peter Serafinowicz, James Serafinowicz, Ben Farrell, Becky Martin | BBC Two |
| 2009 | That Mitchell and Webb Look | Gareth Edwards, David Kerr, David Mitchell, Robert Webb | BBC Two |
| 2009 | Star Stories | Lee Hupfield, Ben Palmer, Michael Livingstone, Phil Clarke | Channel 4 |

### 2010s

Best Comedy Programme or Series
| Year | Title | Recipient(s) | Broadcaster |
| 2010 | The Armstrong & Miller Show | Alexander Armstrong, Dominic Brigstocke, Ben Miller, Caroline Norris | BBC One |
| 2010 | The Kevin Bishop Show | Lee Hupfield, Kevin Bishop, Dominic Brigstocke, Sam Martin | Channel 4 |
| 2010 | Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle | Stewart Lee, Tim Kirkby, Richard Webb | BBC Two |
| 2010 | That Mitchell and Webb Look | David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Ben Gosling Fuller, Gareth Edwards | BBC Two |
| 2011 | Harry & Paul | Harry Enfield, Sandy Johnson, Izzy Mant, Paul Whitehouse | BBC One |
| 2011 | Catherine Tate's Little Cracker | Catherine Tate, Sophie Clarke-Jervoise, Izzy Mant | Sky1 |
| 2011 | Come Fly with Me | Adam Tandy, Paul King, Matt Lucas, David Walliams | BBC One |
| 2011 | Facejacker | Kayvan Novak, Ed Tracy, Mario Stylianides, Tom Thostrup | Channel 4 |
| 2012 | Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle | Tim Kirkby, Stewart Lee, Richard Webb | BBC Two |
| 2012 | Comic Strip: The Hunt for Tony Blair | Peter Richardson, Pete Richens, Nick Smith | Channel 4 |
| 2012 | Charlie Brooker's 2011 Wipe | Charlie Brooker, Al Campbell, Annabel Jones, Alison Marlow | BBC Four |
| 2012 | The Cricklewood Greats | Peter Capaldi, Tony Roche, Adam Tandy | BBC Four |
| 2013 | The Revolution Will Be Televised | Mark Talbot, Heydon Prowse, Jolyon Rubinstein, Joe Wade | BBC Three |
| 2013 | Cardinal Burns | Jenna Jones, Ben Taylor, Sebastian Cardinal, Dustin Demri-Burns | E4 |
| 2013 | Mr Stink | David Walliams, Jo Sargent, Declan Lowney, Mark Freeland | BBC One |
| 2013 | Welcome to the Places of My Life | Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons, Dave Lambert | Sky Atlantic |
Best Comedy Entertainment Programme
| Year | Title | Recipient(s) | Broadcaster |
| 2014 | A League of Their Own | Danielle Lux, Murray Boland, David Taylor, Jim Pullin | Sky One |
| 2014 | Would I Lie To You? | Peter Holmes, Ruth Phillips, Rachel Ablett, Barbara Wiltshire | BBC One |
| 2014 | The Graham Norton Show | Graham Norton, Jon Magnusson, Steve Smith, Graham Stuart | BBC One |
| 2014 | The Revolution Will Be Televised | Jolyon Rubinstein, Heydon Prowse, Mark Talbot, Joe Wade | BBC Three |
| 2015 | The Graham Norton Show | Jon Magnusson, Graham Stewart, Graham Norton, Steve Smith | BBC One |
| 2015 | Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe | Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones, Nick Vaughan-Smith, Ali Marlow | BBC Two |
| 2015 | Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle | Stewart Lee, Richard Webb, Tim Kirkby | BBC Two |
| 2015 | Would I Lie To You? | Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Ruth Phillips, Richard Cohen | BBC One |
| 2016 | Have I Got News for You | Richard Wilson, Mark Barrett, Danny Carr, Jo Bunting | BBC One |
| 2016 | Charlie Brooker's Election Wipe | Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones, Matt Hulme, Nick Vaughan | BBC Two |
| 2016 | QI | Nick King, John Lloyd, Ian Lorimer, Piers Fletcher | BBC Two |
| 2016 | Would I Lie To You? | Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Ruth Phillips, Richard Cohen | BBC One |
| 2017 | Charlie Brooker’s 2016 Wipe | Charlie Brooker’s 2016 Wipe | BBC Four |
| 2017 | Cunk on Shakespeare | Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones, Sam Ward, Lorry Powles | BBC Two |
| 2017 | The Last Leg: Live from Rio | The Last Leg: Live from Rio | Channel 4 |
| 2017 | Taskmaster | Alex Horne, Andy Cartwright, Andy Devonshire | Dave |
| 2018 | Murder in Successville | Tom Davis, Andy Brereton, Andy Spary | BBC Three |
| 2018 | Taskmaster | Alex Horne, Andy Cartwright, Andy Devonshire | Dave |
| 2018 | The Last Leg | The Last Leg | Channel 4 |
| 2018 | Would I Lie To You? | Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Ruth Phillips, Adam Copeland | BBC One |
| 2019 | A League of Their Own | David Taylor, Jack Shillaker, Ish Kalia, Murray Boland | Sky One |
| 2019 | The Big Narstie Show | Ben Wicks, Obi Kevin Akudike, Nathan Brown, Aoife Bower | Channel 4 |
| 2019 | The Last Leg | Andrew Beint, Ben Knappett, Lisa Kirk, Cimran Shah | Channel 4 |
| 2019 | Would I Lie To You? | Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Ruth Phillips, Adam Copeland | BBC One |

### 2020s

| Year | Title | Recipient(s) | Broadcaster |
| 2020 | Taskmaster | Alex Horne, Andy Devonshire, Andy Cartwright, James Taylor | Dave |
| 2020 | The Graham Norton Show | Graham Norton, Graham Stuart, Jon Magnusson, Steve Smith | BBC One |
| 2020 | The Last Leg | Ben Knappett, Andrew Beint, Lisa Kirk, Cimran Shah | Channel 4 |
| 2020 | The Ranganation | The Ranganation | BBC Two |
| 2021 |
| 2021 | The Big Narstie Show | Obi Kevin Akudike, Nathan Brown, Rina Dayalji, Ben Wicks, Toby Baker | Channel 4 |
| 2021 | Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe | Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones, Ali Marlow | BBC Two |
| BBC Two ||
| 2021 | Rob & Romesh Vs | Jack Shillaker, David Taylor, Murray Boland, Danielle Lux, Bill Righton | Sky One |
| 2022 | The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan | Rhe-an Archibald, Ben Wicks, Tim Dean, Pollyanna McGirr, David Geli, Mo Gilligan | Channel 4 |
| 2022 | The Graham Norton Show | Graham Norton, Graham Stuart, Jon Magnusson, Toby Baker, Catherine Strauss, Pete Snell | BBC One |
| 2022 | Race Around Britain | Ben Wicks, Andy Brown, Munya Chawawa, Trent Williams-Jones, Claire Cook, Kevin Muyolo | YouTube |
| 2022 | The Ranganation | Ruth Phillips, Richard Cohen, Mark Barrett, Barbara Wiltshire, Debra Blenkinsop, Helena Parkhill | BBC Two |
| 2023 | Friday Night Live | Geoff Posner, Susie Hall, Lucy Ansbro, Shane Allen | Channel 4 |
| 2023 | The Graham Norton Show | The Graham Norton Show | BBC One |
| 2023 | Would I Lie to You? | Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Barbara Wiltshire, Adam Copeland, Jake Graham, Zoe Waterman | BBC One |
| 2023 | Taskmaster | Alex Horne, Andy Devonshire, Andy Cartwright, James Taylor | Channel 4 |
| 2024 | Rob & Romesh Vs | Danielle Lux, Murray Boland, Jack Shillaker, Bill Righton, David Taylor, Graham Proud | Sky Max |
| 2024 | The Graham Norton Show | Graham Norton, Graham Stuart, Jon Magnusson, Toby Baker, Catherine Strauss, Pete Snell | BBC One |
| 2024 | Would I Lie to You? | Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Jake Graham, Zoe Waterman, Liz Clare, Barbara Wiltshire | BBC One |
| 2024 | Late Night Lycett | Late Night Lycett | Channel 4 |
Note: In BAFTA production categories, entrants are asked to submit no more than four names to be listed as nominees should the programme be nominated. If it is not possible to decide on four names the nomination credit is listed as "production team", in these cases no individual can refer to themselves as BAFTA winning. It will be the programme that is BAFTA winning, not any individual.