British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance

Film award From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
First award1969 (presented in 1970)
Currently held byBob Mortimer for LOL: Last One Laughing UK (2026)
Quick facts for Best Entertainment Performance, Country ...
British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance
2026 Recipient: Bob Mortimer
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
First award1969 (presented in 1970)
Currently held byBob Mortimer for LOL: Last One Laughing UK (2026)
Websitehttp://www.bafta.org/
Close

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.[1]
  • 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

Comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore won the award for Not Only... But Also in 1966, the first time the award presented nominees.
Alan Bennett won the award twice, in 1967 and 1968.

1950s

More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer
1958
Tony Hancock
1959
Alan Melville
Close

1960s

More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer Programme
1960
Tony Hancock
1961
Stanley Baxter
1962
Eric Sykes
1963
Michael Bentine
1964
Morecambe and Wise
1965
Millicent Martin
1966[2]
Peter Cook, Dudley Moore Not Only... But Also
John Bird Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life
Charlie Drake The Worker
Benny Hill The Benny Hill Show
Terry Scott Scott 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
Close
Ronnie Corbett won for The Two Ronnies in 1972.
Ronnie Barker was won four times, 1972, 1976, 1978 and 1979, for The Two Ronnies, Porridge and Going Straight.
Penelope Keith won for The Good Life in 1977.

1970s

More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer Programme
1970
[3]
Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise The Morecambe and Wise Show
Ronnie Barker Hark at Barker
John Cleese Monty Python's Flying Circus
Spike Milligan The World of Beachcomber; Q.5; Curry and Chips
1971
Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise The Morecambe and Wise Show
John Cleese Monty Python's Flying Circus
Ronnie Corbett Frost Show; No – That's Me Over Here!
Frankie Howerd Up Pompeii!
Arthur Lowe Dad's Army
1972
Ronnie Barker & Ronnie Corbett The Two Ronnies
Dick Emery The Dick Emery Show
Benny Hill The Benny Hill Show
1973
Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise The Morecambe and Wise Show
Arthur Lowe Dad's Army
Monty Python Team Monty Python's Flying Circus
1974
Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise The Morecambe and Wise Show
Dave Allen Dave Allen At Large
Stanley Baxter The Stanley Baxter Big Picture Show
Ronnie Barker & Ronnie Corbett The Two Ronnies
1975
Stanley Baxter The Moving Picture Show
Ronnie Barker Porridge
Michael Crawford Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Arthur Lowe Dad's Army
1976
Ronnie Barker Porridge
Ronnie Barker & Ronnie Corbett The Two Ronnies
Stanley Baxter The Stanley Picture Show Part III
John Cleese Fawlty Towers
1977
Penelope Keith The Good Life
Ronnie Barker Open All Hours; The Two Ronnies
Richard Briers The Good Life; One-Upmanship
Leonard Rossiter The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
1978
Ronnie Barker Porridge & The Two Ronnies
Penelope Keith The Good Life; The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show
Arthur Lowe Dad's Army
Leonard Rossiter The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin; Rising Damp
1979
Ronnie Barker Going Straight & The Two Ronnies
Leonard Rossiter The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin; The Losers; Rising Damp
Donald Sinden Two's Company
Elaine Stritch
Close
John Cleese won in 1980 for Fawlty Towers.
Rowan Atkinson has won this award twice, for Not the Nine O'Clock News (1981) and Blackadder Goes Forth (1990).
Tracey Ullman won for Three of a Kind in 1984.
Judi Dench won for A Fine Romance in 1985.
Victoria Wood was won twice, for Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV (1986) and An Audience with Victoria Wood (1989).

1980s

More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer Programme
1980
[4]
John Cleese Fawlty Towers
Ronnie Barker The Two Ronnies
Penelope Keith To The Manor Born
Andrew Sachs Fawlty Towers
1981
Rowan Atkinson Not the Nine O'Clock News
Barry Humphries An Audience with Dame Edna Everage
Maureen Lipman Agony
Pamela Stephenson Not the Nine O'Clock News
1982
Nigel Hawthorne Yes Minister
Dave Allen The Dave Allen Show
Paul Eddington Yes Minister
Stanley Baxter The Stanley Baxter Series
1983
Nigel Hawthorne Yes Minister
Rowan Atkinson Not the Nine O'Clock News
Judi Dench A Fine Romance
Paul Eddington Yes Minister & Let There Be Love
1984
Tracey Ullman Three of a Kind
Ronnie Barker & Ronnie Corbett The Two Ronnies
Judi Dench A Fine Romance
Jasper Carrot Carrot's Lib
1985
Judi Dench A Fine Romance
Lenny Henry The Lenny Henry Show
Julia McKenzie Fresh Fields
Ruth Madoc Hi-de-Hi!
Paul Nicholas Just Good Friends
1986
Victoria Wood Victoria Wood As Seen On TV
Ronnie Barker Open All Hours & The Two Ronnies
David Jason Only Fools and Horses
Gorden Kaye 'Allo 'Allo!
1987
Nigel Hawthorne Yes, Prime Minister
David Jason Only Fools and Horses
Nicholas Lyndhurst
Paul Eddington Yes, Prime Minister
Julie Walters Victoria Wood As Seen On TV
Victoria Wood
1988
Nigel Hawthorne Yes, Prime Minister
Rowan Atkinson Blackadder the Third
Paul Eddington Yes, Prime Minister
Barry Humphries The Dame Edna Experience
1989
Victoria Wood An Audience with Victoria Wood
Dawn French French and Saunders
Barry Humphries One More Audience with Dame Edna
David Jason Only Fools and Horses
Close
David Jason won for Only Fools and Horses in 1991.
Richard Wilson has won twice, in 1992 and 1994, both for One Foot in the Grave.
Joanna Lumley won for Absolutely Fabulous in 1993.
Rory Bremner won two consecutive times, both for Rory Bremner...Who Else? in 1995 and 1996.

1990s

More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer Programme Network
1990
[5]
Rowan Atkinson Blackadder Goes Forth BBC One
Barry Humphries The Dame Edna Experience ITV
David Jason Only Fools and Horses BBC One
Victoria Wood Victoria Wood
1991
David Jason Only Fools and Horses BBC One
Rowan Atkinson The Return of Mr. Bean ITV
Dawn French French and Saunders BBC Two
Nicholas Lyndhurst Only Fools and Horses BBC One
1992
Richard Wilson One Foot in the Grave BBC One
Rowan Atkinson The Curse of Mr. Bean ITV
Haydn Gwynne Drop the Dead Donkey Channel 4
Patricia Routledge Keeping Up Appearances BBC One
1993
Joanna Lumley Absolutely Fabulous BBC One
Patricia Routledge Keeping Up Appearances BBC One
Richard Wilson One Foot in the Grave
Jennifer Saunders Absolutely Fabulous
1994
Richard Wilson One Foot in the Grave; One Foot in the Algarve BBC One
Rowan Atkinson Mr. Bean ITV
Rory Bremner Rory Bremner...Who Else? Channel 4
Annette Crosbie One Foot in the Grave BBC One
Paul Merton Have I Got News for You BBC Two
1995
Rory Bremner Rory Bremner...Who Else? Channel 4
Michael Barrymore Barrymore ITV
Steve Coogan Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge BBC Two
Victoria Wood Victoria Wood: Live in Your Own Home BBC One
1996
(42nd)
Rory Bremner Rory Bremner...Who Else? Channel 4
Caroline Aherne The Mrs. Merton Show BBC One
Paul Merton Have I Got News for You BBC Two
Peter Ustinov An Evening with Peter Ustinov ITV
1997
(43rd)
John Bird & John Fortune Rory Bremner...Who Else?/The Long John's Channel 4
Caroline Aherne The Mrs. Merton Christmas Show BBC One
Paul Merton Have I Got News for You BBC Two
Rory Bremner Rory Bremner... Who Else? Channel 4
1998
(44th)
Paul Whitehouse The Fast Show BBC Two
Kathy Burke Harry Enfield & Chums BBC One
Harry Enfield
Paul Merton Have I Got News for You BBC Two
1999
(45th)
Michael Parkinson Parkinson BBC One
John Bird & John Fortune Rory Bremner... Who Else? Channel 4
Kathy Burke Harry Enfield's Yule Log Chums BBC One
Billy Connolly 30 Years of Billy Connolly
Close
Graham Norton was won the award six times, three for So Graham Norton (2000–2002) and The Graham Norton Show (2011, 2012 and 2018).
Paul Merton won for Have I Got News for You in 2003.
Jonathan Ross has won three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2007, all three for Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.
Paul O'Grady won for The Paul O'Grady Show in 2005.
Harry Hill has won two consecutive times in 2008 and 2009, both for Harry Hill's TV Burp.

2000s

More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer Programme Network
2000
(46th)
[6]
Graham Norton So Graham Norton Channel 4
John Bird & John Fortune Bremner, Bird and Fortune Channel 4
Sacha Baron Cohen The 11 O'Clock Show
Michael Parkinson Parkinson BBC One
2001
(47th)
Graham Norton So Graham Norton Channel 4
Angus Deayton Have I Got News for You BBC One
Paul Merton
Rory Bremner Blair Did It All Go Wrong? Channel 4
2002
(48th)
Graham Norton So Graham Norton Channel 4
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly Pop Idol ITV
Paul Merton Have I Got News for You BBC One
John Bird & John Fortune Bremner, Bird and Fortune Channel 4
2003
(49th)
Paul Merton Have I Got News for You BBC One
Sanjeev Bhaskar The Kumars at No. 42 BBC Two
Meera Syal
Angus Deayton Have I Got News for You BBC One
2004
(50th)
Jonathan Ross Friday Night with Jonathan Ross BBC One
Stephen Fry QI BBC Four/BBC Two
Boris Johnson Have I Got News for You BBC One
Paul Merton
2005
(51st)
Paul O'Grady The Paul O'Grady Show ITV
Stephen Fry QI BBC Four/BBC Two
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! ITV
Paul Merton Have I Got News for You BBC One
2006
(52nd)
Jonathan Ross Friday Night with Jonathan Ross BBC One
Jeremy Clarkson Top Gear BBC Two
Jack Dee Jack Dee Live at the Apollo BBC One
Noel Edmonds Deal or No Deal Channel 4
2007
(53rd)
Jonathan Ross Friday Night with Jonathan Ross BBC One
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway ITV
Stephen Fry QI BBC Four/BBC Two
Paul Merton Have I Got News for You BBC One
2008
(54th)
Harry Hill Harry Hill's TV Burp ITV
Simon Amstell Never Mind the Buzzcocks BBC One
Alan Carr & Justin Lee Collins The Friday Night Project Channel 4
Stephen Fry QI BBC Two
2009
(55th)
Harry Hill Harry Hill's TV Burp ITV
Stephen Fry QI BBC One/BBC Two
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! ITV
Jonathan Ross Friday Night with Jonathan Ross BBC One
Close
Ant McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly (right) won three times, for I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2010) and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2014 and 2015).
Alan Carr won for Alan Carr: Chatty Man in 2013.
Leigh Francis won for Celebrity Juice in 2016.
Michael McIntyre won for Michael McIntyre's Big Show in 2017.
Lee Mack won for Would I Lie to You? in 2019.

2010s

More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer Programme Network
2010
(56th)
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! ITV1
Stephen Fry QI BBC Two/BBC One
Harry Hill Harry Hill's TV Burp ITV1
Michael McIntyre Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow BBC One
2011
(57th)
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One
Rob Brydon The Rob Brydon Show BBC Two
Stephen Fry QI BBC Two
Harry Hill Harry Hill's TV Burp ITV1
2012
(58th)
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One
Alan Carr Alan Carr: Chatty Man Channel 4
Harry Hill Harry Hill's TV Burp ITV1
Dara Ó Briain Mock the Week BBC Two
2013
(59th)
Alan Carr Alan Carr: Chatty Man Channel 4
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! ITV
Sarah Millican The Sarah Millican Television Programme BBC Two
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One
2014
(60th)
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway ITV
Charlie Brooker 10 O'Clock Live Channel 4
Sarah Millican The Sarah Millican Television Programme BBC Two
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One
2015
(61st)
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway ITV
Leigh Francis Celebrity Juice ITV2
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One
Claudia Winkleman Strictly Come Dancing
2016
(62nd)
Leigh Francis Celebrity Juice ITV2
Stephen Fry QI BBC Two
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One
Romesh Ranganathan Asian Provocateur BBC Three
2017
(63rd)
Michael McIntyre Michael McIntyre's Big Show BBC One
Adam Hills The Last Leg Channel 4
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One
Claudia Winkleman Strictly Come Dancing
2018
(64th)
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One
Adam Hills The Last Leg Channel 4
Michael McIntyre Michael McIntyre's Big Show BBC One
Sandi Toksvig QI BBC Two
2019
(65th)
Lee Mack Would I Lie To You? BBC One
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway ITV
David Mitchell Would I Lie To You? BBC One
Rachel Parris The Mash Report BBC Two
Close
Mo Gilligan won for The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan in 2020.
Romesh Ranganathan won for The Ranganation in 2021.
Claudia Winkleman won for The Traitors in 2023.

2020s

More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer Programme Network
2020
(66th)
[7]
Mo Gilligan The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan Channel 4
Frankie Boyle Frankie Boyle's New World Order BBC Two
Lee Mack Would I Lie To You? BBC One
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show
2021
(67th)
[8]
Romesh Ranganathan The Ranganation BBC Two
Adam Hills The Last Leg Channel 4
Bradley Walsh Beat the Chasers ITV
Claudia Winkleman Strictly Come Dancing BBC One
David Mitchell Would I Lie to You? at Christmas
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show
2022
(68th)
[9]
Big Zuu Big Zuu's Big Eats Dave
Alison Hammond I Can See Your Voice BBC One
Michael McIntyre Michael McIntyre's The Wheel
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show
Joe Lycett Joe Lycett's Got Your Back Channel 4
Sean Lock 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
2023
(69th)
[10][11]
Claudia Winkleman The Traitors BBC One
Lee Mack The 1% Club ITV
Mo Gilligan The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan Channel 4
Rosie Jones Rosie Jones' Trip Hazard
Big Zuu Big Zuu's Big Eats Dave
Sue Perkins Sue Perkins: Perfectly Legal Netflix
2024
(70th)
[12]
Joe Lycett Late Night Lycett Channel 4
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! ITV
Big Zuu Big Zuu's Big Eats Dave
Hannah Waddingham Eurovision Song Contest 2023 BBC One
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show
Rob Beckett & Romesh Ranganathan Rob & Romesh Vs Sky Max
2025
(71st)
[13][14]		Joe LycettLate Night LycettChannel 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
2026
(72nd)
[15]		Bob MortimerLOL: Last One Laughing UKPrime Video
Rob Beckett & Romesh RanganathanRob & Romesh VsSky Max
Alan Carr & Amanda HoldenAmanda and Alan's Spanish JobBBC One
Lee MackThe 1% ClubITV1
Romesh RanganathanRomesh: Can't Knock the HustleSky Max
Claudia WinklemanThe Celebrity TraitorsBBC One
Close

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:

Multiple nominations

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

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI