Brand dedicates comedy award to Ross

Russell Brand last night dedicated his British Comedy Award to Jonathan Ross - who pulled out of hosting the show after the pair's lewd phone calls to Andrew Sachs.

Neither star was at last night's award ceremony in London's Television Centre but Brand sent a video message to accept the gong.

Brand, who won Best Live Stand-Up Performer of 2008 to huge cheers, said: "There are no comedy awards without Jonathan. He was the king maker."

He was accompanied by Hollywood star Adam Sandler and raised huge laughter when he asked him if he would like to do a radio show. "I'm very good on the wireless," he said. "It's where I come to life."

Burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese put to rest rumours about her relationship with Brand.

She said: "I will not be sh***ing Russell Brand.

"They had it all set up in the press that we already did so I thought I might as well not bother."

She said that she had been on the receiving end of one of the comedian's prank radio calls - that would often feature in his Radio 2 show - but she said she had the "good feminine intuition" not to answer.

"I can totally handle guys like that," she said.

Despite his absence, Ross's influence was still felt.

Stand-in host Angus Deayton opened the awards with a series of gags about the prank calls row.

Deayton joked: "Normally it's the winners who can't be here tonight but in this case it's the host."

Speaking about the complaints about Brand's Radio 2 show, Deayton talked about the "30,000 self-righteous t**ts who never heard the programme in the first place".

Ross's show 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross' lost out in the Best Comedy Entertainment Programme 2008 section to Harry Hill's 'TV Burp'.

Ricky Gervais won Best TV Comedy Actor 2008, beating 'Peep Show' star David Mitchell and 'Gavin and Stacey' writer and actor James Corden.

Gervais gave his acceptance speech via a video in which he was dressed in pyjamas and sharing a bed with George Michael.

Gervais joked: "I can't be bothered to be here there in person... it's beneath me, to be honest."

Speaking about the 'Extras Christmas Special' which he won the award for he said: "Gordon Ramsay plays a foul-mouthed egomaniac" and George Michael plays a man who "likes to look for c**k in the bushes".

He said he couldn't think where he got his ideas from and turning to the singer asked: "Why aren't you wearing pyjama bottoms?"

'Have I Got News For You', which Deayton used to front, lost out to 'QI' in the Best Comedy Panel Show of 2008 category.

'Golden Balls' host Jasper Carrott picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award, handed to him by Robert Powell.

Speaking about the Ross and Brand row, Carrott said: "People say to me: 'What's the future of British comedy?'

"I'm looking around tonight and it's in good hands and I mean that.

"I'm passing the mantle over to you. Treat it well."

He said: "I would like to start off by thanking everybody in the world. Hope I haven't left anybody out."

Reading out a list of previous recipients of the gong he said: "They're all dead."

Frank Skinner took to the stage to announce the Best TV Comedy of 2008.

He joked to Deayton: "You're suspension's dragging on a bit."

Deayton said: "Yes I know, six years now."

Deayton told Skinner he heard he had taken all of the swear words out of his act.

Skinner said: "That's a provocation isn't it, I'm not going to rise to that."

Referring to sponsors Highland Spring, Skinner said the water did make him feel good "but I'm a recovering alcoholic.

"Of course it doesn't make me feel as good as the drink used to."

'Gavin and Stacey' won the Best TV Comedy Award and Corden said it "means the world".

There was a poignant moment when the late comedy producer Geoffrey Perkins was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Comedy Award.

The former BBC TV head of comedy died three months ago aged 55.

Perkins first made his mark as a radio producer on the classic 'The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy', and he worked with comedians including Deayton, Catherine Tate and Harry Enfield.

Hollywood actress and the Licks singer Juliette Lewis presented Best Comedy Drama of 2008 to darkly comic BBC3 show 'Drop Dead Gorgeous'.

Television writer David Renwick, who is known for 'One Foot in the Grave' as well as mystery series 'Jonathan Creek', was given the Ronnie Barker Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award.

Best New British Comedy went to 'The Inbetweeners', a series about a group of teenagers.

Those who went to collect the award were pelted with food as Kevin Bishop, who had been in the running for the award with 'The Kevin Bishop show', heckled the winners.

Katy Brand won Best Female Comedy Newcomer for 'Katy Brand's Big Ass Show'.

Brand said: "I'll keep it brief because I'm f***ing terrified of Kevin Bishop."

To cheers she said: "F*** you Bishop."

Best Male Comedy Newcomer of 2008 went to 'The Inbetweeners' star Simon Bird.