The British Comedy Awards: Who Will Be The King – Or Queen- of Comedy.

The British Comedy Awards sponsored by Foster’s return to Channel 4 live from 9pm on December 16 with Jonathan Ross back at the helm and ready for mischief.

Nominations will be revealed in full during a one hour Channel 4 nominations show on December 11 at 10pm, a few days before the main event is broadcast live on Channel 4 from Fountain Studios in Wembley.

Today however, we can exclusively reveal the six nominees for the prestigious People’s Choice Award for the King or Queen of Comedy – the only category where the viewers choose the winner.

Reigning Queen of Comedy Miranda Hart will be defending her crown against star of Peep Show and 10 O’clock Live presenter David Mitchell, chat show supremo and guru of all things Eurovision, Graham Norton, Fresh Meat star, Jack Whitehall, BAFTA-winning comedian, actress and author Jo Brand and stand-up sensation and panel show favourite Sarah Millican.

People can vote for their favourite by calling 0901 616 4444 and selecting the following numbers to cast their vote.*

For DAVID MITCHELL press 1

For GRAHAM NORTON press 2

For JACK WHITEHALL press 3

For JO BRAND press 4

For MIRANDA HART press 5

For SARAH MILLICAN press 6

Lines open Monday 28 November and voting closes during the awards ceremony, shortly before the winner is revealed and we find out who is officially the funniest person in Britain.

Host Jonathan Ross said: “I’ve tried, but I can’t think of a more entertaining way to spend a winters evening then watching a room full of our best and brightest comedians get slowly drunk while they wait to see which of their rivals picks up an award. Surely that’s what Christmas is all about?

“To be hosting it again, for what feels like the 87th time, is also an honour and privilege and I will do my best, like the Batman facing a room full of Jokers, to keep things running smoothly”.

There are 17 categories in this year’s British Comedy Awards, including Best New British TV Comedy, Best Sitcom, Best Comedy Actor and Actress, Lifetime Achievement Award and Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy.

Previous winners include Russell Brand, Ricky Gervais, Alan Carr, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas David Walliams. Sascha Baron Cohen and Peter Kay.

The event also attracts a star studded audience with recent guests including Goldie Hawn, Alec Baldwin, Madonna, Samuel L Jackson, Eva Mendes, Jack Black, Juliette Lewis, Matt Groening and JK Rowling.

For the latest news on this year’s event, go to www.channel4.com/britishcomedyawards.

Twitter: #ComedyAwards

TX Details

British Comedy Awards Nominations Show – Sunday 11 December at 10pm on Channel 4

British Comedy Awards – Friday 16 December live from 9pm on Channel 4

British Comedy Awards: Live Lock-In – Friday 16 December from 11pm on E4

Voting

*Calls cost 36p from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may be higher and from mobiles will cost considerably more. Touchtone phones only. Maximum 6 votes per caller. Details and Terms at channel4.com/comedyawards. Voting closes during the Comedy Awards on 16th December 2011

2010's most popular bands, comedians and shows. {Showbiz}

2010: The Year of the ‘man band’

viagogo reveals the most popular gigs of 2010

2010 was the year of the man band with Take That topping the charts as the most popular act of the past 12 months.

According to viagogo, Europe’s largest secondary ticket marketplace, 2010 was a year of testosterone-fuelled acts as the Kings of Leon and JLS complete the top three. There was just one woman in the top ten – Lady Gaga in fourth position.

The Libertines, in their intimate comeback gig at the HMV Kentish Town Forum, was the highest priced ticket of 2010.Tickets for Libertines reunion gig sold for well over the odds with the highest price ticket going for £223, £197 above face value.

Surprisingly, Cliff Richard’s recent 70’th anniversary gigs also pulled in the pennies with fans paying £136 – £76 over face value – to get a glimpse of the golden oldie.

Top 20 most popular acts of 2010

1. Take That

2. Kings of Leon

3. JLS

4. Lady Gaga

5. Michael Bublé

6. Roger Waters

7. Bon Jovi

8. Muse

9. Black Eyed Peas

10. Westlife

11. Usher

12. Katy Perry

13. Justin Bieber

14. Rhianna

15. Leona Lewis

16. Foo Fighters

17. Eric Clapton

18. Linkin Park

19. Tinie Tempah

20. Florence and the Machine

Top 10 most expensive gigs of 2010

1. The Libertines £223

2. Sade £144

3. Cliff Richard £136

4. Van Morrison £133

5. Eric Clapton £126

6. Elton John £125

7. Roxy Music £124

8. Michael Buble £122

9. Kylie Minogue £120

10. Barry Manilow £115

Ed Parkinson, director of viagogo UK said: “This year has been all about Take That with ticket sales breaking all records but other ‘man bands’ have benefitted from a year that’s been all about the boys including Kings of Leon and The reformed Libertines. The X Factor has also played a pivotal role in driving ticket demand for certain acts, with nine acts from the top 20 appearing live on the talent show this year.”

Top 10 most popular theatre shows of 2010

1. Glee Live!

2. Britain’s Got Talent

3. Flight of the Choncords

4. Lord of the Dance

5. Doctor Who Live

6. Love Never Dies

7. BBC Electric Proms

8. Strictly Come Dancing

9. Diversity

10. Les Miserbales

As for theatre, it’s TV that is driving us from our sofas to the stalls, with two

thirds (60 per cent) of shows in the top 10 most in demand theatre productions being based on the small screen

Top 10 most popular comedians of 2010

1. Michael McIntyre

2. Frankie Boyle

3. Peter Kay

4. Lee Evans

5. Ricky Gervais

6. Billy Connelly

7. John Bishop

8. Jimmy Carr

9. Dara O’Brien

10. Tim Minchin

TV dominates the most in demand comedians list as well with newly appointed Britain’s Got Talent judge Michael McIntyre topping the funnymen league, whilst Apprentice You’re Fired host Dara O’ Brien clinches ninth place. Panel show guests Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr are also cashing in on their TV fame, taking 2nd and 8th place in the most in demand comedians’ list.

Who was your favourite entertainers of 2010? Let us know.

BRITONS VOTE CHERYL COLE, PETER KAY AND JAMIE OLIVER AS THEIR TOP CHRISTMAS DAY HOST.

The nation’s sweetheart Cheryl Cole, funny man Peter Kay, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, comedian Dawn French and Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson have been voted Britons top Christmas Day hosts according to new research out today. Four out of ten adults stated they would love to receive an invitation to spend Christmas Day with one of these celebrities because they would be guaranteed a day of laughter, good food and entertaining conversation which are the three essential ingredients to make Christmas Day a success.

Making up the remainder of the top ten Christmas Dinner hosts was witty music mogul Simon Cowell, showbiz duo Ant & Dec, Friends star Jennifer Aniston, heartthrob David Beckham and singer Katy Perry.

The Travelodge poll of 6,000 Britons also revealed due to the hardship of this year 68% of adults want the warmth and love of a conventional family Yuletide gathering at their parent’s house this year – whilst a fifth of Brits, want to re-capture the magic of their childhood Christmas at their grandparent’s house this festive season.

In search of family love, over the next two days 45% of Britons will defy the peril of the big freeze and drive an average 122 miles in order to celebrate a traditional Christmas in the bosom of their family. Respondents reported they will spend an average eight hours this festive season driving to visit family.

Further findings revealed in the lead up to Christmas this year, a fifth of British couples argued regarding which side of the family they were going to be spending Christmas Day with. On average four heated arguments took place between couples before a final decision was made.

Over a quarter (27%) of couples surveyed stated they will be having two Christmas dinners this year, consuming a whopping 3086 calories – because they feel obliged to visit both set of parents on Christmas day.

Over half of the nation (51%) believes it’s important to spend Christmas Day with the family because that is the true essence of Christmas. Only seven per cent of Britons are spending Christmas day with their friends rather than their family this year.

The report also revealed a fifth of Britons have avoided the calamity of their family’s spare room and the prospect of sleeping on the floor and sofa by booking themselves into a nearly hotel on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

One in ten adults surveyed stated their biggest bug bear when visiting their family is there is nowhere to sleep and they cannot bear the prospect of spending the night on the sofa or floor.

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said, “It seems Britons will be driving home to the bosom of their family this Christmas despite the big freeze. In today’s climate Brits are longing for love and support from their families and are keen to re-establish family ties. Although when it comes to staying over a growing number of Brits are opting to stay in a local hotel so that they can get a good night’s sleep. We have seen a surge in Christmas bookings within the last few weeks and in our recent £10 sale, rooms were getting booked by the second for the Christmas period.”