So, what do we make of the British Comedy Awards?

So let me get this right, The X-Factor has won a British Comedy Award?

Yep, it's just one of the bizarre choices that make this annual shindig such a surreal experience. And, of course, one that ensures its broadcaster, the comedy-starved ITV, wins at least something.

One thing this ceremony is guaranteed to do is to throw into sharp contrast the difference between critical acclaim and popular appeal. As a sponsored, commercial venture it lives or dies by its ratings - even if that puts it in danger of pandering to the lowest common denominator. Just look at the publications whose readers voted for the people's choice: Heat, FHM, The Sun and Zoo.

Even the awarding of Best TV Show and the first Ronnie Barker award to Little Britain, which some critics seem to think is going off the boil, is evidence that the judges (whoever they are) believe that 6.5 million viewers can't be wrong - whatever the high-falutin' journalists think. I was at their live show in Brighton last night, and the deafening, rapturous ovation the announcement of their victory sparked is proof enough that they were a truly popular choice.

Yet the comedy purists were catered for, too. Chris Langham's best actor award was probably the most welcome news of the night - a long-overdue acknowledgement for years of underappreciated work.

And it comes despite the relatively small audiences for the brilliant shows he won for - Paul Whitehouse's Help and Armando Iannuucci's The Thick Of It.

That the latter, foul-mouthed Yes Minister won the best new comedy is a triumph of good judgment, too. Though hidden away on BBC FOUR, this brilliantly funny show is fully deserving of the accolade.

A shame there wasn't more for Help, or as Ricky Gervais pointed out, Peep Show. And slightly predictable that The Simpsons won the international award despite the industry love-in with Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm.

But for their flaws, the awards did highlight some shows the vast majority of the 9pm ITV audience might not have been aware of. Let's hope they now go and watch them...

The full list of winners:

Actor
Chris Langham (Help, The Thick of It)

Actress
Ashley Jensen (Extras)

Entertainment Personality
Paul O'Grady (The Paul O'Grady Show)

Newcomer
Ashley Jensen (Extras)

New TV comedy
The Thick Of It

TV Comedy
Little Britain

TV Comedy Drama
Shameless

Entertainment Programme
The X Factor

International Show
The Simpsons

Film
Festival

Outstanding contribution
Julie Walters and Victoria Wood

Ronnie Barker Writer Of The Year
Matt Lucas and David Walliams