Little Britain's big win

Since The Office first hit TV screens, he has been acknowledged as the king of British comedy.

But Ricky Gervais's reign looks to be over after he lost out to Little Britain stars David Walliams and Matt Lucas at the British Comedy Awards last night.

Just to rub salt into the wound, a rival ceremony handed Gervais an unwanted hat-trick of prizes for being one of Britain's worst comedians.

Gervais's latest show, Extras, was nominated for a record five BCA awards. The two it did collect both went to his co-star Ashley Jensen, who was hailed as best comedy actress and best comedy newcomer.

Gervais lost out in the best comedy actor catergory to Chris Langham, star of Help and satire The Thick Of It. Extras was also beaten by Little Britain in the best TV comedy category.

It is the second year running Walliams and Lucas have scooped the prize for their sketch show, whose catchphrases are repeated in school playgrounds across the nation.

Gervais' mood was further soured by news of the Tumbleweeds awards, the organisers of which claim they are 'an antidote to the increasingly pathetic British Comedy Awards'. A team of 'comedy experts' voted Gervais to be the worst stand-up, most annoyingly selfobsessed chat show guest, and said he uttered the most unironic ironic-ism.

Little Britain was voted most over-rated show in the poll, organised by the Cook'd and Bomb'd website. Balls Of Steel, the stunt show which included Tom Cruise among its victims, was named worst overall comedy and worst entertainment programme in its poll.

Jonathan Ross, compere of the BCA ceremony, was beaten by Paul O'Grady to the best comedy entertainer prize.

The X Factor was named best comedy entertainment programme, while The Simpsons won best international comedy TV show for a second year running.

Festival, a film about the Edinburgh Fringe, was named best comedy film.

Channel 4's Shameless was named best TV comedy drama and The Thick Of It won the best new TV comedy trophy.