The comic, famous for his outlandish characters - including lager-swilling Paul Calf and Latin lothario Tony Ferrino - scooped three awards at the star-studded event.

Coogan was named Top Television Comedy Actor, surprising critics who expected the award to go to nominated Father Ted star Dermot Morgan who died earlier this year.

Frank Muir: Lifetime Achievement

The comedian beat Fast Show funnyman Paul Whitehouse to win Top BBC, C4 or C5 Television Personality.

The impressionist's most infamous persona as a smarmy chat show host won him Best TV Sitcom for his hit show I'm Alan Partridge.

The 32-year-old king of parody has recently taken the West End by storm with his show, The Man Who Thinks He's It, breaking box office records at the Lyceum Theatre.

Comedy writer Frank Muir, who died in January this year, was honoured at the event with co-writer Denis Norden.

The pair were awarded the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Lifetime Achievement.

At the live ceremony at London's Television Centre hosted by Jonathan Ross, actress Dame Thora Hird was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy.

The 87-year-old has starred in the Last of the Summer Wine and more recently in BBC1's sitcom Dinner Ladies.

Michael Barrymore: Top ITV Personality

Actress Emma Chambers, 34, who plays dizzy Alice Tinker in The Vicar of Dibley, was named Top Television Comedy Actress beating her co-star Dawn French who won the award last year.

Tommy Tiernan was named Top Stand-Up Comedian while Dylan Moran was named Top Television Newcomer.

Michael Barrymore added yet another award to his mantelpiece by winning Top ITV Personality while Harry Enfield beat Lily Savage and Ruby Wax to scoop Top BBC1 Comedy Personality.

The rest of the award winners were as follows: