Shropshire-born star Stewart Lee named top comic

Shropshire-born comedian Stewart Lee beat the big names to win the title of the nation's best funnyman at the British Comedy Awards.

Lee beat the likes of Harry Hill and Rob Brydon to the trophy for best male television comic last night during the ceremony at London's Fountain Studios, which was hosted by Jonathan Ross.

Lee also won Best Comedy Entertainment programme for Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle.

He beat Alan Carr's Chatty Man (C4), An Idiot Abroad (Sky) and TV Burp (ITV). Carr also has strong Shropshire connections because his father, Graham, played for Telford United, with whom he won an FA Trophy winners' medal in 1971.

Lee was born in Wellington and moved to Solihull, before studying at Oxford University and launching his career as one of the nation's most intelligent and respected comics.

Victoria Wood, Miranda Hart and The Inbetweeners cast were among the other winners.