What British Comedy Award did The Office (UK) win in 2001?

The Office won the British Comedy Award for Best New TV Comedy in 2001. The award recognised the programme as a standout new television comedy after its first series introduced viewers to David Brent, Tim Canterbury, Dawn Tinsley and the rest of the Wernham Hogg staff.

The first series aired on BBC Two in 2001 and initially attracted modest audiences, but its uncomfortable mock-documentary style quickly earned critical attention. Its humour came from awkward silences, workplace pettiness and David Brent’s misplaced confidence rather than from a conventional sitcom structure or laugh track.

The 2001 ceremony included several similarly worded categories, which can make this award easy to confuse with Best TV Comedy, Best International Comedy TV Show or Best Comedy Film. The Office later won Best TV Comedy at the 2002 British Comedy Awards, so the year matters: Best New TV Comedy belongs to its breakthrough 2001 campaign.

The series went on to receive major international recognition, including a Peabody Award in 2003 and Golden Globe wins in 2004 for the programme and Ricky Gervais.