Ricky Gervais’ The Office as the best TV programme of the last 20 years by members of the UK television industry.
The audience of the television industry’s Broadcast Awards chose The Office, which ran for two series on BBC 2 between 2001 and 2003, over competition from I’m Alan Partridge and Chris Morris’ Brass Eye.
Neither Gervais nor Stephen Merchant attended the London awards show, but both thanked the Broadcast Awards on Twitter with their usual charm.
Thank you to the @BroadcastAwards for voting The Office the best show of the past 20 years. pic.twitter.com/SUAUOpxRiE
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) February 5, 2015
“@BroadcastAwards: The Office voted top show of the past 20 years. pic.twitter.com/vS2tsSMwY5” > Haven't won anything for a while so thanks guys
— Stephen Merchant (@StephenMerchant) February 4, 2015
BBC1 was the big winner of Wednesday night’s event, picking up Channel of the Year as well as individual awards for Happy Valley, EastEnders, Match of the Day, and The Great British Bake Off.
Channel 4 won awards for Bedlam and Dispatches: Nigeria’s Hidden War, while ITV won best entertainment programme for Saturday Night Takeaway.
