X Factor in top comedy award win

The X Factor won best comedy entertainment programme at the British Comedy Awards 2005 on Thursday.

After collecting the prize Simon Cowell joked: "We're not a comedy programme, we're a serious factual drama."

Ant and Dec were also winners, snapping up the people's choice award for their show Saturday Night Takeaway.

And cartoon comedy The Simpsons didn't go away empty handed, taking home the prize for best international comedy TV show for the second year running.

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Veteran comedians Victoria Wood and Julie Walters were honoured for their work over the past 25 years with an outstanding achievement award.

Walters said: "It's very special, we go back a very long way."