Comedian and television host Alan Carr has been honoured by the British television industry as the recipient of its annual Special Recognition Award.
The award is presented at the annual National Television Awards, and recipients are typically unaware they will receive the honour until the presentation begins. In Carr’s case, the announcement was made by two of his closest friends and colleagues, actor and television host Amanda Holden and singer Paloma Faith.
Carr famously authorised the decision that saw his close friend Paloma Faith become the first celebrity to be “murdered” on the debut season of The Celebrity Traitors. Her time in the Scottish castle came to a sudden end when the lid of her coffin was slammed shut during the show’s second episode.
The presentation began with Holden singing I Know Him So Well from the musical Chess, before Faith was carried on stage in the same coffin.
It was at that point that Carr realised he was the recipient of the prestigious award. He fought back tears as his peers rose to give him a standing ovation.
“This is how thick I was. It was only when Paloma came out in a coffin that I went, ‘It’s me,'” Carr said.
He admitted he had questioned why he was sitting in such a prominent position in the audience.
“They never put me in the front row. I’m always in the back with the people from Naked Attraction.”
Since emerging through the world of stand-up comedy, Carr has enjoyed a major television career in the UK. He hosted his own chat show, Chatty Man, renovated homes in Italy with Amanda Holden, appeared on numerous panel shows, and created Changing Ends, a sitcom based on his teenage years.
One of Carr’s most memorable television experiences was his appearance on The Celebrity Traitors last year, which he won after successfully concealing his identity as a traitor from the other contestants.
Carr will soon take up a new role as a judge on the British version of The Masked Singer. He is also set to return to the road in the new year with his latest stand-up show, Have I Said Too Much?
