A confrontational controversial comic picked up his comedy award with a string of C words.

Well, the same unprintable expletive actually.

It is characteristic of the on-stage aggressive assault and belligerent bold style which has seen St Albans funnyman Nick Helm, 33, described as “brash and bullish” in the national press.

He collected ‘Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist’ at the British Comedy Awards for his lead role in BBC Three’s Uncle. He plays a suicidal musician who forges an unlikely alliance with his 12-year-old nephew. A second series has been re-commissioned.

In his acceptance speech at the televised awards ceremony in London, hosted by Jonathan Ross, he explained to a shocked star-studded audience how ‘as a stand-up comic he regularly gets called a **** and that it was nice not to be a **** for a few weeks, while making the show’.

Nick tweeted a message to his 13.3K followers afterwards: “Thanks to all the well wishers. Absolutely chuffed to pieces and well done to my fellow nominees. X”

The former Sandringham School pupil, who worked as a bar tender in The Glass House pub (now The Victoria on Victoria Street) has climbed the talent tree, through sheer commitment and dedication - and quite a lot of swearing - propelled by relationship heartache.

He is a guitarist and singer, a poet, a writer, an actor and comedian.

Nick won an award by digital television channel Dave for the best joke of the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011.

Viewers voted for “I needed a password eight characters long so I picked Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”.

Other nominations include the Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Award for his One Man Mega Myth show last year.

He also appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC) and Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats.

He has just finished a fortnight’s run at Soho Theatre with his Christmas performance, his album Hot ‘n’ Heavy is for sale on iTunes and self-penned The Nick Helm Pilot Spectacular was screened this autumn.

Following the Comedy Awards ceremony, BBC head of comedy, Shane Allen, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our talent’s success across the many categories.

“BBC Comedy is in great shape, which is more than can be said for many of the winners this morning.”

Nick won the South Bank Sky Arts ‘The Times Breakthrough Award’ at the start of this year too - and ended it with this latest accolade.

The self-proclaimed “future national treasure” is doing so well, he can probably drop that particular F word now.