Ricky Gervais will take the top comedy prize at this year's Banff festival, where the British actor is set to receive the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award.

"We could think of no one funny man so deserving of this prestigious award," said festival chief Peter Vamos in a statement, pointing to Gervais' success as a stand-up comedian and of his critically lauded sitcom The Office.

The annual award for top-shelf comic talent went last year to Mark McKinney and previously to the likes of Bob Newhart and John Cleese.

"This is probably the greatest honour of my career," said Gervais. "Only the Nobel Peace Prize can top this, but I will only accept that in person if the ceremony is held somewhere as beautiful as Banff."

The Banff World Television Festival returns to the Alberta resort town June 13-16.