Miranda Hart has forged a niche as a comedy character actress, her size - she's 6ft 1in - and demeanour marking her out, like a modern-day Penelope Keith, for a certain sort of haughty role.

She has starred as Teal in two series of BBC2's comedy sci-fi series Hyperdrive, earning her a nomination for best female newcomer in British Comedy Award in 2006, and appears regularly as a clumsy cleaner in Lee Mack and Tim Vine's sitcom Not Going Out.

But her CV also contains appeances in French & Saunders, Nighty Night, Absolutely Fabulous, The Vicar of Dibley, Smack the Pony and The Abbey alongside Russell Brand and Morwenna Banks. She also appeared in the third series of Comic Relief does Fame Academy, but only lasted two shows,

Born in Torquay, she studied politics at Britsol before doing a post-graduate acting course in London. She first went to the Edinburgh Fringe in what she admits was 'a terrible show' called Hurrell and Hart. She has returned with more successful character shows several times since

Her first Radio 4 show, Miranda Hart's Open House, began in 2007, and is set to be a BBC Two sitcom in 2009.

My favorite comedian. Another Tommy Cooper. Her face says it all

Barb Ebbage, December 2009

First programme very good, second programme embarassing. but the best sit com for 12 months. Get talent around you - Richard Curtis, Rowan Atkinson, good producer/director, push the BBC to give you the back up to end up with a real winner.Pat Hodge, and your shop mate 10/10, but how about introducing a useless character like in Blackadder. More ,n, even if wimps to show how great you are, maybe taller men than you? Overall I think you are superb & love your asides to camera (just like Up Pompeii & Frankie Howard?) Ronnie Corbett may be ancient but his 5"0' against your height!

Peter Bingham, November 2009

I think she's lovely. An intelligent, talented girl. And those eyes!

Paddy O\'Moron, November 2009

Utter rubbish, talentless. Clearly box ticking on the part of the beeb. Saw her once and wanted to die. Awful.

tom allen, June 2009