Jo Brand

Miranda Hart is shaping up as the Big Lady of the future. If Dawn French built a career out of being hefty without mentioning it, and Jo Brand did it by mentioning it incessantly, Hart's new sitcom (so much a trailer for a TV version that they are already filming the TV version) trades on her not only being big, but very tall and extremely posh. And frequently taken for a man. She has never had sex (a consignment of chocolate penises comes into the shop. They're very lifelike, she says. No they're not, says her waspish co-owner). She has terrible chat-up lines: I weighed my breasts. They cost £1.48 to post, and you'd have to use Parcel Force. She's terrific. Wasted on TV.

Chris Campling, The Times, 28th August 2008

If you have never caught a Commercial Breakdown (previous recipients of its unique career-damaging magic are Jasper Carrott and Jo Brand) then you're very lucky. It claims to be an unmissable collection of the world's funniest, wildest and weirdest television adverts, each one a mini-masterpiece in its own right.

Historically, however, it has always been a bit of a lame duck, with enhanced laughter tracks and bad scripts for the comic linker - in this case Carr.

Of course, this new incarnation might see the concept raise its game, with Carr a renowned perfectionist.

Christian Cawley, Quintessential Comedy, 11th June 2008

Radio Head: Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation

Rowland Rivron, Sandi Toksvig, Mark Steel, Mark Thomas, Jo Brand, Graham Fellowes, Russell Brand . . . the list of modern comedians that divides the nation is a surprisingly lengthy one. And it will be only part of the listening public that will be rearranging its life to be in front of the wireless when the latest series of the sociopolitical lecture Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation kicks off next Tuesday (Radio 4, 6.30pm).

Chris Campling, The Times, 31st March 2007