Miranda Hart

Now in their 21st year, the British Comedy Awards have long served as a bellwether for the state of British comedy, from the quirky satire of the early 1990s, through the energetic sketch shows of the mid- to late-90s, to the recent success of family-friendly stand-up comics like Peter Kay, Michael McIntyre and John Bishop. Thanks to a sharp host, a ready supply of funny clips and a suitably witty audience, they've also been one of the few live awards ceremonies actually worth watching.

Tonight's event is hosted live by Jonathan Ross. Leading the nominees is Miranda Hart, who is up for four awards, while Harry Hill gets three nods. Hart, last year's Queen of Comedy winner, is up for the award again, with David Mitchell, Telegraph agony uncle Graham Norton, Jack Whitehall, Jo Brand and Sarah Millican also in the running. Tamsin Greig and Tom Rosenthal are nominated for best TV comedy actress and best comedy breakthrough artist respectively for their roles in Friday Night Dinner, while Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner have been singled out for their contribution to Outnumbered. Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville receives a nomination for his role in the Olympic comedy Twenty Twelve.

Jonathan Ross presides as comedians and TV producers drink themselves wretched and honk and bellow over each other's speeches. Probable attendees include last year's victor Miranda Hart, and this year's nominees for the public vote, Jack Whitehall, David Mitchell, Sarah Millican, Jo Brand and Graham Norton. But best of all, it's live. That combination of booze and live broadcast is really the only reason for this in the first place.

British Comedy Awards: who should win what?

Miranda Hart is a strong contender for the Best Female TV comic, Best TV Comedy Actress and People's Choice awards...

Miranda Hart: 'I was never in the cool gang'

Gerard Gilbert meets the six-foot-one former lacrosse champ and discovers she's nothing like her character Miranda. Honest...

The irrepressible Ricky Tomlinson, best known for The Royle Family, introduces clips from festive editions of classic sitcoms, from Rising Damp to Blackadder. The likes of Hugh Dennis and Miranda Hart discuss what it takes to make the perfect Christmas special. Meanwhile, cast members revisit memorable locations used in One Foot in the Grave, Gavin & Stacey, Father Ted and The Vicar of Dibley.

The bits that end up on the cutting room floor of a panel show are invariably better than what goes out for broadcast, so you can expect some even funnier or risqué tall stories and banter in this series finale of outtakes. Featured with regulars David Mitchell and Lee Mack are the always-entertaining Dara O'Briain and Frank Skinner, plus leading ladies Sarah Millican and Miranda Hart.

In bed with Miranda Hart ... what fun!

Miranda Hart is the Joyce Grenfell of the Twitter generation. Her sitcom commands four million viewers per episode because, as Jennifer Saunders puts it, 'she has funny bones'...

ITV chiefs could be nervously gnawing their fingernails tonight as Noel Gallagher takes a seat on Wossy's sofa. The outspoken rocker was practically a fixture on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show before Sachsgate, so let's hope his presence doesn't inspire Ross to descend to that puerile level again. This series has seen him back to near his best, gently ribbing guests and eliciting decent stories. Also on the sofa will be Michael Sheen and Miranda Hart.

Jonathan Ross' new ITV series opened to mixed reviews eight weeks ago, but with the help of the likes of Lady Gaga and David Walliams, the veteran chat show host has proved entertaining enough to keep us interested since then. For the final show in the series, Ross welcomes Noel Gallagher, Miranda Hart and Michael Sheen onto his sofa in an episode that is guaranteed to leave us wanting more.