Miranda Hart

Miranda Hart: 'Comedy will still be sexist for years'

The comedian on writing her new series, her love of 70s comedy and her dream of winning Wimbledon.

Series two of Miranda Hart's gently farcical, slapstick-happy comedy continues where the first left off, with Miranda battling the threat of eternal spinsterhood while trying to get one over on her Sloaney rival Tilly. Sally Phillips (previously best known for Smack the Pony) co-stars.

In tonight's episode of the comedy panel show, guests Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Rufus Hound, Miranda Hart and Rhod Gilbert compete to disentangle outlandish fact from fiction. Can it be true, for instance, that Fearnley-Whittingstall allows his dog to lick a well-known yeast extract spread off his face? Has Hound visited every pub called The Red Lion inside the M25, apart from four? Comedian Rob Brydon is the host, with David Mitchell and Lee Mack as the team captains.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, protector of poultry, guardian of gourds and foragers' friend, only gets picked for panel shows because he doesn't kick up a stink when comedians tease him for being a wet hedge-muncher. Here, though, his sense of self-humour is tested to the max when he reads out the line, "Occasionally, I put Marmite on my face and let my dog lick it off." If Hugh's telling the truth, he's an even better sport than we've given him credit for. But, all angles considered, we watched hoping it was a fib. The alternative is just too creepy. Also guesting is Miranda Hart who, thankfully, gets through the half-hour without once referencing her boringly self-deprecating belief that she looks like a man. Best in show is David Mitchell's fight with Rhod Gilbert over the aforementioned yeast-based spread.

Talking Shop: Miranda Hart

Miranda Hart is among nominees for Sunday's TV Baftas, garnering nods for best female comedy performance as well as best sitcom for BBC Two show Miranda.

Frank Skinner's TV appearances have been sporadic since he gave up his ITV1 chat show in 2005. This is the first full TV series of his comeback, a kind of comedy Question Time, with Skinner and two guest comedians discussing a topical issue before a "highly opinionated" studio audience. Something along the lines of Fantasy Football League, then, but reflecting Skinner's growing interest in politics. Each show will be recorded only shortly before transmission, but we can reveal that this first edition will feature comics Miranda Hart and Al Murray.

Russell Howard has got his Good News over on BBC3; now it's the turn of craggy-faced legend Frank Skinner to riff off the week's headlines. To shake up the theme, each show is filmed in a different part of the country, with two different comedians in tow. For tonight's promising series opener, Skinner is in London with Al Murray and Miranda Hart.

Miranda Hart: Whatever you do, don't call me 'sir'

Miranda Hart finds being a 6ft 1in woman has its downside, even if it does provide plenty of comic material.

My perfect weekend: Miranda Hart

Comedian Miranda Hart loves escaping to the south coast with her Shi Tzu, Peggy.

Comedy stars saddle up for charity ride

Comics David Walliams, Miranda Hart, Russell Howard, Jimmy Carr and Patrick Kielty, plus presenters Fearne Cotton and Davina McCall are to cycle the length of Britain in a bid to raise £1m for Sport Relief.