Sally Phillips

On her new sitcom Miranda, Miranda Hart has set herself the difficult job of making an irritating and socially awkward character watchable. She worked hard last night by sub-vocalising her thoughts, talking to camera, showing us fantasy sequences and doing more pratfalls than Lucille Ball. She's funny.

Yet a series based on a young woman's ugliness worries me and so does one predicated on the idea that she must marry. I suppose it is progress that the tall, goofy Hart gets to star at all. In the good old, bad old days, she would be writing for her attractive co-star Sally Phillips. But she, oddly, is currently a radio star.

A new star is born. Miranda Hart wins a first full series for her semi-autobiographical sitcom, and it's a real treat. Playing the eponymous lanky, hapless, agoraphobic joke shop owner, the comic clearly has plenty of gag potential, as she fails to impress her Sloane Ranger childhood rival Tilly (Sally Phillips), her over-bearing mum (Patricia Hodge) or the men she sets her cap at. Warm, affectionate, and, best of all, hilarious.

It's the final episode of this oddly brief third series and the ladies of Clatterford are agog - it seems that pensioners' pin-up Charles Dance is definitely going to make an appearance at the Guild. Meanwhile any hopes Sal (Sue Johnston) had for peace and quiet are dashed when Tash's (Sally Phillips) plans to move out hit an obstacle.

Jennifer Saunders's cosy West Country WI sitcom returns for its third run. Tonight's series-opener sees the Clatterford Guild oppose a local barn conversion - until they hear rumours that it's to house a certain celebrity. The whimsical wit may split sofa opinion, but there's no doubting the quality of the cast, which is a Who's Who of Britcom: Sue Johnston (The Royle Family), David Mitchell (Peep Show), Sally Phillips (Smack the Pony), Pauline McLynn (Father Ted) and, of course, Saunders's comedy partner Dawn French.

Smack the Pony trio to reunite

Former Smack the Pony stars Doon Mackichan, Sally Phillips and Fiona Allen are reuniting, six years after they last appeared on television together, as the writers and performers of a new comedy drama.

Also recommended is the return of Clare in the Community, written by David Ramsden and Harry Venning. In the first part of the latest series we found out how Clare (Sally Phillips) was coping with motherhood, or at least how the au pair was managing. Names were also an issue - should the baby be called Thomas or Obama, and what was that woman at the family centre called who had given 20 years' dedicated service? Beautifully observed performances from an impressive cast and some genuinely funny writing make this a must.

Harry Venning and David Ramsden's Clare In the Community is a lesson in how to return, series after series, with freshly reworked comic material. Sally Phillips' social worker Clare has become the mother of little Thomas Paine (after the social reformer, following a flirtation with the name Mahatma). Her world view has become more excruciating than ever, ramping up the comedy to heady heights.

Sally Phillips plays Clare, self-absorbed social worker and new mother in the latest series of the sitcom by Harry Venning and David Ramsden. In their meticulously observed comedy of modern manners, Liza Tarbuck plays best friend Helen, Alex Lowe is Brian, the proud new father, whose best mate is Simon (Andrew Wincott), Helen's ex-husband. Nina Conti retains her role of put-upon Megan and doubles up as Nali, the au pair (not nearly as put-upon as she at first seems). Meanwhile, is this baby to be called Mandela, Mahatma or Thomas Paine?

Another year has passed and Clare In The Community returns for its fifth series. When we last met her, Clare - the antithesis to Carol Thatcher when it comes to political correctness - had an extra burden to add to the weight of her disappointment at being a white, middle-class and straight social worker. She was pregnant with her long-term partner Brian's child.

Now the baby has arrived she's determined not to be stereotyped into doing predictable things such as feeding it, bathing it or holding it. Enter an East European live-in au pair who adds a great flavour to the abusive sarcasm in Brian and Clare's home. Sally Phillips has made the starring role her own and passes off self-obsession so cleverly that Clare sounds irresistible rather than cruel.

The omens are good for this new Friday-night comedy: it's packed with talent - including Joanna Lumley, Sue Johnston, David Mitchell, Pauline McLynn, Dawn French and Sally Phillips. It's also written by Jennifer Saunders, whose flappywomen comedy formula may not be universally popular, but it has a devoted following among viewers.

But, my goodness, it's hard to find laugh-out-loud moments in this first episode - or even smile-politely ones even though the setting of the action should inspire them: a small Devon village characterised by League of Gentlemenly oddness.