DID YOU KNOW? Miranda Hart

The award-winning comedian (Miranda Does Christmas, 9pm, Ch4) is one of the most popular faces on British television. Here are a few things you might not know about her…

Miranda was born in Torquay, Devon, in

1972. Her childhood ambition, she says, was

‘to never grow up and always be able to be silly’.

Her father, Captain David Hart Dyke, was commanding officer of HMS Coventry at the time of its sinking during the Falklands War.

Despite her aristocratic background – Diana, Princess of Wales was a fourth cousin twice removed – she doesn’t consider herself upper-class.

Before studying acting, she gained a political science degree.

In 2007, she made a cameo appearance as a wrestler known as Klondyke Kate in the short comedy film World Of Wrestling. Some of her early roles were in shows such as Hyperdrive, Absolutely Fabulous, Lead Balloon and The Vicar Of Dibley. In 2012, she made her debut in Call The Midwife as the suitably plummy Camilla ‘Chummy’ Fortescue-Cholmondeley-Browne.

After playing an acupuncturist in series one of Lee Mack’s sitcom Not Going Out, the writers liked her so much that they gave her a regular role in series two and three, as clumsy cleaner Barbara.

Her semi-autobiographical Radio 2 show, Miranda Hart’s Joke Shop, aired in 2008; it was developed into the TV sitcom Miranda, which ran for three series. She says that getting it on air in 2009 is her greatest achievement.