TV Times Awards Favourite Funny Person Nominees
Harry Hill
Like a fine French wine, the man with the oversized collar just seems to keep improving with age. TV Burp turns 10 later this year and it's still making us chuckle. Highlights of the spring series included Wagbo, the terrifying fictional lovechild of X Factor contestants Mary Byrne and Wagner, and Harry's unquenchable thirst for Nigella Lawson's best innuendoes.
John Bishop
Liverpool born John Bishop is a man of many talents: actor, comedian, radio DJ, ex football semi-pro... In January, he added another surprising category to his list of achievements, knocking Tom Cruise off top spot on Top Gear's 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' contest (until Rowan Atkinson stole his crown). He also became the face of BBC1 on Saturday nights with John Bishop's Britain, a unique and quirky take on life in modern Blighty.
Michael McIntyre
If 2009 was Michael McIntyre's breakthrough year, 2011 was the year that he came of age. With Piers Morgan's departure for America, Michael stepped into a new role as Britain's Got Talent judge, regularly scene stealing with his rapier one-liners. He also popped up on Red Nose Night as a section host, memorably (and rather frighteningly) taking off co-presenter Claudia Winkleman with a wig and some eyeliner.
Rob Brydon
"Dazzling... majestic... hysterical... side-splittingly funny." Just a few of the words used by US reviewers earlier this year to describe the American edit of The Trip, Rob's brilliant comedy with friend Steve Coogan. Time for Mr Brydon - last seen on BBC2 in The Rob Brydon Show - to be snapped up by Tinseltown? We hope not, because that would take him away from us.
Miranda Hart
It's been another glittering 12 months for the newly crowned Queen of BBC comedy. Miranda started the year with a People's Choice Award and the Best Comedy Actress gong at the British Comedy Awards. By March, she had notched up an important victory in Comic Relief's MasterChef special. And of course we love her comedy Miranda - watch out for a Christmas special.
Brendan O'Carroll
Loud-mouthed busybody Mrs Brown started life as a five-minute filler on Irish radio. This year, the outrageous character created by Dublin-born Brendan notched up her first fully fledged BBC1 series. Mrs Brown's Boys was either hilarious or nonsensical, depending on your tastes, but it wasn't easily ignored. The BBC bigwigs have already commissioned it for a second run.
