Career: Atkinson's first professional success came in 1978 via the radio show The Atkinson People; it was co-written by Curtis and produced by Griff Rhys Jones. He then became part of the Not the Nine O'Clock News team before creating the character of Edmund in The Black Adder 1983. The sitcom ran for four series and a number of specials. He also created the affable idiot Mr Bean, who appeared in a number of one-off TV specials and two hugely successful films. Other projects include Johnny English and its sequel, The Thin Blue Line, The Witches, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Rat Race. Atkinson also appeared at the Olympics opening ceremony and returned to the West End stage to star in Quartermaine's Terms. He was awarded a CBE in 2013.

Career: Miller and Armstrong toured pubs and clubs for four years before making their TV debut on Saturday Live in 1995. The following year they were nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award, and landed their own Channel 4 show; they later moved to the BBC. Miller has acted in films including The Parole Officer, Birthday Girl, Johnny English and The Prince and Me, and has also starred in small-screen offerings Marple, Malice Aforethought, The Book Group, The Worst Week of My Life, Moving Wallpaper and Primeval. In 2011, he had a successful run in West End hit The Ladykillers. Miller recently quit his role in BBC hit Death in Paradise.

Career: Kurylenko swapped the catwalk for the big screen in 2005 when she made her film debut in The Ring Finger. Since then, she has appeared Paris, je t'aime (2006), The Serpent (2006) and Hitman (2007). In 2008, she co-starred opposite Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace. More recently, Kurylenko has starred in Seven Psychopaths (2012) and Oblivion (2013). She starred in two seasons of American drama Magic City.

Career: After a spell as a stand-up comic, Thompson teamed up with Fry and Laurie for TV sketch show Alfresco, starred in West End smash Me and My Girl, and acclaimed dramas Tutti Frutti and Fortunes of War. Her first film was 1989's The Tall Guy. Already a familiar face in the UK, she became an international star thanks to her Oscar-winning role in 1992's Howards End. She later won another Academy Award, this time for writing the screenplay for Sense and Sensibility. She also wrote as well as starred in Nanny McPhee and its sequel. Thompson's other movies include Dead Again, In the Name of the Father, The Remains of the Day, Junior, Primary Colors, Love Actually, Stranger Than Fiction, I Am Legend, Brideshead Revisited, The Boat That Rocked, three Harry Potter movies and Saving Mr Banks.

Career: Gambon became a member of Laurence Olivier's first Royal National Theatre company, and made his movie debut in 1965's Othello, alongside the star. His role in long-running TV show The Borderers led to an audition for James Bond. Parts in such forgettable productions as The Beast Must Die and Nothing But the Night came next. It was The Singing Detective in 1986 that finally made him a star. He's worked steadily ever since in the likes of Maigret, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, Gosford Park, Doctor Who, Quartet, Sleepy Hollow and Fortitude. He took over playing Dumbledore in Harry Potter following the death of Richard Harris. He's won BAFTA TV awards for Perfect Strangers, Longitude, Wives and Daughters, and The Singing Detective.