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: In 1980 Malkovich moved to New York to further his career, and won great acclaim in 1984 for his performance opposite Dustin Hoffman in Death of a Salesman. Early films include Places in the Heart, The Killing Fields and Empire of the Sun, but it was 1988's Dangerous Liaisons that made him a star. Further plaudits came for Of Mice and Men and In the Line of Fire. He played a version of himself in Being John Malkovich. He continues to appear on both stage and screen in a variety of projects, including blockbuster hits RED and its sequel, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

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: Pigott-Smith's big break came in 1984 when he landed one of the lead roles in ITV's Jewel in the Crown, the lavish miniseries which was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. He's worked steadily ever since, most notably appearing in The Remains of the Day, The Chief and The Bullion Boys, as well as narrating documentaries, audio books, appearing on stage in such productions as The Iceman Cometh, alongside Kevin Spacey, and directing various plays. His credits also include appearances in a number of hit movies, including Gangs of New York, Johnny English, Alexander, V for Vendetta, Quantum of Solace and Alice in Wonderland.