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: Success in Australia with spoof band the Hebegeebees prompted him to concentrate on comedy. He sold a sketch to The Dick Emery Show in 1978, and in 1983 made his TV debut in The Black Adder. Other small roles followed before his show Radio Active transferred to the small screen as KYTV in 1988. Two years later he became a household name thanks to sitcom One Foot in the Grave and his role as the host of current affairs comedy quiz Have I Got News For You. He left the quiz in 2002 following accusations about his private life. Deayton also appeared in the film Elizabeth, TV shows Mr Bean, Monkey Trousers, Nighty Night and Waterloo Road, and presented Hell's Kitchen, Bognor or Bust and Stick to What You Know.

Career: In the early 1980s, Richard became a regular writer on Not the Nine O'Clock News, which starred Atkinson, and they went on to work together on Blackadder and Mr Bean. In 1989, Richard gained plaudits for writing the film The Tall Guy, but his real movie breakthrough came five years later when he penned Four Weddings and a Funeral, which went on to become the most successful British movie of all time. In 1999 he scored another huge hit with Notting Hill, and went on to work on the adaptation of Bridget Jones's Diary before making his directorial debut with Love Actually in 2003. His new film, The Boat That Rocked, hits cinemas this week. Curtis is also behind the sitcom the Vicar of Dibley, acclaimed TV film The Girl in the Cafe, and is one of the founders of Comic Relief.