Career: Henry's sitcom debut was The Fosters in 1976. A smooth progression to stardom followed in the anarchic children's Saturday morning programme Tiswas, then Three of a Kind, Lenny Henry Tonite, and Chef! He impressed movie bosses in the States with 1989 stand-up film Lenny Live and Unleashed, but when True Identity flopped in 1991, he returned to the UK. He subsequently reinvented himself as a serious actor with Alive and Kicking, White Goods, and Hope and Glory, but has since returned to comedy with sketch series Lenny Henry in Pieces and The Lenny Henry Show. His stage debut in Othello was a major success. In November 2011, Henry made his debut at the Royal National Theatre in The Comedy of Errors, and last year starred in a stage version of his radio show Rudy's Rare Records.

Career: In 1980, Ullman starred in TV drama Mackenzie, and a year later the success of theatre production Four in a Million led to the sketch shows Three of a Kind and A Kick Up the Eighties. She then made three pop music albums before concentrating on acting. ITV sitcom Girls on Top followed before an eye-catching cameo on the big screen in Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) led to a US TV deal. Since 1987, she's worked primarily in America. The Tracey Ullman Show featured an early incarnation of The Simpsons, while her film credits include Bullets Over Broadway (1994), Pret-a-Porter (1994) and Small Time Crooks (2000). She has won seven Emmys and a Golden Globe for her TV work. She returned to the London stage for the first time in 20 years in 2011 when she starred in Stephen Poliakoff's play My City.

Career: While still presenting, Brydon ventured into comedy, and made ends meet by providing voices for adverts and animations. A small role in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels inspired him to make a short film of his comic characters; series of Marion & Geoff, A Small Summer Party and The Keith Barret Show followed. Other credits include Director's Commentary, Human Remains, Supernova, A Cock and Bull Story, Little Britain, Annually Retentive and Gavin & Stacey. He's also hosted his own BBC chat show and has chaired the comedy panel show Would I Lie to You? since 2009. In 2010, he starred alongside Steve Coogan in the partially improvised BBC Two sitcom The Trip and has since appeared in its follow-up.