Miranda Hart’s somewhat unassuming and socially cumbersome persona doesn’t immediately lend itself to the characteristics of those normally catapulted into the limelight. (Ok, save Susan Boyle but let’s not go there). Perhaps however, it is these very qualities that have so endeared the nation to this rising comic star, reflected in the sudden, almost household-name ubiquity of the 38 year-old comedienne and more importantly, endorsed this week by the British Comedy Awards’ nominations.
Miranda Hart: set to rival Cheryl Cole for the nation's sweetheart crown
Cheryl Cole, another of the nation’s sweetheart may pull in audiences of up to 20 million on The X Factor but the final episode of Miranda Hart’s self-titled sitcom Miranda drew in an immensely impressive audience of 4.1 million viewers, and that’s with a tenth of the tits and teeth glamour that The X Factor sparkles. The minimalist sets and almost back-to-basics gags and one-liners are sent up with a self-conscious daftness and a touch of vulnerability that has clearly warmed the cockles of armchairs all over Britain. It may appear to some that this success has come almost overnight for the star but far from it, it is something that Miranda always wanted – one of her earliest memories is dreaming of having her own show on the BBC and it’s a goal she has worked towards her whole life.
Well, now she can bask in the success that all her hard work has brought her. Hart is up for four awards at this Sunday’s notorious British Comedy Awards: Best Comedy Actress, (against Jo Brand and Katherine Parkinson) while her sitcom is up for Best New British TV Comedy (against The Trip and Grandma’s House) and Best Sitcom (up against The Inbetweeners and The Thick of It). She is also the only woman up for the People’s Choice Award, (where the public decide the vote) with Harry Hill, Ant and Dec, David Mitchell and Michael McIntyre competing for the title.
I’m always intrigued as to the judging process in these awards and would love to be a fly on the wall as they debate (or maybe thrash) it out. I don’t envy them the task as all of these artists and programmes are spectacular in their own right but are extremely different in their varying styles and quirks. As with many of these things, it will come down to personal taste among the judges, be it the old-school quirkiness of Miranda, the slick, tight and utterly compelling script of The Thick of It or the feel-good, uproarious dialogue and interplay (at times extremely insightful!) between four puking, belching adolescents. Not an easy task but my money is on Hart walking away with at least one of the awards this Sunday, if not two, for Best Comedy Actress and possibly Best New British TV Comedy.
Sarah Millican, Isy Suttie and Samantha Spiro are also up for Best Female Comedy Breakthrough Artist (my money’s on Sarah) and Sarah has another nomination for Best Female TV Comic where she’s up against Jo Brand and Shappi Khorsandi. Am I the only one thinking this is a little odd, seeing as (aside from Millican’s recent panel appearances on Loose Women) Sarah and Shappi are hardly ever on the telly?
