CATHERINE TATE
Catherine Tate made her mark with a number of supporting roles (Big Train, Barking, TvGoHome and others) and a starring role in Wild West before graduating to this intriguing self-named series.
Part simple comedy, part biting satire, the first series was patchy - as virtually all sketch shows are - but it served to underline Tate's versatility and dazzling aptitude for inhabiting the skin of a wide-ranging cast of characters of various ages.
Best, initially, were Lauren, the modern-day schoolgirl constantly troubled by current parlance (infecting the country with the catchphrase 'Am I bovvered?'), and the cockney granny who, while appearing to be pleasant, is actually a foul-mouthed racist.
Later editions introduced a heavily made-up Tate as an overtly effeminate man constantly outraged at everyone's assumption he is gay; Moo Shepherd, a hugely competitive Brummie dog trainer; and a caricature Jewish couple running a mobile motorway snack bar who regale a regular customer (guest star Brian Murphy) with unlikely stories of their celebrity customers.