ChrisLangham

Having studied English and Drama at Bristol University, he enjoyed an early brush with comedy playing a centurion in Monty Python's Life of Brian.

However, it was as writer on The Muppet Show he notched up his first series TV credits.

In 1979, he was part of the original Not the Nine O'Clock News Team, but was dropped for the second series in favour of Griff Rhys Jones.

He continued appearing on the periphery of the 1980s alternative comedy scene, with small parts in Alas Smith and Jones and Happy Families. During this time, he became a regular voice on radio.

In 1998 he wrote and starred in Kiss Me Kate on BBC One, and won critical acclaim when his radio comedy People Like Us transferred to television in 1999.

More recently he's become known as bumbling minister Hugh Abbot in The Thick of It.