The stand up: Jo Brand
Jo Brand bats away the suggestion that she's a national treasure. "To me that's someone who has a global reach, like Helen Mirren, or someone who's extremely good, like Stephen Fry. I don't have that. I've just calmed down a bit, and that's only because once I had children I was so bloody knackered I could be nothing but calm." Though her audience has widened as she's written novels, appeared on panel shows and acted in the superlative comedy Getting On, Brand says she's planning to go back to stand-up. "The world has become a horrible place for women again and I want to be gobby about it." Before then, though, she's very happy to talk about TV. "I had aspirational working-class parents who thought you shouldn't let your kids watch crap on telly. If my parents read this – it's your fault I'm a complete telly addict now."
Favourite TV? I like news programmes, especially Newsnight. It's opinionated, like a naughty adolescent trying to get away with provoking people.
Favourite reality show? I love it all. I like Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity. They're all interesting psychologically.
New TV discovery? I love Sarah Solemani on Him & Her. It's so nice to see a woman given a part where she doesn't have to cook her boyfriend's tea.
The writer: Charlie Higson
Charlie Higson says that The Fast Show fans are very kind. "There was never a backlash against the show, everyone remembers it fondly." Swiss Tony, Competitive Dad and Ted and Ralph have also found new fans with its recent online revival. "It was a laugh working with everyone again, and lovely to see Caroline Aherne. I hadn't seen her in over 10 years." Higson now has a new set of fans – avid followers of his series of zombie books for young adults. "The age group I write for speak their minds. I did an event recently where a kid stuck his hand up and said: 'I don't mean to be rude, but don't you think you could have done more with your life than writing about zombies?' It stopped me in my tracks. Maybe he's right."
Favourite TV? I've really enjoyed that whole raft of Scandinavians killing each other – The Killing, The Bridge. I thought Borgen was brilliant, too. I watched Homeland like everyone else and got furious at the ending.
New TV discovery? Breaking Bad. It's just brilliant. I love the way Bryan Cranston allows himself to look so awful. It's very unAmerican.
Guilty pleasure? I always have one reality show. At the moment it's The Apprentice. I love The X Factor. It was a disaster without Simon Cowell, he's my TV God.
The serious actor: Rebecca Front
I'm not a comedian," says Rebecca Front, casually confounding all your expectations. She may be loved for her roles in Grandma's House, The Thick of It and Nighty Night ("People still come up to me in the street to talk about Alan Partridge," she says), but she sees herself purely as an actor. "I'm always surprised I'm not doing more drama." She does confess to getting the giggles during The Thick of It, though – "I've close to disgraced myself" – but not too often as it's "genuinely scary being shouted at by Peter Capaldi" [as spin doctor Malcolm Tucker]. Serious actor she may be, but Front's also had to get used to being herself on TV as she notches up the panel-show appearances on the likes of Have I Got News For You and Would I Lie to You? "I have a character who's Rebecca Front for all that. I make the jokes I normally make, but as a heightened version of me."
Favourite TV? I feel real warmth towards shows I watch with my family – The Apprentice and Outnumbered.
Favourite newsreaders? I love Sian Williams – she's good at being serious and chatty; and Jeremy Paxman sets the heart aflutter.
Favourite TV Detective? Obviously I'm in Lewis, but I used to love Morse, so it was a thrill doing an episode of Kavanagh QC years ago with John Thaw.
