Miranda Hart’s journey from posh upbringing to comedy stardom

Miranda Katherine Hart Dyke, better known as Miranda Hart, is famed for her self-titled sitcom that captivated audiences in the mid-2000s with its easy-going slapstick comedy and self-mocking wit.

The actress spent her formative years in Hampshire, but was actually born in Torquay in 1972. Little is known about her early life in Devon, but in true comedic fashion, she claims that upon her birth, the doctor joked “it’s a long one” referring to her height – she stands at 6ft1.

Despite reportedly being hesitant to explore her extensive lineage – which allegedly dates back to the 12th century – she was born to Captain David Hart Dyke CBE, and Diana, the daughter of Sir William Luce, a former governor of Aden.

Past reports have suggested that she is a “fourth cousin of Princess Diana”, perhaps to pique the interest of the class-conscious, but a few years ago she debunked this rumour on Twitter.

“Whilst this is a delightful notion it’s very much not true. Just saying,” she posted, reports .

However, her father David did have Royal connections, having served as an aide-de-camp to the Queen, and was also the commanding officer of Royal Navy destroyer HMS Coventry during the Falklands War.

Tragically, his ship was bombed by Argentine aircraft and sank. In the process, 19 lives were lost, but Captain Dyke was one of the survivors.

He was severely burned, however, and did not speak about the event for over two decades.

In a previous interview, Miranda said: “I definitely remember when he was in the Falklands and that was a very difficult time.”

“I remember when his ship sank and coming home from school and a whole mass of news reporters being outside, but mum hadn’t told us what had happened.”

Apparently, when mum told me I said, ‘Oh dear. Can I have a flapjack?’ I didn’t fully understand.”

After David returned, he was then sent to North America, at which point the family were already living in Petersfield, Hampshire. Miranda and her sister, Alice, were then sent to Downe House boarding school, just over an hour away in Berkshire.

She says she “loved school” and was the class clown, adding: “They were probably the best years of my life. I was the clown and I felt I could be myself, more than I’ve ever been until now.”

Clare Balding and Miranda formed a close friendship as they both attended the same school, and she continued her studies at the University of the West of England to study politics.

By 1994, she says she attended her first Edinburgh Fringe festival: “I went every year for 11 years. It was frustrating at the time, but in retrospect taking longer to get into comedy meant I had truly honed my act.”

For around seven years, she juggled her time between the comedy scene and working as a PA for various charities, including Comic Relief. It wasn’t until 2002 that she decided to “retire the office work” following her first major sitcom role in Hyperdrive, alongside Nick Frost and Kevin Eldon.

Her breakthrough came with a part as a cleaner in the sitcom Not Going Out, but it was her eponymous sitcom, Miranda, which debuted in 2009 and graced our screens until 2015, that really cemented her place in British comedy.

In April of the previous year, whispers of a revival of Miranda began to spread, which she elegantly dismissed on Twitter: “It’s so lovely when some people get excited there might be more Miranda,” she commented at the time. “Means a lot. But I’m afraid what was in the papers today didn’t come from me. [There is] nothing planned at this time.”

“And yes Twitter I look forward to all the ‘thank God for that’ etc ! This just for the few that were excited. No need to tell me that you’re relieved.”

Meanwhile, she continues to grace various creative ventures; she made her West End debut in 2017 as Miss Hannigan in Annie, and portrayed Miss Bates in the 2020 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, directed by Autumn de Wilde.