Miranda Hart is making a long-awaited return to television, appearing on two different shows this evening. After featuring on the BBC reality contest The Celebrity Traitors, the comedian will join Joe Lycett on Channel 4's Live from the Lycett Arms at 10pm.
The 53-year-old actress and comedian stepped back from TV work due to "long-term ill health issues." She was diagnosed with Lyme disease, believed to have been contracted in her teenage years, as well as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome.
Managing her condition during filming
Before entering the castle for The Celebrity Traitors, Hart explained how she planned to manage her condition. She told the BBC: "I'm still living with elements of ME, and that brings fatigue and pain to manage, but I have come to a point where I feel well enough to step out, and that's also partly why I'm doing this."
She added: "The joy of mucking about on television again will hopefully outweigh some of the challenges. And I think it will be challenging on my body, so it'll be interesting, and it'll take some courage as this is a big next step."
Viewer reaction and viral moments
Hart, who is playing a Faithful on series two of The Celebrity Traitors, has already made an impression on viewers. She had a viral moment emerging from a grave with a muddy moustache, and some viewers noted her resemblance to her sitcom character, also named Miranda.
One viewer wrote: "Obsessed with every thing Miranda says sounding like it’s straight out of her sitcom." Another added: "Nothing makes me happier than knowing real life Miranda and fictional Miranda are the same person." A third pleaded: "I hope Miranda Hart wins celebrity traitors and the BBC see how popular she was so they renew ‘Miranda’ for a reboot series."
Upcoming appearance on Channel 4
Tonight's episode of Live from the Lycett Arms serves as the season finale. The programme sees Joe Lycett and celebrity friends gather at his 'pub' for one hour a week. Hart and Lycett, who are fellow Faithfuls, will discuss all things Celebrity Traitors. Last week's episode showed Lycett rewatching the moment Richard E Grant confessed to being a Traitor alongside former The Traitors winner, Stephen Libby.
The Celebrity Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
