The 50 best comedians of the 21st century

Steve Coogan is the funniest Brit, coming second on the list, with American Tina Fey coming first. Once again, in a mirroring of a Channel 4 poll in 2007, Stewart Lee came 41st.

Ahead of Nick Frost shimmying on to the big screen in Cuban Fury, this is a reminder of how we came to love him: his double act with Simon Pegg.

Clearly aimed at 'breaking the States', it sees two girlfriendless geeks (Frost and Pegg) embark on a US road trip to Area 51.

Here they meet Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), a potty-mouthed, dope-smoking alien who crash-landed on Earth and is now on the run from the US government's men in black.

A winning mix of fart gags and feel-good humour, with Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) giving the token female love interest role some memorable oompf as a one-eyed Christian fundamentalist.

Amnesty brings its comedy fundraiser to the US for the first time to celebrate the organisation's 50th birthday. The line-up is an Atlantic-straddling bobby dazzler at New York's Radio City Music Hall: the US contingent includes Jon Stewart, Sarah Silverman and Kristen Wiig, and the UK sends Peter Serafinowicz, Noel Fielding and Russell Brand. Music comes from Coldplay and Mumford & Sons. The ball always comes off best when it's a combination of standup and sketch comedy, so fingers crossed for some surprise team-ups.

The Muppets added to Secret Policeman's Ball line-up

A number of new acts have been added to the bill for the Secret Policeman's Ball including the Muppets, Kristen Wiig and Jack Whitehall.