Miranda Hart: I could have been a pro sprinter

Miranda Hart has revealed she could have become a professional sprinter, and that she once ran 100 metres in just 12 seconds - less than two seconds behind Olympian Florence Griffith's current world record.

The commedienne, who also had a trial with Queens Park Rangers' ladies football team, admitted: "I have put on a bit of weight since then. Let's just say I have got a bit out of shape.

"But yeah, I was a sprinter. I did 100 metres in 12 seconds with no training. So I could have probably done that.

"I like the fact I've slightly kind of wowed everyone with that fact. I hope I have, because that's fast."

Despite her sporting prowess, the 40-year-old star - who is releasing a comedy Christmas fitness DVD - insists comedy was her main goal, and that she used to be the school joker.

She added to The Sun newspaper: "I always wanted to get into comedies, ever since I can remember. I saw Eric Morecambe and I thought, 'I just want to do that.'

"At school, I think I certainly tried to be the class clown. I would get in a cupboard before the teacher came in at the start of a lesson and two minutes before the end I'd come out and go, 'Sorry I'm late.' Luckily I was popular, otherwise I'd have been the freak."