So, without further ado, the awards for best comedic performances go to…

Cormac McLaggen

While we wouldn’t call Gryffindor’s reserve Keeper likeable, exactly, Cormac’s arrogance and cringeworthy flirting did, admittedly, amuse us. Setting his sights firmly on Hermione as potential arm-candy, he seemed to think that lasciviously licking ice-cream from his fingers was the way to a girl’s heart. Somehow.

His overconfidence at the Gryffindor Quidditch team tryouts and his declaration that Hermione liked to ‘work her mouth’ provided further evidence that he wasn’t The One. We particularly enjoyed his adverse reaction to the dragon tartare served up at Slughorn’s Christmas Party. And emptying his upset stomach over Professor Snape’s shoes.

Ron Weasley

Stand aside Fred and George: Rupert Grint’s Ron and his array of facial expressions are legendary. Special mention has to go to his utter horror and confusion at having to dance with Professor McGonagall – in front of all his class mates – as practice for the Yule Ball.

But it’s his retelling of how he accidentally asked Fleur Delacour out that’s our personal favourite. ‘There she was, walking by. You know how I like it when they walk...’

Hermione Granger

Better known for her encyclopedic wizarding knowledge, we think that Hermione’s wit is vastly underrated. Her snippy declaration that she was going to bed before Harry and Ron had any more ideas that might get them killed, ‘or worse, expelled!’ in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) is our favourite piece of Hermione logic.

Older Hermione wasn’t short on laughs, too, including all her reactions to Cormac during Slughorn’s Christmas party. Her eager devouring of dragon tartare in an effort to shake him off had us cringing and laughing in equal measure as we remembered our own attempts to avoid the unwanted attention of admirers at the school disco.

Gilderoy Lockhart

Charming and handsome, perhaps, but Lockhart was also a liar, a coward and the vainest man for miles around. Despite his obvious flaws can we also suggest that Gilderoy Lockhart was a little bit hilarious? Apart from Obliviate, Lockhart was disastrously inept at every spell and charm he waved his wand at, yet this never seemed to dampen his spirits – or his ego. Even Cornish pixies got the better of him.

Lockhart surrounded himself with self-portraits, all of which were primping and preening or rolling their golden locks. Plus, how completely oblivious he was to everyone’s irritation makes him a real contender for funniest character. And Kenneth Branagh’s lordly interpretation of him was scarily perfect.

Severus Snape

Severus Snape is never likely to go into the profession of comedy, but Alan Rickman’s performances were so beautifully droll. His responses to Umbridge’s interrogation, and his perfect delivery of the word ‘obviously’ were, obviously, perfection.

That’s not to mention his hands-on approach to dealing with Ron and Harry when they wouldn’t be quiet – the careful pushing up of his gown-sleeves was just so very Severus Snape.

Harry Potter

Half-Blood Prince (2009) was certainly one of the darker films in the series, but also provided some of the funniest moments with many thanks to Daniel Radcliffe. Harry is so often tormented by the lurking presence of Voldemort, or hurtling into danger, that we rarely get to appreciate his sense of humour; luckily, it turns out Felix Felicis not only brings the drinker good fortune but also brings out their inner comedian.

Harry’s impression of Aragog snapping his pincers during the solemn burial of Hagrid’s beloved beast was perfectly timed, while the swift whack around the head he received from Hermione after announcing, ‘But I am the chosen one’ was just brilliant.

Lavender Brown

Ron didn’t find the constant outpouring of love very amusing, but we certainly did. Lavender may have spent a lot of time on the sidelines before taking a liking to Won-Won, but she really made the most of her moment in the spotlight. Jessie Cave’s facial expression while drawing her Hogwarts Express love heart – combined with Ron and Harry’s reactions when they saw it – tickled our funny bones, while her obnoxious baby voice and terrible choice in jewellery had us cringing!

She even managed to bring a comedic touch with her furious devastation when Ron eventually broke their young love off.

Filch

He’s not often accused of being funny: if anything, the ancient caretaker of Hogwarts is the Squib that got out on the wrong side of life’s bed. But his absurdly energetic high-kneed run into the Great Hall to deliver an important message to Dumbledore revealed Filch’s inadvertent comedy genius. The only way it could have been improved would have been to have Mrs Norris skipping along beside him.