Of all the comedy acts produced by Britain, Morecambe and Wise are perhaps the best loved and most fondly remembered. They were the first truly great double act in Britain and, although many acts have tried to emulate them, no-one has yet succeeded in replacing them in the hearts of the country.

So, what was it that made their act unique? I think that the essential difference is that they made you care. The obvious bond between them made them much more than the usual straight man/comic relationship, and in fact they did not play these roles at all. The humour was largely brought about through their on stage relationship, especially in their work with Eddie Braben at the BBC.

Everybody remembers Eric Morecambe as one of the greatest comics that this country has produced, while Ernie's role is often overlooked ... and sometimes dismissed. Whilst this is understandable (after all, Eric was probably the country's best loved comic), it is also rather unfair. From the beginning of the act in 1941, Eric and Ernie had always shared the jokes. In his book, "Behind The Sunshine", Gary Morecambe (Eric's son) gives a lovely example of Eric suggesting that it would be funnier if Ernie carried a gag.