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The Two Ronnies (Barker, left, and Corbett, right) are returning to light up TV screens after a break of 17 years.

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The series, which began in 1971 and ran for 15 years, featured sketches where the pair played out comic characters.

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Each episode would begin with a spoof news slot and end with the famous line "It's goodnight from me..."

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Some characters such as the tramps featured in many series with stars, like Phil Collins above, making guest appearances.

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The shows saw Barker and Corbett dressing up in often outlandish costumes.

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The Two Ronnies was so popular it was guaranteed prime time slots at Christmas and at Easter by schedulers.

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Towards the end of each show there would be a musical spoof with the pair singing and dancing.

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Barker and Corbett first teamed up in 1966 in the Frost Report which also starred David Frost and John Cleese.

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They returned to the BBC in 1971 with two shows to prelude The Two Ronnies, the first was The Ronnie Barker Yearbook...

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... it was followed by a second introductory special called Ronnie Corbett in Bed.

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Ronnie Barker submitted material for the shows under the pseudonym Gerald Wiley so his gags were judged on merit.

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After 12 series, the Two Ronnies signed off but did return for a one-off special called the Two Ronnies Night in July 1999.