JohnFortune

Together, they were synonymous throughout the 1960s with the satire boom, as writer-performers on Not So Much A Programme, More A Way Of Life, The Late Show, and My Father Knew Lloyd George.

He kept his hand in during the 1970s and 1980s, but his most palpable success came when Rory Bremner co-opted both Fortune and Bird to be regular contributors to his satirical Channel 4 series Rory Bremner, Who Else? (which was eventually renamed Bremner, Bird and Fortune to recognise the extent of their contribution).

Their spin-off show, The Long Johns, continued their tradition of seemingly improvised interviews with pompous, idiotic, government officials (usually named George Parr), giving ridiculous reasons to justify the country's ills.

They have been nominated for a Best Entertainment Performance BAFTA three times since winning one in 1997.