PeterCook

His subsequent work included many seminal contributions to comedy: Beyond The Fringe, impersonating Harold McMillan, creating monotonous wiseacre E.L. Wisty, opening the Establishment Club and being a benefactor to Private Eye.

His collaboration with Dudley Moore resulted in Not Only But Also… and the coarse and apparently drunken Derek And Clive recordings.

Their difficult relationship has been examined in a TV film Not Only, But Always and on stage in Pete And Dud: Come Again.

Cook battled with alcohol and consequently his career was beset with difficulties.

A renaissance occurred in the 1990's, notably an appearance on Clive Anderson's talk show, brilliantly playing every fictional guest.

He topped The Comedian's Comedian poll for Channel 4, some ten years after his premature death.

His greatest regret was saving David Frost from drowning.