26 September 1987 saw the first ever appearance of the Chuckle Brothers in their most famous children’s TV show ChuckleVision, although Barry and Paul Chuckle had been seen previously in costume as two large furry dogs in ChuckleHounds. The purveyors of banana skins, custard pies and mushy peas have been entertaining children since winning the ITV talent show New Faces in 1974, but got their big break through another big dog in Ashton-under-Lyne, in the mid-1980s.

“We were asked to do a tour with Ward Allen, the ventriloquist with a big dog,” explained Paul, “so we went to Ashton-under-Lyne, and one afternoon there were 28 people. We thought we’d just go out and enjoy ourselves. What we didn’t know was Martin Hughes and Peter Risdale Scott from the BBC were in the circle upstairs.” This led to their big break and the lads have been entertaining children ever since. And not only children. Their “To You, To Me” catchphrase is a favourite with removal men the length and breadth of the UK. [via BBC News]