Ever the pragmatist, Lord Archer even funded a production of Ben Elton's Popcorn and looks set to make a profit.

BBC: Where have all the stars gone?

The stand-up comic and writer, Ben Elton, has criticised the Labour Party for trying to be too "trendy" while in government.

BBC: Ben tells Labour not to cool it

Both Brian and Roger are perfectionists and I am sure that if they thought for one second that Ben Elton's script was not up to the job or not suitable they would have said so from the outset and certainly would not have spent so much of their time helping and supervising the show.

BBC: Robert De Niro