JUDGING by the enormous amount of fun, energy, and infectious chemistry that bounced between these two icons of British comedy I cannot believe we really witnessed the impending end of this riotously funny double act last night.

The partnership is 30 years old but being 50 seems a poor excuse to stop being silly.

In fact time has brought more facets to their mad-cap, manic sketches and sibling-like comic bickering which whilst drawing on traditional comedy elements like impersonations, innuendo, funny faces and voices also relies a good deal on physical comedy too.

For instance, the funniest moments featured the slightly stiff Saunders complete with wobbly bum taking off Madonna in her last pop video in skimpy leotard and high heels.

And then there was the short, rotund French in her ballooning trousers with waistband above her extraordinary bust romantically' ballroom dancing, and getting a little over-heated, with a dummy meant to be Strictly Come Dancing's Anthon du Beck.