Morecambe and Wise wore stripy pyjamas, Wee Willy Winky donned a jaunty nightcap, while Marilyn Monroe famously said that she wore nothing but "two drops of Chanel Number Five".

What we wear to bed is no coincidence, according to experts, who reveal that our night-time attire (or lack of) reveals more about us than we think.

According to bed specialist Silentnight, experts at Manchester Metropolitan University have identified a new science - called Pjology, or the science of pyjamas.

Not only does Pjology reveal our key traits, such as bitchiness, creativity, moodiness or sense of humour, it can also determine whether we are compatible with our partners or not.

Bedwear has moved on considerably from the days of the long winceyette nightie.

According to Mintel, total spending on nightwear has risen by 14 per cent in the past five years.

In 2006 us Brits purchased 18 million pairs of pyjamas and more than 1.1 million negligees.

The report found that the nightclothes market is worth £440 million.

Surprisingly, however, about 18 per cent of people wear nothing to bed!

Dr Alison Goodrum, senior lecturer in Fashion Theory from Manchester MU says: "What we wear to bed may be seen by only a handful of people but the importance of our selection shouldn't be underestimated.

"We have so many social constraints placed on our choice of clothing during the daytime but in bed, away from public gaze, our clothing gets really personal.

"It reveals a great deal about who we are and our relationships with others.

"Some people invest a great deal in their bedwear and make going to bed a ritual, an event in itself.

"Colourful, extravagant items in luxurious fabrics reveals a true love of one's bed.

"The donning of equally special clothing might mark the bed as a sanctuary or special place: a negligee or something silky."

One of the curious things about bedwear is that it has contradictory properties.

If you dress up too much for bed, especially if you're a man, this could actually reveal a deep insecurity.

Alongside seduction and fiery passion, bedwear can also bestow consolation.

We might wear our favourite pyjamas when we feel we need a really good night's sleep.

"It may also hold the secret to a strong relationship.

"But while many may think the sharing of bedwear between couples - say a traditional pyjama top for women and bottoms for men - is a sure sign of closeness, the opposite is actually true.

"Couples that enjoy sleeping naked together have the right idea.

"This forges kinship and togetherness."