Before television was king, Laurel and Hardy were the comedy superstars who had audiences crying with laughter in cinemas around the world. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy became household names in the late 1920s and 1930s, mastering physical comedy, perfectly timed misunderstandings and that unforgettable combination of Stan’s wide-eyed innocence and Ollie’s slow-burn frustration.

Their heyday spanned the golden age of Hollywood, when silent films transitioned into “talkies”, and their humour proved timeless – built on visual gags, gentle chaos and human nature rather than fast one-liners. Decades on, their work still delights new generations, and for many of us, a Laurel and Hardy clip instantly brings back memories of Saturday afternoons, black-and-white television and laughter shared with family.

Oliver Hardy: ‘Didn’t you once tell me that you had an uncle?’

Stan Laurel: ‘Sure, I’ve got an uncle. Why?’

Oliver: ‘Now we’re getting somewhere. Is he living?’

Stanley: ‘No. He fell through a trap door and broke his neck.’

Oliver: ‘Was he building a house?’

Stanley: ‘No, they were hanging him.’