Memories and impressions of the original double act - Laurel & Hardy

A film about the farewell tour of comedy legends Laurel and Hardy has been described as a love story between two best friends, at the end of their careers.

Starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as the movie stars, Stan & Ollie tells the story of what happened on their farewell tour.

With their golden era behind them, they embark on a variety hall tour of the UK and Ireland in an effort to reconnect with their audience.

Despite the pressures of a hectic schedule, their love of performing, as well as for each other, endures as they secure their place in the hearts of their fans.

So, what are your memories of the comedy duo and can you do an impression?

Director Jon S. Baird, 46, from Aberdeenshire, has been a fan of the comedy duo since he was eight.

He wanted to tell the story of their twilight tour to show how these two very different men became even closer, as they realise their best years are behind them.

Baird, who has worked with Danny Boyle, Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese, said:

Laurel and Hardy were at their peak between the 1920s and 1940s with their slapstick routines.

They were Stan Laurel, from Cumbria, and American Oliver Hardy, with Laurel playing the clumsy and childlike friend of the pompous bully Hardy.

Having lost their popularity to a “new type of comedy” they set out to reconnect with their adoring fans by touring variety halls in the UK and Ireland in 1953.

Stan & Ollie, released in cinemas on Friday, references the comedy duo’s sketches throughout.

But it also reveals on screen for the first time the story of how they were facing financial struggles and a loss of audience enthusiasm.

Jon Baird said he hoped the combination of a tale of friendship and a fresh look at the pair’s issues would provide something for those who know their work and those who do not.