IT was like a flash going off in my head, as if an instant photograph had appeared.

The reason for this was an email I had been sent which stated: "I'm sat at my desk and could do now or any time before 3.30pm today."

The mental picture in my mind was of Ernie Wise sitting at his desk writing one of his plays which he wrote and his legs dangling not even touching the floor.

The image had been conjured up as the words in the email came from Ian Ashpitel who plays Ernie Wise in the play An Evening of Eric and Ern.

I was about to interview Ian, the man who literally brings 'Little Ern' to life on the stage while Jonty Stephens plays Eric Morecambe.

Ian described the play not as a tribute act but 'a homage' to Eric and Ernie and one which generations of the same family can enjoy watching.

This double act of Jonty and Ian was not born in the spotlights or the footlights, not it was more by bar lights as they first performed as Eric and Ernie for their pals down the golf club.

Their new 'double act' went down a treat-as smooth as a hole in one.

They did not reform or re-group until six years later when they did their show again for their mates but this time with new material for their golfing chums again.

It was another hit and they took it on the road to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it got amazing reviews and then moved to the West End.

The success grew and grew and they even took their cabaret version of Eric & Ernie on to Cruise Ships for passengers to enjoy.

Speaking about how he developed the role of Ernie Wise, Ian said: "I am an actor and I do not do impressions.

Bridgwater Mercury:

"Jonty can do impressions of many people and is very good.

"I had to come at this part like an actor and studied everything about Ernie.

"He used to have a Yorkshire twang and then his voice became mid-Atlantic as he always wanted to be a Hollywood star.

"Once I got the voice right and it is very high up there, the other ingredient in it all is magic (of comedy).

"Morecambe and Wise were like me and Jonty, friends and if he was here now he would be finishing my sentences."

And that was how the really Eric and Ernie were like.

Although they were different people with different interests they were friends and enjoyed each others company.

Ian explained in the case of Ernie he had to be very generous, giving Eric the laughs by playing the straight man and that is how they (Jonty and Ian) write their new material.

Ian's favourite Morecambe and Wise sketch of all time is "Antony & Cleopatra", one of the plays what Ernie wrote and which in their Christmas special starred Glenda Jackson.

The sketch has the line said by Glenda as Cleopatra: "All men are fools, and what makes them so is having beauty like what I have got."

Looking at the show of An Evening of Eric and Ern, Ian said: "This show is pure entertainment with routines and songs and sketches.

Bridgwater Mercury:

"We do some of the famous sketches all the right notes! From Greig's Piano concerto to Mr Memory, "Arsenal!"

"We also do new material written in the style of Eric and Ernie.

"It is wonderful when people of a certain age come up to us after the show and tell us it made them feel like they were children and watching the show with their family like they did the first time around.

"For two hours they forget themselves.

"One of the best comments we ever had came from Ben Elton who said to us: 'I never thought I would see Morecambe and Wise live but I think I just have.'

An Evening of Eric and Ern will be at The Octagon Theatre in Yeovil from May 17-18.

Tickets cost £23.

Buy online at octagon-theatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01935 422884.