FUNNYMEN The Chuckle Brothers and former Hi de Hi star Jeffrey Holland will provide the jokes in this year's Manchester Opera House pantomime Dick Whittington and his Cat. Doreen Crowther finds out about their love of panto

THE Chuckle Brothers and Jeffrey Holland will ensure the funny factor is high in this year's Manchester Opera House pantomime.

Paul and Barry Chuckle, real name Elliott, are genuine brothers and the youngest in a showbiz family of eight.

The brothers and Jeffrey Holland, best known as Spike in Hi de Hi, were at the Manchester Town Hall launch of Dick Whittington and his Cat.

As Dick Whittington becomes Lord Mayor of London, it was appropriate that the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Tom Callaghan was in attendance.

The broad appeal of the Chuckle Brothers was evident during the photocall outside when passers-by -- adults not children -- called out catchphrases from their TV season Chucklevision.

This will be the brothers' 38th consecutive panto. They easily remembered their first -- Malvern in 1966/67.

Paul, the taller brother, said: "We don't like being called children's entertainers. We aim our comedy at everybody."

He conceded that being in panto is hard work, but said: "Once you get on stage you don't feel tired at all."

Barry says: "When we do our touring shows, we write a lot of our own scripts. For television five people write them to suit our comedy. In the panto we put our own sketches in."

The brothers live 20 miles apart in South Yorkshire, where they were born.

In 1974 they won the original series of New Faces, but got their big break in 1985 when the BBC recorded 13 episodes of The Chucklehounds for Children's TV. That series is still shown around the world. Two years later, Chucklevision came to the small screen and the 15th series of the comedy has just been commissioned.

Their famous catchphrase -- To me to you! -- became the title of a game show they first made in 1996, with more series following.

Although the brothers have an amicable working relationship -- they have never had a serious quarrel -- they don't live in each others' pockets outside work.

And while Paul will be commuting to Yorkshire during the panto's run, Barry will stay in a Manchester hotel.

Jeffrey Holland, meanwhile, is playing the Dame in Dick Whittington and has 33 pantos under his belt -- 16 in which he has worn a frock. "I love panto," he said.

He still gets "Hi di hi" called to him in the street, but no longer uses the phrase in pantomime.

"I think it would be confusing for the children," he said.

But when repeats of the series are shown he gets appreciative letters from young people who have never seen it before.

Now known chiefly as a comedy actor, Jeffrey has appeared in BBC 2's Shakespeare productions Richard II, As You Like It and Henry V. And although he has no great yearning to play Shakespeare again, he would welcome a chance to take the part of Malvolio in Twelfth Night.

He said panto audiences vary, but the further north the shows are staged, the more audiences laugh. So things are looking good for Manchester.

Dick Whittington and his Cat runs at the Opera House, Manchester, from December 11 to January 9.