Mike Winters's final television interview, from 2010. He talks about his autobiography, The Sunny Side Of Winters, and the TV shows he made with his brother as part of double-act Mike & Bernie Winters.

Neil Sean, who interviewed Mike in the above video, tells us more...

My father, Alan Scott, had worked with Mike & Bernie Winters years ago in variety at various theatres and summer seasons, and he told me many funny stories about working with them. He explained how, in Blackpool, when they were starting out they appeared at the Palace Theatre, which was a huge number one venue to get back then - it was the Palladium of the North. Mike & Bernie had been booked through the producers George & Alfred Black for the summer season. My father and Mike & Bernie used to meet for a coffee / catch up and look at box office returns every day at a prom café. Each day the boys would come in and tell him how bad it was going, saying "we are dying nightly, and it gets worse each week"...

What they did not know was that George & Alfred Black brought other acts and producers in to watch them fail on stage. Alan tells me "It was a sport really, I mean the place was full but they just died and had their dancing to get off with."

He adds: "It was years later when George & Alfred told them this at a dinner in London. We were all at that - they fell about laughing and asked why. "Well, it was fun you know, you were young and green and, well, it got us through the season."

When I knew that Mike Winters was in town promoting his new book, The Sunny Side Of Winters, I had to meet him.

Mike told me that while appearing at the North Pier in Blackpool he refused to take part in a final curtain line up despite the demands of Lord Delfont. He said no as he felt it was old hat and it was part of a music hall segment. He said: "Looking back I was stupid and young because, you know, it was a great show. Me thinking I am this kind of huge star who was too big for this, but of course the real star of the show was Randolph Sutton who was more than happy to do so."

When Mike left the studios after our interview he was a kind, humble man who was thrilled that someone wanted to talk about his comedy. Me, I was just over the moon meeting a real life comedy legend and, as he drove off into the London night, his words stayed with me: "Whatever you do, don't give up, even when they are not laughing... because at some point someone somewhere will find you funny."