Michael Parker (Letters, October 29) wants us to remember comedians' catchphrases.

Max Bygraves was a brilliant stand-up comedian. In the days of variety at the Brighton Hippodrome, he played to packed audiences. In fact, it was standing room only when he appeared. He had the star's ability to hold an audience in his grasp.

Max would sing to the audience: "Why does everybody call me...". "Big 'ead" would the retort - he even made a record of it - and, on the radio show Educating Archie, he would say to Archie "That'll be a good idea, son."

On the radio show Much Binding In The Marsh, Sam Costa's catch-phrase would be: "Good morning, sir, was there something?"

Other catch-phrases include Max Miller's "There'll never be another one", Bill Kerr's "I'm only here four minutes", Frankie Howerd's "Get myself comfy" and "Titter ye not", Arthur Askey's "Hello, playmates" and Arthur English's "Open the cage".

-Roy Jameson, Keymer Avenue, Peacehaven