Miranda Hart's comedy style inspired by Morecambe and Wise

Gary Barlow and Miranda Hart in a clinch for episode 5 of the new series (BBC)

Actress Miranda Hart credits comedy double-act Morecambe and Wise for inspiring her looks to camera in her hit sitcom.

The actress, 40, appears to look and talk directly to viewers during her self-titled BBC show.

Hart has filmed a new BBC1 documentary on her "hero" Eric Morecambe, who rose to fame with comedy partner Ernie Wise.

The Radio Times quotes her as saying: "There's a brilliant aside he (Eric) does - he says to Ernie, 'It was obviously my imagination' - then turns to the audience and says, 'It wasn't'.

"That's where I got the inspiration for that camera thing - where I say 'Yes', cut to camera - 'No'.

"All my looks to camera in Miranda I got from him. I wanted to do a show that honoured his tradition."

The Call The Midwife actress said that the double act provided "a cocoon of joy" during her 20s, which got her "through many a dark hour".

Meanwhile, comedian Sean Hughes said that he felt "a chill down my spine" when he played at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, which was the last place Morecambe performed.

"I really felt his presence," he said.

Victoria Wood said that the pair "would have found a way to succeed today even if it seems harder for working-class double acts to make it these days".

PA