A SUPERFAN of the Chuckle Brothers has amassed a collection of posters, leaflets and memorabilia that could be worth thousands of pounds.

Father-of-two Shaun Hope has more than 500 autographs from the comedy duo after first seeing them with his family at Darlington Civic Theatre in 2001.

The 39-year-old has turned a spare room in his home in Richardson Court, Willington, County Durham, into a shrine to the two stars – whom he describes as “the world’s funniest performers”.

The room is filled with dozens of posters, pens, mugs, photos dating back to the Sixties and a selection of DVDs.

His sons, Ben, 15, and Jak, nine, are also fans of the Rotherham comedy duo, whose real names are Barry and Paul Elliott, now aged 65 and 63.

“They are just so good with the kids, nothing is a problem,”

said Mr Hope.

“They stop and talk. Some entertainers are really bigheaded but nothing is a bother for the Chuckle Brothers.”

The obsession took hold ten years ago when Mr Hope was invited on stage to be one of the three bears during a pantomime of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

“Afterward, we got a few bits and pieces, a T-shirt and cap and things, and it has just gone from there really,” he said.

Mr Hope, who works at Emerald Nursery, in Crook, and part-time as a karaoke DJ, says wife Sonia, 42, thinks he is mad.

He said: “I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. This is my little hobby.”

The two men, best known for their BBC Chucklevision programme and famous “to me, to you” catchphrase, say Mr Hope has become more like a friend.

Barry said yesterday he was delighted Mr Hope’s collection was receiving attention from the media.

He said: “When he comes to see us we always invite him backstage and he has a cup of tea with us.

“He is more like a mate.

We’d like to say good luck to Shaun. It’s great to see him in the press with all his memorabilia.”

■ The Chuckle Brothers are touring the UK with their 12 Days of Christmas show and will be at the Journal Tyne Theatre, in Newcastle, on Saturday from 2pm to 5pm.