As comedy duo Cheese and Crackers Len and Tommy had some success in the 1980s until Tommy walked out on the act. Now they regroup for a one-off comeback but Tommy is now a successful businessman, scathing of their old routine, though he realizes why Len is so desperate for the reunion. However after Tommy has confessed his real reason for ending the act, its true nature is revealed.
This episode contains examples of:
- The Alcoholic: Len was one, and it ultimately killed Cheese and Crackers' career.
- Bittersweet Ending: In contrast to the show's usual Downer Ending. Tommy has still lost his old friend, but has resolved his issues with him and can grieve with fondness.
- But for Me, It Was Tuesday: Heartwarmingly subverted. Tommy believes that Len had forgotten the incident at Bernie Cliftons Dressing Room. But it turns out, he hasn't.
- Comedy Duo: Len and Tommy were one.
- Dead All Along: Tommy's entire conversation, practice session, and revelation to Len about why he left was all a fantasy as he was preparing his speech for Len's funeral.
- Distanced from Current Events: Tommy and Len consider reviving an old routine involving impressions of famous people, but realize they can't because almost all these people have since been arrested under Operation Yewtree (an investigation into historic sexual abuse claims at the BBC.)
- Driving Question: What was the incident in Bernie Clifton's dressing room?
- Foreshadowing: Including Tommy refusing to disclose what Leanne told him, and Len not being injured when he is hit with a beer bottle.
- Lighter and Softer: Downplayed; it's far from happy or light-hearted, but the episode ends up being more "melancholy" than the series' usual macabre.
- Minimalist Cast: Except for a brief appearance from a guest character (Leanne), Len and Tommy are the only characters featured in the episode.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Cheese and Crackers are modelled after two real-life Oop North variety double acts: Little & Large and Cannon & Ball. Tommy shares a given name with Tommy Cannon of Cannon & Ball and shows resentment at not being “the funny one” in the act, a sentiment expressed behind-the-scenes by both Tommy Cannon and Syd Little, who were likewise the straight men of their respective acts. Len has a physical resemblance to Eddie Large and shares his proclivity for doing impressions of cartoon characters.
- Syd Little is mentioned as being one of the attendees at Len’s funeral.
- Offscreen Inertia: In light of The Reveal, everything we see of Len's personality is based on Tommy's projections of his past self. He hasn't moved on in 30 years because that's the last time they saw each other.
- Old Shame: Tommy considers his stand-up career to be this. Played with when he breaks down in tears and admits that he loved performing and wanted to make a success of the act but put an end to it because he was worried about Len’s health. He now needs to prevent his business suffering if old clips of Len's drunken behaviour surface and pretends to be ashamed of the whole thing because the memories are too painful for him.
- Quick Nip: Len spikes his tea with booze.
- The Quincy Punk: The "dummy" in their mock ventriloquism act is one of these. Len admits it's a little dated, and Tommy replies that it was already dated in 1984.
- Reunion Show: The premise of the episode is Cheese and Crackers, two performers of a long-defunct comedy act, agreeing to reunite for one last performance.
- The Reveal: Len's been Dead All Along, and Tommy's whole fantasy with him alive was spurred partly by Len's daughter Leanne saying "imagine he's in the room with you".
- Shout-Out: To several figures in comedy including The Krankies, and Bernie Clifton himself.
- Tommy references doing a Tina Turner impression "with tights on my head and ping-pong balls for eyes", a reference to Maureen Sowerbutts in a scene from the creators' previous work Psychoville.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Len thinks that Cheese and Crackers were a lot more popular in their "heyday" than they actually were. Somewhat justified since they could have been a lot more successful, had Len's drinking not lost them opportunities.
- Take That!: Tommy doesn't think very highly of Britain's Got Talent.
- There Are Two Kinds of People in the World: One of the jokes told in "Tears of Laughter" plays on this phrase:Tommy: There are three types of people in this world - those that can count, and those that can't!
Len: Terrible! - Title Drop: "Bernie Cliftons Dressing Room" is mentioned several times.
- Totally Radical: Cheese and Crackers' routine about a teenage punk rocker, which Tommy points out was dated even when they performed it in the 1980s.
- Values Dissonance: Len doesn't seem to understand why his Ching Chong impression may not be well-received by a modern audience.
- We Used to Be Friends: Tommy and Len are formerly best friends who haven't spoken for thirty years after Tommy ended their comedy partnership by walking out on Len during the show.
- White-Dwarf Starlet: Len is a smaller-scale version of this.
