John Cleese has recreated the classic sketch in which he plays an upper class gent who looks down on the middle and lower classes.

In the original sketch, first broadcast on The Frost Report in 1966 and written by Marty Feldman and John Law, Cleese appeared with Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett. In this new version he co-stars with comedian Ian Stone and actor John Alford.

The sketch has been made for Hacked Off, the organisation campaigning for a free and accountable press, in support of Section 40. The Government is poised to make a decision on whether or not to provide guaranteed access to justice for victims of libel, harassment and intrusion. The new sketch explains what this means.

In this reworking below, written and directed by filmmaker and former journalist Richard Peppiatt, the three performers play a wealthy man, a newspaper editor and an average joe.

Comedian Ian Stone said: "I was of course aware of the original. So when I got asked to do it, I didn't really hesitate. Especially given the chance to work with John Cleese. There was no audition. I think I was just the right height. It was very surreal, particularly the fact that i was the middle class one. Never happened to me before. But there was a moment when John Cleese said 'I look down on him' and looked directly at me and I had a slight out of body experience. Pretty cool really. We had about ten goes before we got it right all the way through but I would've been happy to stay there all day."

Ian Stone is currently crowdfunding to write his book about growing up during the post-punk era. More info here.