IT’S the stomping staple of weddings and student union nights the country over that finally gave one of the hardest working duos in pop their first number one hit.

I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) has become something of an anthem, and the Reid brothers – better known as The Proclaimers – can’t wait to play it in what they say is the most musical city in the world.

“We love playing Liverpool,” says Charlie, one half of the famously bespectacled partnership. “It’s always one of the first dates we schedule in.

“Dublin is good, and Glasgow, Newcastle and Belfast, but Liverpool is probably my favourite, because the crowd is always so good.”

Glasgow? Not Edinburgh?

“Yes, Edinburgh is home, and we love it,” says Charlie. “But Glasgow, like Liverpool, is normally a better gig city.”

And, they’ll be playing Sunshine on Leith, their ode to their hometown.

“That always goes down really well in Liverpool,” says Charlie. “It’s a strong Celtic city. It doesn’t feel like England. It’s almost half Scottish and half Irish. What is it they say, you’re not English, you’re Scouse?”

After 20 years in the business, The Proclaimers are bigger than ever. In 2007, their number one finally materialised with the novelty version of their most famous song, re- recorded with Peter Kay and Matt Lucas singing alongside in wheelchairs.

“We’ve been amazed by how popular it’s been,” admits Charlie. “We’re big supporters of Comic Relief and it was an honour to be asked.

“It’s always been a popular song for us, and when Peter suggested getting his Phoenix Nights character, Brian Potter, in a wheelchair along with Matt Lucas from Little Britain, and changing the chorus to gonna roll 500 miles, rather than walk 500 miles, we agreed.”

The twins met Peter at the G8 concert and had kept in touch.

“Peter rang our manager and suggested using it in Comic Relief and we said yes. We didn’t really think about going to number one or anything like that, it was just about supporting a good cause.