BBC News
By Sanchia Berg
image captionJohn Major was prime minister between 1990 and 1997
Impressionist Rory Bremner saved John Major s bacon when he inadvertently thwarted a Tory revolt against him, newly released files show.
Documents from the National Archives tell how Bremner impersonated the then-PM when he phoned Eurosceptic Tory MPs in 1993, asking for their support.
They had planned to challenge Sir John s leadership at the time of the Conservative conference in Blackpool.
But the lead rebel thought it was the PM phoning and abandoned the revolt.
Bremner, who made the calls in September 1993 for his new Channel 4 show, has since said he had no idea he had helped to thwart a rebellion 27 years ago.