The duo went their separate ways after the launch of 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water, the biggest-selling release of its time. Garfunkel tells The Telegraph the pair became friends at school because he felt sorry for the diminutive Simon. "That compensation gesture has created a monster," he says.

Talking about the split he adds: "It was very strange. I don't want to say any anti Paul Simon things, but it seems very perverse to not enjoy the glory and walk away from it instead. What I would have done is take a rest from Paul, because he was getting on my nerves. The jokes had run dry.