Bert and Ernie best friends but not gay

The creators of Sesame Street have said the show’s characters Bert and Ernie “were created to be best friends” but denied the duo are a gay couple.

Sesame Workshop, the educational organisation that makes the US children’s television series, said the show has always advocated for acceptance.

It comes after one of the show’s writers, Mark Saltzman, said the pair were a couple and that the characters reflected experiences he had during his own relationship.