Complex sentence: Firstly, Mortimer was now Reeves's partner as opposed to his assistant on the previous programme, and as well as getting his name in the title, he shared the trademark, prop-strewn desk with Reeves.
Split into simpler sentences: Firstly, Mortimer was now Reeves's partner as opposed to his assistant on the previous programme. As well as getting his name in the title, he shared the trademark prop-strewn desk with Reeves.