Morecambe and Wise were, in my opinion, the funniest comedy duo ever. One of the best parts of the festivities was always sitting down to watch their Christmas show. Eric Morecambe didn't even have to say anything to be funny and Ernie was the perfect foil for his gags. Sometimes, while someone else was talking, Eric would turn and look into another camera, and just beam foolishly at it without saying a word. After a bit Ernie would join him, grinning over his shoulder. This was the sort of thing that even now can have me creased up with laughter.
Eric, born John Eric Bartholomew in 1926 and Ernie, born Ernest Wiseman in 1925 met as teenagers and became a vaudeville double act during the 1940's and 50's.
The duo's first TV show (Running Wild 1954) was a flop and one of the newspapers at the time said that the definition of TV was the box in which they buried Morecambe and Wise. Eric carried this cutting in his wallet for the rest of his life. After seven more years of live performing they landed a second TV show (Two of a Kind 1961-68). It was better written this time and made the duo famous. In 1968 they moved to the BBC with Eddie Braben as their scriptwriter, he seemed to understand them better than any previous writer. The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968-1977) was the amazing result of this team.
My favourite Morecambe & Wise sketch is "The Andrew Preview" sketch.
I'm playing all the right notes - but not necessarily in the right order.
- Eric Morecambe
Christmas editions of the show earned the highest viewing figures in British TV up to that point. Rumour has it that the National Grid had to prepare in advance for the surge in demand for electricity when the British public all put their kettles on at the end of the show. Another of my favourites is the "Singin' in the Rain" sketch. Click here to watch.
Ernie: I'll be doing Singin' in the Rain.
Eric: Oh, Gene Kelly did that very well...
Ernie: Yes, well, I'll do it that little bit better, won't I?
Eric: Oh, Gene Kelly did that very well...
Ernie: Yes, well, I'll do it that little bit better, won't I?
Well that's it for now, although I think we'll come back to Morecambe and Wise another time as they did so many wonderful things. Finally click here to see Eric at his absolute best, basically just being Eric doing his Paper Bag Trick. I hope you've enjoyed this little stroll down telly Memory Lane. Night night x
Not now, Arthur - Eric Morecambe
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