Morecambe and Wise – Britain’s most loved double act.

At our twenty fifth anniversary meeting we were entertained by Steve Short who not only gave us a potted history of the careers of Morecambe and Wise but interspersed this with a variety of magic tricks.

Both Eric and Ernie learned their showbiz skills the hard way, having started very, very early. In 1937, aged only 10, Eric received official recognition by a local newspaper and, prompted by his mother, went on to develop his solo act whereby he sang, danced and played the fool. Ernie on the other hand had become a sophisticated song and dance man in miniature and by 11, was already a broadcasting veteran. The two first met when they were both employed by Jack Hoylake in his touring show Youth Takes a Bow so, they sat together on the long railway journeys between performances and passed the time making each other laugh. Eric’s mum recognised their synergy and encouraged them to form a double act which they eventually first brought to the public at the Liverpool Empire in 1941.

By now, John Eric Bartholomew was known as Eric Morcambe and Ernest Wiseman as Ernie Wise but their double act was short lived when war service called; however, in 1946, they reunited at the Swansea Empire and the rest is history. Their long and illustrious career spanned the stage, television and films and their successful partnership lasted until Eric Morecambe’s untimely death from a heart attack in 1984 at the age of 58. Ernie Wise went on to appear on TV panel shows and in several West End plays, before retiring from show business in 1995 on his 70th birthday. Sadly he suffered two strokes and died in 1999.

In 1977 The Morecambe & Wise TV Christmas Special attracted over 28 million viewers which was over half the population of Britain at that time. Their TV shows were a historic part of British popular culture and their iconic double act and legendary partnership spanned more than four decades. Morecambe and Wise are definitely one of the true great British comedy institutions and many of their catchphrases and visual gags are still recognised and used today by those on the stage and screen as well as the general public.