Ernie Wise, the comedy legend and star of BBC and ITV series Morecambe and Wise, died on this day in 1999 (March 21).
The beloved star died at the age of 73 following a major heart operation – just over 15 years after the loss of his comedy partner Eric Morecambe.
Together he and Eric Morecambe brought sunshine into the lives of of TV viewers, and inspired an entire generation of comedy stars including Eddie Izzard and Ben Miller.
Their comedy series is now legendary, and to pay tribute to Ernie Wise, Daily Star has taken a look at some behind the scenes secrets of the famous Morecambe and Wise show.
Eddie Braben was the third star of the show
Although Morecambe and Wise were undoubtedly the stars of the show on screen, part of their comedy owed a lot to the third star behind the scenes – writer Eddie Braben.
Eddie wrote a lot of the classic sketches for the series, including Eric performing as The Duke Of Wellington alongside Vanessa Redgrave.
He was also the person to come up with the famous bedroom sketches, where Eric and Ernie would share a double bed, followed by some of the show’s most iconic lines.
His long running partnership and friendship with the comedy duo was also retold in the TV film Eric, Ernie and Me in 2017, which starred Wild at Heart and Ballykissangel actor Stephen Tompkinson as the famous writer.
Together, the writing of Eddie Braben and the talent of Eric and Ernie was a match made in comedy heaven – and one that generations of audiences still love today.
Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise and Des O’Connor were close friends
(Image: BBC)
One of the regularly occurring jokes on the Morecambe and Wise show was about entertainer and singer Des O’Connor and his music.
However away from the TV screens, Des O’ Connor was good friends with the comedy duo.
In his autobiography, Bananas Can’t Fly, Des explained that he had been friends with Eric and Ernie for many years, explaining how they gave him useful advice in his early show- days.
“The truth is Eric, Ernie Wise and I had been friends for many years. We met when we appeared in variety together at the Hull Regal in 1954.
“The boys, as everyone called them, had just started to top the bills around the country, while I had only been in show-business for a few months.
(Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)
“The boys soon twigged that I was a rookie and took me under their wing. They gave me tips on how to survive and would suggest gags and ways of improving my act.”
However, the Des O’ Connor jokes became a running gag despite their close off-screen friendship, but Des admitted that he found the jokes very amusing.
He also revealed in his autobiography that even Prince Phillip asked if he was ‘really that bad’, after meeting him at the Royal Variety Show.
He said: “When he reached me, the Duke shook my hand. Then he said, ‘Des O’Connor . . . you’re the chap who is always on Morecambe & Wise.’
“I pointed out that I didn’t usually appear but they often mentioned me. ‘Oh yes,’ he said. ‘Tell me, are you really that bad?”
However, it was all just for the cameras and both Eric and Ernie and Des O’ Connor are considered some of the greatest entertainers of all time.
Many of the episodes have been lost
(Image: Mirrorpix)
Although Morecambe and Wise re-runs are a staple feature at Christmas time on our TV screens, there are sadly some episodes of this and other classic series, that are ‘lost’.
The tape used to record the films in the 60s and 70s was very expensive, and often the tape would be wiped so that it could be reused again.
However in recent years, episodes of classic Doctor Who and Morecambe and Wise have been rediscovered and restored to be enjoyed all over again.
As recently as 2021, Eric Morcambe’s son Gary discovered a ‘lost’ episode in his attic at home, after finding the film in a cannister.
(Image: BBC History)
He told BBC: “It’s a huge discovery because it was presumed missing and lost for good.
“That it crops up is fantastic.”
Not only was it a huge discovery, but the tape was also a recording of Morecambe and Wise’s first ever episode for the BBC One, after moving from BBC Two, dated October 8, 1970.
Speaking about the episode, Gary added: “There is a lot in the show that will be incredibly familiar to people, showing the Eric and Ernie we came to know and love.”
It was eventually restored to its former glory and broadcast on Christmas Day 2021, continuing the legacy of Morecambe and Wise Christmas shows.
The show was a favourite of the Queen and Prince Phillip
(Image: Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Morecambe and Wise brought generations of families together and had many famous fans – even including the Royal family.
The comedy duo would regularly perform at The Royal Variety Performance, the Queen has admitted in the years to follow that she and the late Duke of Edinburgh Prince Phillip were huge fans of the show.
Following Eric’s death, the Queen and Prince Phillip unveiled a statue of the comedian in his hometown of Morecambe, which features Eric in a classic pose with his hand in the air and his leg bent up behind him – usually seen after the duo had performed Bring Me Sunshine.
The statue also features the names of the 103 celebrities who appeared alongside Morecambe and Wise down the years, including Peter Cushing, Francis Matthews and Shirley Bassey.
At the event, The Queen also told David Miles, president of the Eric Morecambe Fan Club, that both her and the Duke were “great fans” of the iconic comedy duo.
It is the highest rated British comedy series of all time
(Image: BBC)
During the seventies, The Morecambe and Wise Show was staple family viewing – but the Christmas specials were one of the most highly anticipated in the TV calendar.
Not only this, but the Christmas specials received record ratings, with over 28million people tuning in to watch the show in 1978 – making it the highest viewing figure for a comedy on British TV ever.
The Christmas specials featured huge stars including Andre Previn and newsreader Angela Rippon, who showed off her impressive physique and toned pins during a dance routine with comedy legends Morecambe and Wise.
(Image: BBC)
In the now famous sketch, Angela starts by reading the news, before viewers saw her take to the stage for the routine, which also featured a hilarious Eric Morecambe shouting “Pina!” loudly while making a Pina Colada drink.
More than 27m people tuned in to watch on Christmas Day 1976, with Angela telling The Daily Mail: “It was such fun to do the Morecambe And Wise Christmas Special,” and added: “Even though the two of them were huge stars, they made you feel like you were doing them a huge favour being on their programme.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
