Eric Morecambe
Eric Morecambe, one half of the iconic Morecambe and Wise, shaped British comedy for decades with his unique blend of warmth and wit. His partnership with Ernie Wise wasn't just a double act; it was a national institution that brought joy to millions. Yet, beneath the boundless energy and laughter, lay a life filled with quiet passions and personal struggles that offer a deeper glimpse into the man himself. Eric Morecambe's legendary comedy partnership with Ernie Wise produced some of Britain's most cherished and highest-rated television moments. Despite his public persona as a tireless entertainer, Morecambe privately grappled with significant health challenges and maintained a surprising passion for birdwatching. His enduring legacy is celebrated across the UK through numerous memorials, cultural references, and the lasting impact of his genuine, heartwarming humor.
AI Summary
Eric Morecambe, one half of the iconic Morecambe and Wise, shaped British comedy for decades with his unique blend of warmth and wit. His partnership with Ernie Wise wasn't just a double act; it was a national institution that brought joy to millions. Yet, beneath the boundless energy and laughter, lay a life filled with quiet passions and personal struggles that offer a deeper glimpse into the man himself.
- Eric Morecambe's legendary comedy partnership with Ernie Wise produced some of Britain's most cherished and highest-rated television moments.
- Despite his public persona as a tireless entertainer, Morecambe privately grappled with significant health challenges and maintained a surprising passion for birdwatching.
- His enduring legacy is celebrated across the UK through numerous memorials, cultural references, and the lasting impact of his genuine, heartwarming humor.
The Man Behind the Laughter
Born John Eric Bartholomew in 1926, the man who would become Eric Morecambe chose his stage name from his beloved hometown, the seaside resort of Morecambe in Lancashire. This simple act hinted at the down-to-earth charm that would define his career. He would soon embark on a partnership that would captivate a nation for over four decades.
A National Treasure
Alongside Ernie Wise, Morecambe became half of one of Britain's most successful and enduring comedy duos. Their 'Morecambe & Wise Show' on BBC1 was a television phenomenon, with their 1977 Christmas special watched by over 28 million people — a figure that remains astounding today. It's no wonder he was named one of the '100 Greatest Britons' in a 2002 BBC poll.
Humble Beginnings
Eric's talent was nurtured from a young age by his mother, Sadie. She took on extra work as a waitress, tirelessly saving money to fund his dancing lessons. Her dedication paid off, as young John Eric Bartholomew began to win numerous talent contests, showcasing a natural gift for performance.
The Fateful Meeting
In 1940, a talent contest win led to an audition with bandleader Jack Hylton, who invited Eric to join his revue 'Youth Takes a Bow.' It was there, at the Nottingham Empire, that he met Ernest Wiseman, already performing as 'Ernest Wise.' They quickly became close friends, and with Sadie's encouragement, began developing the double act that would make history.
Wartime Interruption
Their nascent double act impressed Hylton enough to make it a regular feature. However, their rising collaboration was paused by World War II. Ernie joined the Merchant Navy, while Eric was conscripted as a 'Bevin Boy,' working as a coal miner in Accrington from 1944 onwards, a stark contrast to his burgeoning stage career.
Building the Legend
After the war, Morecambe and Wise reunited, diligently honing their craft on stage and radio. Their first television attempt, 'Running Wild' in 1954, was famously panned. Undeterred, they returned to the variety circuit, refining their timing and rapport, eventually making acclaimed appearances on shows like 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium'.
Television Stardom
Their perseverance paid off spectacularly. From 1961 to 1968, they starred in 'Two of a Kind' for Associated Television, before moving to the BBC. There, their annual Christmas specials became a beloved tradition, cementing their status as household names and achieving unparalleled viewing figures throughout the 1970s.
In January 1978, the duo made a high-profile move from the BBC to ITV, signing a lucrative contract with Thames Television. This transition underscored their immense popularity, proving that their unique brand of humor transcended channels and continued to draw in massive audiences.
Life Beyond the Stage
In 1952, Eric married Joan Bartlett in Margate, a partnership that would last until his death. Together, they raised three children: Gail, Gary, and Steven. Joan remained a steadfast presence throughout his life and career, and she passed away recently on her 97th birthday in March 2024.
A Quiet Passion
Away from the bright lights, Eric had a deeply cherished, unexpected hobby: birdwatching. This quiet passion is commemorated by the statue of him in Morecambe, binoculars in hand. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds even named a hide after him at Leighton Moss, recognizing his significant support and love for nature.
Personal Connections
Beyond his immediate family, Eric had ties to other notable figures; he was the nephew of rugby league player John 'Jack' Bartholomew. In a charming and characteristic moment, he even sent a message of support to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher after her 1979 general election win, ending with a cheeky, 'God bless you, Maggie, and good luck in the European Campaign and it is your round next.'
The Shadow of Illness
Despite his energetic on-screen persona, Eric began experiencing health issues relatively early. A telling diary entry from August 1967 reveals his concern about a 'slight pain on the left side around my heart,' which he initially dismissed as mere indigestion. This subtle warning sign was a prelude to more serious challenges.
A Frightening Episode
In November 1968, after a show in Batley, while driving back to his hotel, Morecambe suffered a near-fatal heart attack. The pain, which he initially mistook for 'tennis elbow' or 'rheumatism,' quickly spread to his chest, making him unable to drive. He was rescued by a passerby and rushed to hospital, where the severity of his condition was immediately recognized.
This critical event forced a major re-evaluation of his life. After leaving the hospital, Eric made significant changes, including giving up his heavy cigarette habit for a pipe and drastically reducing his demanding schedule of summer and winter seasons. His emotional return to the stage at the Bournemouth Winter Gardens in July 1969 was met with a four-minute standing ovation, a testament to his beloved status.
A Second Attack
Morecambe's health struggles resurfaced in March 1979 when he suffered a second heart attack. This led to life-saving heart bypass surgery in June, performed by the renowned surgeon Magdi Yacoub. At the time, doctors delivered a grim prognosis, telling him he only had three months to live.
Expanding Horizons
In his later years, Eric increasingly sought to explore creative avenues beyond the double act, desiring to write and take on different acting roles. In 1980, he played the 'Funny Uncle' in an ITV dramatization of John Betjeman's poem 'Indoor Games Near Newbury,' showcasing his versatility. He also published his first novel, 'Mr Lonely,' a tragicomic tale about a stand-up comedian.
Despite these solo ambitions, Morecambe and Wise continued to collaborate on projects like the 1983 ITV special 'Eric & Ernie's Variety Days,' which fondly recalled their music hall beginnings. Eric also penned two more novels during this period: 'The Reluctant Vampire' in 1982 and its sequel, 'The Vampire's Revenge' in 1983, further highlighting his passion for writing.
The Final Curtain Call
Their final television show together was the 1983 Christmas special for ITV, a fitting end to their long-running television reign. They also filmed a television movie, 'Night Train to Murder,' which aired posthumously in 1985. Tragically, Eric was halfway through filming a fourth film with director Charles Wallace when his life was cut short, leaving the project unfinished.
The Final Bow
On Sunday, May 27, 1984, Eric took part in a charity show in Tewkesbury, hosted by his close friend Stan Stennett. His wife, Joan, later recalled that Eric was 'on top form' that evening. He captivated the audience, even rushing back onto the stage after the show to join the musicians, playing various instruments and taking six triumphant curtain calls.
A Sudden End
As the house tabs fell for the final time and he stepped into the wings, Eric Morecambe collapsed. It was his third heart attack in 16 years. He was rushed to Cheltenham General Hospital, but tragically, he died just before 3 a.m. on Monday, May 28. He truly died doing what he loved, bringing joy to others.
A Legacy of Grief and Laughter
His funeral, held on June 4 at St Nicholas Church, Harpenden, was a poignant affair, with the principal address delivered by fellow comedian Dickie Henderson. Ernie Wise, reflecting on his partner's passing, remarked, 'I think I had two sad days, I think — when my father died and, actually, when Eric died,' a powerful testament to their bond and the profound loss felt across the nation.
An Enduring Legacy
Eric Morecambe's impact on British culture is immense and still widely celebrated. A larger-than-life statue, created by sculptor Graham Ibbeson, stands proudly in Morecambe, unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999. It's adorned with his famous catchphrases and a list of the countless guest stars who graced his show, a constant reminder of his brilliance.
Tributes and Memoirs
His life and work continue to inspire. 'The Play What I Wrote,' a critically acclaimed West End show directed by Kenneth Branagh, opened in 2001 as a loving tribute to the duo. In 2003, his eldest son, Gary, released 'Life's Not Hollywood, It's Cricklewood,' offering an intimate, family-perspective biography filled with unseen photos and diary extracts.
Memorials and Mementos
Various places and items keep his memory alive. Kenilworth Road Stadium, home of his beloved Luton Town F.C., has a suite named after him. There's also The Eric Bartholomew pub in Morecambe and the Eric Morecambe Room at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury. His bird hide at Leighton Moss remains a quiet nod to his private passion, alongside a play simply titled 'Morecambe'.
Cherished Artifacts
In late 2024, a collection of Morecambe's memorabilia from his former home was announced for auction following Joan's passing. This treasury of personal items included telegrams from Prince Philip and letters from figures like Margaret Thatcher and Tommy Cooper. At the auction in February 2025, his distinctive imitation tortoiseshell spectacles and pipe were famously purchased by long-time fan Robbie Williams for a staggering £20,000, far exceeding their estimate and underscoring the enduring affection for this comedy giant.
Article
Eric Morecambe
John Eric Bartholomew (14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984), known by his stage name Eric Morecambe, was an English comedian who together with Ernie Wise formed the double act Morecambe and Wise. The partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984. Morecambe took his stage name from his home town, the seaside resort of Morecambe in Lancashire.
He was the co-star of the BBC1's television series The Morecambe & Wise Show, which for the 1977 Christmas episode gained UK viewing figures of over 28 million people. One of the most prominent comedians in British popular culture, in 2002 he was named one of the 100 Greatest Britons in a BBC poll.
Early life and childhood career
Eric Morecambe
Eric Morecambe was born at 12.30pm on Friday, 14 May 1926 at 42 Buxton Street, Morecambe, Lancashire to George and Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" (née Robinson) Bartholomew. He was christened on 6 June as John Eric Bartholomew. Sadie took work as a waitress to raise funds for his dancing lessons. During this period, Eric Bartholomew won numerous talent contests, including one in Hoylake in 1940 for which the prize was an audition in Manchester for Jack Hylton. Three months after the audition, Hylton invited Bartholomew to join a revue called Youth Takes a Bow at the Nottingham Empire, where he met Ernest Wiseman, who had been appearing in the show for some years as "Ernest Wise". The two soon became very close friends, and with Sadie's encouragement started to develop a double act.
When the two were eventually allowed to perform their double act on stage (in addition to their solo spots), Hylton was impressed enough to make it a regular feature in the revue. However, the duo were separated when they came of age for their War Service during the final stages of the Second World War. Wise joined the Merchant Navy, while Bartholomew was conscripted to become a Bevin Boy and worked as a coal miner in Accrington from May 1944 onwards.
Career
Morecambe and Wise
After the war, Morecambe and Wise began performing on stage and radio and secured a contract with the BBC to make a television show, where they started the short-lived show Running Wild in 1954, which was poorly received. They returned to the stage to hone their act, and later made appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium and Double Six.
Following this the duo appeared as Two of a Kind on Associated Television during 1961–1968 and in annual Christmas shows for BBC from 1968 to 1977. The pair left the BBC for ITV in January 1978, signing a contract with the London station Thames Television.
Morecambe suffered a second heart attack at his home in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, on 15 March 1979; this led to a heart bypass operation, performed by Magdi Yacoub on 25 June 1979. At that time, Morecambe was told he only had three months to live.
Morecambe increasingly wanted to move away from the double act, and into writing and playing other roles. In 1980, he played the "Funny Uncle" in a dramatisation of the John Betjeman poem "Indoor Games Near Newbury", part of an ITV special titled Betjeman's Britain. Produced and directed by Charles Wallace, it spawned the start of a working relationship that led to a follow-up in 1981 for Paramount Pictures titled Late Flowering Love in which Morecambe played an RAF major. The film was released in the UK with Raiders of the Lost Ark. In 1981, Morecambe published Mr Lonely, a tragicomic novel about a stand-up comedian. He began to focus more on writing.
They also appeared together recalling their music hall days in a one-hour special on ITV on 2 March 1983, called Eric & Ernie's Variety Days. During this time Morecambe published two other novels: The Reluctant Vampire (1982) and its sequel, The Vampire's Revenge (1983). Morecambe and Wise's final show together was the 1983 Christmas special for ITV.
Morecambe and Wise worked on a television movie in 1983, Night Train to Murder, which was broadcast on ITV in January 1985. Continuing his collaboration with Wallace, Morecambe also acted in a short comedy film called The Passionate Pilgrim opposite Tom Baker and Madeline Smith, again directed by Wallace for MGM/UA. It was released in the cinema with the James Bond film Octopussy and later with WarGames. Wallace and Morecambe were halfway through filming a fourth film when Morecambe died. It was never completed.
Personal life
Eric Morecambe
Eric Morecambe married Joan Bartlett in Margate, Thanet, Kent, on 11 December 1952. They held their wedding reception at the Bulls Head pub in Margate. They had three children: Gail (born 1953); Gary (born 1956) and Steven (born 1970).
Joan Morecambe died on her 97th birthday on 26 March 2024.
In his leisure time, Eric was a keen birdwatcher, and the statue of him at Morecambe shows him wearing his binoculars. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds named a hide after him at the nearby Leighton Moss RSPB reserve in recognition of his support. In 1984 the RSPB bought the 459 hectares (1,130 acres) Old Hall Marshes Reserve near Tolleshunt D'Arcy in Essex for £780,000, helped by donations to the Eric Morecambe Memorial Appeal.
Morecambe was the nephew of the rugby league player John "Jack" Bartholomew.
Alongside various other celebrities, Morecambe sent a message of support to Margaret Thatcher after she won the 1979 general election, wishing her luck during the 1979 European election campaign. His message ended, "God bless you, Maggie, and good luck in the European Campaign and it is your round next."
Health problems
Eric Morecambe
In a diary entry from 17 August 1967, when Morecambe and Wise were appearing in Great Yarmouth as part of a summer season, Morecambe observed: "I have a slight pain on the left side around my heart. It's most likely wind, but I've had it for about four days. That's a hell of a time to have wind."
He suffered a near-fatal heart attack late on 7 November 1968 after a show, while driving back to his hotel outside Leeds. Morecambe had been appearing with Wise during a week of midnight performances at the Variety Club in Batley, Yorkshire. Morecambe and Wise appeared there in December 1967 for a week, making £4,000 (equivalent to £61,000 in 2023).
From the beginning of the week Morecambe noticed he had pains in his right arm but thought little of it, thinking the pains were tennis elbow or rheumatism. That night, he headed back to his hotel; he recounted in an interview with Michael Parkinson in November 1972 that, as the pains spread to his chest, he became unable to drive. He was rescued by a passerby as he stopped the car. The first hospital they arrived at had no Accident and Emergency department. At the second one, Morecambe admitted himself, and a heart attack was immediately diagnosed. Morecambe was due to appear at the London Palladium with his partner Ernie Wise on 18 November 1968, but had to miss the performance as he was recovering in hospital. The comedian Frankie Howerd and impressionist Mike Yarwood were both late stand-ins for them instead.
After leaving hospital on 24 November 1968 under orders not to work for three months, Morecambe gave up his cigarette habit and started smoking a pipe, as he mentioned that he was trying to do in August 1967. He also stopped doing summer and winter seasons and reduced many of his public engagements. Morecambe took six months off, returning for a press call at the BBC Television Centre in May 1969. On 27 July of that year, Morecambe and Wise returned to the stage at the Bournemouth Winter Gardens, and received a four-minute standing ovation.
Morecambe suffered a second heart attack in March 1979, and underwent bypass surgery in June.
Death
Eric Morecambe
Morecambe took part in a charity show, hosted by close friend and comedian Stan Stennett, at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, on Sunday 27 May 1984. His wife Joan, who was in the audience, recalled that Morecambe was "on top form".
After the show had ended and Morecambe had first left the stage, the musicians returned and picked up their instruments. He rushed back onto the stage to join them and played various instruments making six curtain calls. On leaving the stage for the final time as the house tabs fell, he stepped into the wings and collapsed with his third heart attack in 16 years. He was rushed to Cheltenham General Hospital, where he died just before 3 a.m. on Monday 28 May.
His funeral was held on 4 June at St Nicholas Church, Harpenden, with the principal address delivered by Dickie Henderson. There was a private cremation service at Garston. His ashes were later returned to the church for burial in the Garden of Remembrance.
Ernie Wise said in an interview, "I think I had two sad days, I think – when my father died and, actually, when Eric died."
Legacy
Eric Morecambe
Statue of Eric Morecambe in Morecambe, Lancashire, England
• A larger-than-life statue of Morecambe, created by sculptor Graham Ibbeson, was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II at Morecambe in July 1999 and is surrounded by inscriptions of many of his favourite catchphrases and an exhaustive list of guest stars who appeared on the show. The statue was vandalised in October 2014, having had one of its legs sawn off. Subsequently, it was moved to London for repair and was restored on 11 December 2014.
Sculpture of Eric Morecambe, Upper Lea Valley Walk between Harpenden and Luton, England
• In Harpenden, Hertfordshire, where Morecambe and his family lived from the 1960s until his death, the public concert hall is named after him, with a portrait of Morecambe hanging in the foyer. Morecambe often referred to Harpenden in his comedy, with a band once appearing on the show named The Harpenden Hot-Shots and in a Casanova sketch he introduced himself as Lord Eric, Fourth Duke of Harpenden "and certain parts of Birkenhead". Morecambe was the guest of honour, and performed the opening ceremony at the 75th Anniversary Fete of St George's School, Harpenden. • A West End Show, The Play What I Wrote, opened in 2001 as a tribute to the duo. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, each performance featured a different guest celebrity. In March 2003, the show transferred to Broadway. • In 2003, Morecambe's eldest son Gary released "Life's Not Hollywood, It's Cricklewood", a biography of his father from the point of view of his family, using family photos and extracts from previously unseen diaries. • Kenilworth Road Stadium, the home of Luton Town F.C., has a suite named after Morecambe. He was a supporter and one-time president of the club. • J D Wetherspoon opened a public house called The Eric Bartholomew in Morecambe in 2004. • At the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, the Eric Morecambe Room is used by local and national companies for conferences and meetings. • There is a bird hide named after him at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve, which is on Morecambe Bay, near Carnforth, Lancashire. • The play Morecambe was created as a celebration of the life of Eric Morecambe. It played at the Edinburgh fringe festival in 2009 and subsequently transferred to London's West End before embarking on a UK tour in 2010. • In February 2016 Morecambe's 1968 Jensen Interceptor, which he had bought for £4,500, was offered for sale at £150,000. • In November 2024 it was announced that a collection of Morecambe's memorabilia and personal items, from his former home, Brachefield in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, would be sold, following the death in March of his widow, Joan. The collection includes telegrams from Prince Philip and letters from Margaret Thatcher and fellow comics Ronnie Barker and Tommy Cooper. At the auction, on 9 February 2025, Morecambe's distinctive imitation tortoiseshell Metzler spectacles and pipe were bought by long-time fan Robbie Williams for £20,000, much more than their £2,000 to £4,000 estimate.