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| Morecambe & Wise Trivia
Want to amuse and amaze your friends at parties?
Here are a collection of interesting facts....
Lords Taverners
Eric was the President of the Lords Taverners from 1977 to 1979.
Joan Morecambe is an Honorary Life President of the Lady Taverners and was one
of the founders.
Mobile Phones
Ernie made the first UK mobile phone call on 1
January 1985. Using the Vodaphone network the call was made from St Katherine's
dock to Vodafone's head office in Newbury, which at the time was over a curry
house!
The Sweeney
When Eric & Ern appeared on the Sweeney - their agent
insisted they were given separate caravans to change in. According to John Thaw
- this was the only time anyone on the show, including them, got a caravan in
the whole 4 years. They normally changed in toilets or anything that was handy!
Who's the straight man?
Early in their career, Eric performed as Ern's
straightman for a short time..
Running away...
The complete set of tapes for
their first series Running Wild no longer exists. The BBC are currently looking
for any off-air or private copies - can you help? Also, while you are looking,
try to find any of the first BBC shows too. Clumsy lot these BBC folk!
Cross Channel...
The second and third series, produced for ITV in 1962 and 1963, made
a surprise but welcome reappearance on British TV almost 40 years later when the
BBC was offered the opportunity (by PolyGram, then owner of the ATV archive) to
buy one-shot rescreening rights. All 26 editions, complete but for the
commercial breaks, were shown by BBC2 from 4 January 1999 to 22 December 2000.
Quite apart from their historical interest, this represented the first time an
entire comedy series made for ITV had turned up on the BBC, its great rival at
the time they were produced (and still, albeit less so, today). Incidentally,
the 26 programmes also proved that, although billed in TV Times as The Morecambe
And Wise Show, the show's on-screen title in this period was Two Of A Kind.
Monster...
In 2005 the Monster Raving Loony Party's "manicfesto" stated that
they would change the national anthem to "Bring Me Sunshine". They said "It is
quicker, more tuneful and people know the words."
Spelling...
In the credits of
the video 'Musical Extravaganzas', Eric's name is spelt incorrectly! It is
displayed as Eric Morcambe... Eric's name often causes confusion, even the BBC
have made errors on their own website!
Keep It Tidy
Ernie Wise was an active and
long-time participant in the "Keep Britain Tidy" campaign. He once posed for a
publicity photo, grinning cheerfully while two boys in "Keep Britain Tidy"
T-shirts stuffed him into a rubbish bin.
Numbers' Up...
When Britain's Premium
Bond scheme began selecting its lottery numbers by means of the computer known
as Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment (ERNIE), Ern was chosen (for
obvious reasons) to draw the first number.
Sing Along...
Ernies 1992 Christmas
single was a recommended retail release in Music Week.
Ernie Leeds?
When Eric
changed his name to “Morecambe”, Ernie considered changing his to “Leeds”,
taking the name of his home town. Eric pointed out that “Morecambe and Leeds”
sounded too much like an away day on the train. Ernie decided not to change his
name...
Sound advice?
A few years before Eric's first heart attack (7th Nov
1968), Ernie was advised by his insurance broker to consider an insurance policy
to guard against anything that might happen to Eric. Ernie was unsure, but took
out the policy. It cost £200 a year and he kept it for 2 years. When it came up
for renewal in the third year, Ernie declined saying it was a waste of money and
Eric was in good health. A week later Eric had his heart attack.
Ernie's Last
Appearance
Ernies made his last television appearance on a show called Aunties
All-Time Greats, broadcast in 1996. It was a programme to honour the people who
had been with the BBC over the last 60 years. Hosted by Michael Parkinson and
Ernie collected an award for best double act along with Joan, Eric's wife.
Birthdays
Ernie shares his birthday with Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee.
Eric shares
his birthday with Bobby Darin and George Lucas.
A Right Charlie
The
ventriloquists doll used by Eric is called Charlie. There were only ever two
made. The original one used on television and stage, and a second Charlie made
especially for the Sweeney episode. Both dolls were looked after by Eric's
chauffeur, Mike Fountain.
Seeing Double!
When trying to think of a new name for
the act, Eddie Large (of Little and Large fame, then just called Syd and Eddie)
was inspired by Morecambe and Wise. Eddie Explains in his autobiography "Larger
Than Life". "Then I thought I could copy Morecambe and Wise and I thought of Syd
Blackpool and Eddie Daft, but no one can copy Morecambe and Wise"
Stand In - Ooo
noooo
When Eric had his first heart attack, Morecambe and Wise were unable to do
the Royal Variety Show. Their standin was Frankie Howerd.
Underground
The number
one dressing room at the London Palladium was windowless. Eric would refer to it
as "Hitler's Bunker"
Brad Pitt
Jonathan Ross gave Brad Pitt a copy of the Xmas
specials on Film 2007 as a present! They showed a clip from the film Oceans
Thirteen where Eddie Izzard say's to Brad and George Clooney "you two look like
like Morecambe & Wise"...Brad and George do not have a clue who he is referring
to so Jonathan helped them out.
Illuminating...
Eric and Ern switched on the illuminations in Morecambe twice. Once in 1969 and again in 1975. Other celebs to press the button
in Morecambe include Stirling Moss, Steptoe & Son, Jimmy Saville and Roger Moore.
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