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20 iconic images of Eric Morecambe chart his incredible career

From meeting the Queen Mother, to appearing at Number 10, and on the set of his iconic films, Eric Morecambe's life in iconic pictures.

• 08:32, 9 JAN 2022

Images detailing the stunning career of Eric Morecambe have been found.

Archivists working for LancsLive have found mounds of pictures, dating back to the 1960s, telling the riveting tale of the Lancashire comedian's time in the spotlight.

Though Eric, who loved his hometown of Morecambe so much that he took it as his adopted surname, died back in 1984, he and his comedic partner, Ernie Wise, are remembered as two of the greatest laugh merchants in British history.

Our picture department have carefully selected 20 iconic images, many of them backstage, charting Eric Morecambe's extraordinary career.

Some of the most striking images show him, with Ernie Wise in tow, meeting Prime Ministers and even the late Queen Mother.

Another, from 1976, depicts the pair proudly showing off their recently awarded OBEs.

IYA Memory Lane

More images show the duo at various award ceremonies, rubbing shoulders with other celebrities and members of high society including Princess Anne.

They are also pictured with Maggie Smith, a great actor in her own right who has garnered plaudits throughout her career, most recently starring as Professor Minerva Mcgonagall in the Harry Potter films.

Morecambe and Wise began performing together, on stage and the radio, back in the 1940s before launching into the world of TV.

Though they fronted several successful shows none was so well received as the Morecambe and Wise Show which began on the BBC in September, 1968.

Eric and Ernie became the nation’s most popular double act and their show became unmissable television, culminating in the 1977 Christmas Day special, which was watched by 28 million viewers.

The pair returned to ITV for five years at the end of their career from 1978.

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Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise at rehearsals for one of their famous Christmas specials in 1983

Morecambe and Wise are pictured with famous script writer Eddie Braben at the BBC Television Centre in West London, circa May 1970

Eric Morecambe promoting his book "Mr Lonely" in Birmingham, March 1981

Eric Morecambe and Tom Baker on location at Hever Castle where they shot their 1982 film the Passionate Pilgrim

Eric Morecambe with fellow comedian Des O'Connor in 1978

A Variety Club Lunch attended by Tommy Cooper, Dean Martin, Dickie Henderson, Judy Buxton Ernie Wise, Fiona Fullerton, and Eric Morecambe, circa 1983

Morecambe and Wise present Des O'Connor with a golden disc to mark 100,000 sales of his album Just For You on January 8, 1980

Eric Morecambe is named Pipe man of the Year, as judged by Tobacco & the rian Pipe Trade Association, pictured with a number of his pipes in December 1970

Comedians Morecambe and Wise show off their medals outside Buckingham Palace after being invested by Her Majesty The Queen with O.B.Es in November 1976

Morecambe and Wise prepare for their 1980 Christmas TV while on the tv set for Hamlet

Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise during a key interview by Cliff Davis in 1964

Elton John poses with Morecambe and Wise at BBC television centre in 1976

The Queen Mother meets Eric Morecambe Ernie Wise at the London Palladium

Princess Anne presents the award for best Television light entertainment show to Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise for their Morecambe and Wise Showin 1971

Luton Town director Eric Morecambe celebrates with his players after they win promotion to Division One in 1974

Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, visit Madame Tussaud's in 1972, eager to inspect their new waxworks

Morecambe and wise meet Prime Minister Harold Wilson at the United Nations 30th Anniversary Garden Party at 10 Downing Street, London, in May 1975

Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, about to star in a pantomime, celebrate their latest accomplishment a Joint Showbiz Award by the Variety Club of Great Britain, February 1965.

The TV and Film Awards of March 1970, held at the London Palladium, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise with Maggie Smith

Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise pictured with Wanda Ventham, on set the of their new film 'The Intelligence Men', at Pinewood Studios, in November 1964

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Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Eric Morecambe

Image: Wikimedia Comms

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1. Eric took his stage name from the oceanside retreat of Morecambe in Lancashire.

2. he accepted dance examples as a kid., 3. he was hitched to joan bartlett., 4. eric had significant medical conditions..

5. He was extremely skilled.

6. eric and ernie, 7. before his unexpected passing, eric had proactively experienced a huge cardiovascular failure..

Image: Pixabay

8. His work was exceptionally famous

9. hilson delivered a personal history on him., 10. the morecambe sculpture.

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Eric Morecambe (1926-1984)

IMDbPro Starmeter See rank

• 7 wins total

• 1972–1977 • 19 eps

• Eric Morecambe

• Fernando Torres

• Funny Uncle

• Various Characters
• 12 episodes

• Comedian (as Morecambe and Wise)

• Eric Simpson
• additional material
• 10 episodes
• 19 episodes

• performer: "Positive Thinking"

• performer: "Bring Me Sunshine"

• performer: "Moonlight Bay"
• performer: "Little Sir Echo" (uncredited)
• performer: "There's Something About You Baby I Like"
• performer: "How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life?"
• performer: "A Couple of Swells" ...
• 25 episodes

Personal details

• 5′ 8½″ (1.74 m)
• May 14 , 1926
• Buxton Street, Morecambe, Lancashire, England, UK
• May 28 , 1984
• Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK (heart attack)
• Joan Morecambe December 11, 1952 - May 28, 1984 (his death, 3 children)
• Children Gary Morecambe
• Sadie Bartholomew
• 4 Biographical Movies
• 2 Print Biographies
• 4 Portrayals
• 1 Interview
• 1 Pictorial
• 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

• Trivia He collapsed and died on-stage at The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury in May 1984, watched by his wife, immediately after appearing in a show with Stan Stennett .
• Quotes I know this great Doctor, if you're at Death's Door he'll pull you through!
• When did Eric Morecambe die?
• How did Eric Morecambe die?
• How old was Eric Morecambe when he died?

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Biography Online

Eric Morecambe Biography

John Eric Bartholomew OBE (14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984)

“My neighbour asked if he could use my lawnmower and I told him of course he could, so long as he didn’t take it out of my garden.”

Short Bio – Eric Morecambe

Eric Bartholomew was born in the northern seaside resort of Morecambe. From an early age, he won local talent competitions and became enamoured of becoming a professional comedian and entertainer. He left school in 1940, aged only 14, and with a young friend – Ernest Wise – they began a double act on stage in the Nottingham Empire. Their performance was viewed as a success, but it was split up due to their commitments to national service during World War II. Eric was one of the Bevin Boy’s working down a mine in Accrington. However, the first signs of ill health which were to dog him through the rest of his life led to him being invalided out of national service after 11 months.

After the war, a chance meeting with his former partner – Ernie Wise, led them to restart their double act. They worked on various stage and radio productions before gaining their first TV series ( Running Wild ) in 1954. It was not a critical success, but, it didn’t hamper their progress. In 1961, they were given a tv series at ITV – Two of A Kind . The show became increasingly popular and attracted a variety of celebrities onto the show. It was during this period that Eric married his wife – Joan Bartlett in December 1952, they had two children Gail and Steven.

It was their move to the BBC in 1968, which really pushed them to the top of the ratings, making Morecambe and Wise the most popular entertainers on TV. Generally, it was Morecambe who was seen as the funniest, with Wise playing his role as the straight man. Like Tommy Cooper , Morecambe had the ability to make people laugh just by the simplest of body actions or smiles. His endearing qualities and image of clean cut humour made the show the star attraction at Christmas Time. The 1977  Morecambe & Wise , Christmas Special receiving a record 28 million viewers.

“I always take my wife morning tea in my pyjamas. But is she grateful? No, she says she’d rather have it in a cup.” – Eric Morecambe

Yet, although Morecambe appeared to be spontaneously funny, he actually went to great lengths practising and preparing his acts. Indeed his wife, Joan Bartlett, said that Eric Morecambe would begin worrying about the Christmas special by June. Morecambe had exacting standards, and the great success of the programmer only made him more determined to keep find better jokes and better ways of doing the show – such standards became increasingly stressful to maintain, and Morecambe’s health suffered as a result.

His first major heart attack occurred in 1968. He was saved by a passer-by who rushed him to hospital in his car. Later Morecambe heard that his ‘rival’ Des O Connor had heard about his heart attack on and asked his audience on live TV to pray for his recovery. When Morecambe later heard he thanked O’Connor and said: “It was the prayers of those six or seven people which made all the difference.” – Des O’Connor was frequently the butt of jokes by Morecambe and Wise, though Des was quite happy and used to even write his own self-deprecating jokes.

Another feature of the Morecambe and Wise shows was the many great celebrities who were guests on the show. But, in his own style, Morecambe would fail to recognise the stars and gently insult them. For example, calling Ringo Star of the Beatles – Bongo.

In 1979, Morecambe had another heart attack and only survived thanks to pioneering heart surgery by Magdi Yacoub. Following this, Morecambe increasingly strived to pursue a solo career – having grown somewhat tired of his double act. It was perhaps loyalty to his partner Ernie Wise that kept it going. Nevertheless, despite his ill-health, he managed to write screenplays and his own novels.

In 1984, Eric Morecambe collapsed after a performance on stage, suffering a third and this time fatal heart attack. He died later at Cheltenham General hospital aged 58.

He was voted one of the greatest top 100 Britons and also the favourite British Comedian, ahead of John Cleese and Tommy Cooper . A larger than life statue in his home-town of Morecambe is a prominent feature of the prom.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Biography of Eric Morecambe”, Oxford, www.biographyonline.net, Published 25/4/2009

• Eric Morecambe at Amazon.co.uk
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Eric and Ern Tour 2021 – Interview and tour dates

Eric and Ern Tour – Comedy duo Ian Ashptel and Jonty Stephens are back bringing their personal brand of sunshine to their acclaimed Morecombe and Wise tribute. UK Tour dates below.

Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens are back on tour with Eric and Ern, the show which earned them an Olivier nomination in 2014 for their loving homage to comedy icons Eric Morecombe and Ernie Wise described as “the most illustrious, and best-loved, double act that Britain has ever produced.

Eric and Ern will tour the UK from 5 October with Christmas dates at Theatre Royal Plymouth and The Lowry (Dates below).

Crammed full of renditions of those famous comedy sketches, and coupled with contemporary  references in their unique style, the show evokes memories of times when whole families would huddle around the telly on Sunday evenings to share in the much-loved antics of Britain’s national treasures.

As seen on BBC One’s ‘The One Show’ and ITV1’s ‘The Alan Titchmarsh Show’, the performances contain some of the first new writing in the style of Morecambe & Wise material in over 30 years.

Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens have been performing and writing as Eric and Ern for more than five years. The research into their subjects is there for all to see in their staggeringly accurate portrayal of the most successful and much loved British comedy duo of all time. The performers themselves have a wonderful relationship with the families and estates of Morecambe & Wise – with all scripts given the families’ seal of approval before being performed.

ERIC AND ERN TOUR DATES 2021

CRAWLEY – Hawth Theatre Thursday 7 October at 7.30pm hawth.co.uk

YEOVIL – Octagon   Friday 8 October at 7.30pm octagon-theatre.co.uk

HAYES – Beck Theatre Tuesday 12 October at 7.30pm becktheatre.org.uk

PETERBOROUGH – New Theatre Wednesday 13 October  at 7.30pm newtheatre-peterborough.com

SCARBOROUGH – Scarborough Spa   Thursday 14 October at 7.30pm scarboroughspa.co.uk

CROMER – Cromer Pier, North Norfolk Saturday 16 October at 8pm cromerpier.co.uk

LINCOLN – New Theatre Royal Tuesday 19 October at 7.30pm newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk

SALE – Waterside Arts Friday 22 October at 7.30pm watersidearts.org

CHESTERFIELD – Pomegranate Theatre Saturday 23 October  – 2.30pm & 7.30pm chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

BARROW-IN-FURNESS – The Forum Sunday 24 October at 7.30pm theforumbarrow.co.uk

CREWE – Lyceum Monday 25 & Tuesday 26 October at 7.30pm crewelyceum.co.uk

SCUNTHORPE – The Baths Hall Wednesday 27 October at 7.30pm scunthorpetheatres.co.uk

LEAMINGTON SPA – Royal Spa Centre Friday 29 October at 7.30pm warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre

EDINBURGH – Festival Theatre Monday 15 November at 7.30pm capitaltheatres.com

ABERDEEN – Tivoli Tuesday 16 November at 7.30pm thetivolitheatre.com

LIVERPOOL – Everyman Theatre Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 November  at 7.30pm everymanplayhouse.com

IAN ASHPITEL & JONTY STEPHENS as ERIC & ERN AT CHRISTMAS DATES

What made you want to do a show that uses Morecambe and Wise as the inspiration?

Jonty : To be honest it all came about through other people seeing what we had from a five-minute sketch and saying ‘you should do something with this’.

Ian : It’s only when we sat down and talked about it that we decided that if we were going to do something, it had to be a play that looked at the relationship between Eric and Ern.

Jonty : It was a real voyage of discovery for both of us. I was a massive Morecambe and Wise fan and had seen and read just about everything they’d ever done or had been written about them.

Ian : Yes, it was Jonty’s brilliant impression of Eric and his knowledge of Morecambe and Wise that laid the foundation to everything that followed really,

How did you both meet and how did the pairing for this show happen?

Ian (Ernie) We first met at Drama school in 1983 – I was a mature student…..

Jonty ( Eric) And I was an immature student.

Ian   Despite Jonty being two years ahead of me and me being a lowly first year we became the best of friends and have remained so ever since.

Jonty : The pairing happened for that five-minute sketch which we performed at the host club for the  Stage Golfing Society, of which we are both members. Some fool asked me to do Eric for the show and I said “yes, but I’ll need a Little Ern, I looked across the bar and there was Ian with his hair and short fat hairy legs”

Ian : Then six years later they asked us to do it again, but this time we wrote some material in the style of M and W and It went down so well we realised two things – People believed were good enough to portray them and that perhaps we could write something about them as well.

How long have you been doing your Eric and Ernie act and what different shows have you done in that time?

Jonty : We did a try out 30-minute piece at the 503 Theatre in Battersea in November 2012.

Ian: We’re both what you might describe as ‘jobbing actors’. We have both had good solid, varied acting careers in theatre, films and TV. From Chris Hart in Family Affairs to Roy Piper in Thin Ice on BBC2. Also doing a lot of comedy with  Armando Ianucci amongst others. The last TV thing I did was playing Mr Hardcastle in Mr Selfridge.

Jonty :  Yes, I was a regular in Minder, 3 series of All About Me with Jasper Carrott also working with Lennie Henry. Plus many other TV and theatre roles. Most recently may have seen me in Peaky Blinders.

How would you describe what you do and how does it make you feel when you do it?

Jonty : Well, what we try and do is get the audience to believe that for two hours we are Eric and Ern – and no one knows more than we do what a tall order that is.

Ian : Jonty always said ‘we’re sticking our heads above the parapet and hoping no one shoots us down’ and they haven’t yet. It’s gone from Jonty doing an impression and then growing into both of us doing a portrayal of two working-class lads who ‘made it’ in comedy.

Jonty : And there’s no better feeling in the world than making people laugh, but to make them laugh as Morecambe and Wise….It’s joy to perform as them. They were so beloved by the public and we feel that affection when we’re doing the show.

Ian : It’s special. And it’s us, as it was them, as a duo, a double act, making them laugh – together.

What can you tell us about your show An Evening With Eric and Ern?

Jonty : It’s a real celebration of the comedy of Morecambe and Wise. You’ll see some of their most loved sketches along with some you may not be so familiar with.

Ian : Plus some new material by us in the style of Eric & Ern. We also have the brilliant singer Becky Neale with us. We gently rib her as Eric and Ernie would….. plus a few surprises.

Jonty :  It’s real family entertainment, with good old fashioned belly laughs at the silliness and brilliance of Eric and Ern – as it was with all the M and W shows. We love it when there are children in the audience laughing along with their Mums and Dads.

Ian : Of course they’re seeing this comedy for the first time and love it as much as we did when we were kids. I’ve no idea why the parents are laughing ‘cos they have seen some of it before!

How do people react when they see you on stage in character?

Ian : I think we forget the physical and vocal likeness we have to Eric & Ern. For the first few minutes the audience are slightly shocked, you know, they’re still taking it in, tuning in almost, I guess

Jonty : But then they get swept away and just enjoy the great comedy of M&W. We have had some lovely comments. From people saying ‘ ‘We forgot that we weren’t watching the real Eric and Ernie’ to ‘Thank you for bringing them back to us – if only for a couple of hours.’

Ian : I think also, there is a huge emotional connection to M and W. As soon as they see us and hear the music, they’re transported back to a time that they watched them with their nearest and dearest.

Jonty : A lot of people are in tears at the end of the show. Which is a shame really ‘cos its meant to be a comedy!

What makes Morecambe and Wise so special?

Jonty :  I think the fact that they were so close, performing together from the age of 13. They honed their skills for over 20 years before they really made it big in their 40’s. That friendship and closeness gave them their unique talent.

Ian :  It was also their relationship off and on stage which gave them their huge success. They were so funny together, they trusted each other. There’s a chemistry between them that you can’t fake. It has to be real, otherwise the audience can see if it isn’t.

What did their humour and comedy shows have that you think is missing in comedy these days?

Jonty : They were just so funny, the years together. The runnings gags, Ernie’s wig, Eric’s glasses. Their roots in variety with song and dance. The innocence of their comedy.

Ian : They had such broad appeal. Mums, Dads, Children and grandparents –  three generations laughing at the same comedy. Written of course by the late great Eddie Braben. There is nothing like it on TV today – and I’m not sure there ever will be again.

How does it feel for you to be able to give people a taste of such amazing comedy from such great legends?

Jonty : It’s a huge honour to portray them and shine a light on their huge talent. We take it very seriously and feel a huge responsibility to represent M&W in the right way.

Ian : You know, going to the theatre its a two-way street. The performer gives out all they can and sometimes it doesn’t come back. In this show we literally bask in the love and affection coming back from the audience. It’s amazing.

What similarities are there between yourselves and Morecambe and Wise?

Jonty :  Well, I’m bald and Ian’s got short fat hairy legs! But seriously our friendship is the key really. Knowing each other for over 30 years. We really best mates, even before our journey of performing as Eric and Ernie.We trust each other implicitly and always look out for each other on and off stage. You cannot fake that closeness and It was the same for Eric and Ernie.

Ian : Yes, a few we’ve discovered a few things over a period of time. Eric wasn’t the most organised and Jonty’s brain can sometimes be best described as chaotic and like Ernie, I also have a padlock on me wallet. No, Its more about the relationship we have and they had really – both very different people but ultimately like brothers with complete trust in one another.

Jonty : It’s also interesting finding out about how they worked behind the scenes, how they worked on the comedy. Worked being the operative word. They rehearsed hard and it was a real joint effort, with Ernie contributing as much as Eric.

Ian : Yes, and we’re the same. I think I’m a bit more organised and get things down on paper. I’ll write something and the Jonty will ‘Ericify’ it and make it funnier. Bit like the boys. They both brought different things to the rehearsal room but it was the sum of what they did together that was key. Together with the writing of course. But it was the two of them as it is the two of us.

Jonty : There’s a lovely interview where they’re asked about this and Eric says “Well, I make him laugh and he makes me laugh”

Ian : And that above all else for us is the key because we are exactly the same. When we’re trying new material if we both laugh at the same time – we know it’s going to work.

Jonty : Do we?

What do Eric and Ernie’s families think of your show and what impact has that had on you?

Jonty : We have been very lucky to have had amazing support from the Morecambe family and the estate of Ernie. We treasure our relationship with them. We always try and run everything buy them before we do anything as Eric and Ernie. It’s vitally important that the families are happy with what we are doing and how we are portraying the boys.

Ian : Yes, to have there ‘approval’ is paramount and it’s a question we are often asked and to be able to say we have that nod makes us feel more secure in what we are trying to do.  

What type of audiences do you get for An Evening With Eric and Ern?

Jonty : What’s been great is that we obviously get the die-hard Morecambe and Wise fans who we love because they get everything – and sometimes join in.

Ian :  But also we are also getting young people who maybe didn’t know Eric and Ernie initially and are brought along by parents and find they are loving the comedy just a much. Then they go home and look them up and start watching them online at home.  

What are you most looking forward to about taking this show on UK tour?

Ian : Sharing the genius and wonderful comedy of Eric and Ern up and down the country. Taking them to a world of sunshine and laughter…..

Jonty : Where there is no mention of Brexit and that other fella – Donald something or other.

Ian : Trump!

Jonty : That’s the one – I thank you!

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Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.

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Visiting The Eric Morecambe Centre

Opening times.

Our café and box office are open to the public Monday to Saturday between 10:00am and 2:00pm.

You’re welcome to stop by in person, grab a coffee and pick up a ticket for your next show.

Email  [email protected]  if you have any booking queries.

Please note, we don’t have a cloakroom or bag storage facilities. 

We have a café and Main Bar onsite selling soft and alcoholic drinks and snacks pre and during the show.

Our nearest Car Park is Harpenden Leisure Centre. The satnav postcode for the car-park is AL5 2HS.

For car parking, follow signs to Harpenden Leisure Centre and park in Amenbury Lane Car Park, located next to the Leisure Centre. To get there, turn into Amenbury Lane, follow the signs for the car park on the left hand side immediately after passing “The Oddfellows Arms” public house on your right. Parking information and charges can be found on the St Albans Council website.

Follow the signs towards the Eric Morecambe Centre and walk towards Rothamsted Park. Our Theatre is on your left.

Note : The car park at the back of the Eric Morecambe Centre is for staff and visiting company’s only. Fines apply.

By Train/on Foot

Harpenden is approximately 30 minutes from Kings Cross St Pancras International station and 6 minutes from St. Albans by train. The station is situated on the City Thameslink and therefore has great links to Luton, Bedford and even Brighton.

When leaving Harpenden Station, turn left and walk down Station Road towards the town centre. At the mini roundabout turn left and cross the road by the zebra crossing, and head straight along the path that crosses the common, towards Park Hall. The Eric Morecambe Centre is situated in Rothamsted Park, through the main entrance, which is to the left of Park Hall.

Cross the road into Rothamsted Park and The Eric Morecambe Centre is situated a short walk along the path on the right-hand side.

Booking Information

Please note the eric morecambe centre is now a completely cashless venue. no cash can be accepted for any purchases in the venue..

You can either book online 24/7, via our Box Office or in person

To book online please find the event you wish to attend and click on the ‘BOOK NOW‘ button to begin.

You can book tickets in person Monday to Saturday 10am – 2pm. On performance days we are open until half an hour after the performance start time.

To book tickets over the phone you can call our box office on 01582 767525 Monday to Saturday 10am – 2pm. Telephone bookings may be paid for via card at the time of booking; they will be held at the Box Office for your collection. 

Terms and Conditions

We regret that tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged unless a performance is cancelled or rescheduled. Should this occur, we will ‘exchange’ tickets for another performance to the same value or give a credit note to redeem against a show in the future.

Tickets for sell-out shows may be accepted by the Box Office for resale on behalf of the customer but no responsibility is accepted nor sale guaranteed. Any tickets sold on will be given a credit note to redeem against a show in the future less 10% per ticket

Please note the booking fee and transaction fee are non-refundable under any circumstances; this includes the cancellation of a show. Please note credit is held for a maximum of 12 months.

Reservations may be made by telephone and tickets will be held for three days pending receipt of payment in person or via the phone. With all bookings taken by the Box Office staff the best seats will be allocated to you.

Adults booking to see a children’s show must be accompanied by a child. Children under 5 will not be admitted to any other show than family shows.

Tickets must be purchased for children over 18 months old, this is at the show producers’ discretion.

Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult to any show.

Your booking may incur a transaction fee of up to £3.50.

Certain performances offer party booking rates for 10 or more. Please enquire when booking or contact our Box Office Manager on [email protected]

Concessions: Where reduced price is indicated, groups normally included are: Senior Citizens, Children, Students, and Disabled persons. We reserve the right to introduce offers, which cannot be applied be applied to tickets already purchased. Reductions advertised are from the full standard price.

Some of the shows at The Eric Morecambe Centre may have restricted views, these seats will be cheaper. If you are unsure of the seating or have any other questions please email [email protected] . 

Access Information

There is wheelchair access throughout the building with access to a lower levels via a lift. We do not have automatic doors aside from the entrance. There is level access to the entrance of the EMC, this a gravelled path and slope.

There are limited blue badge holders parking at the venue. Please get in touch if you have queries regarding this.

A limited number of wheelchair spaces are available in the Auditorium. Please email [email protected] if you require wheelchair accessible seats as these cannot be booked online.

As with all concessionary tickets, proof of status will need to be shown by accompanying carers. Exceptions to this may be made at the discretion of the management at the time of booking. Please contact the Box Office for more information.

Toilets are situated on the ground and lower floors with disabled toilets on both levels.

Hard of Hearing:

Download Williams AV Wavecast App.

• Download the Williams AV Wavecast App.
• Connect to the Wavecast Wifi network. (this will have no Internet Access)
• Open the app and select what you want to listen to ( select ‘Music’)
• Enjoy the show!

Once connected, the ticket holder must ensure their phone is connected to their aid and the aid is the selected audio output. The app will only work within the auditorium.

Certain performances are signed for the hard of hearing. For further information on these please contact the Box Office on 01582 767525 .  For information on our next relaxed, BSL signed and captioned performances please get in touch.

Using  AccessAble  you should be able to find access details for the venue and Eric Morecambe Centre  guide.

Guide & Hearing Dogs

Your guide or hearing dog is welcome: please advise the Box Office at time of booking.

A ccessible Brochures 

Available on request our brochures are available in both large print and audio formats. Please contact the Box Office for your copy.

Food & Drinks

Harpenden is a beautiful town with a rich history including straw-weaving where straw would be made into delicate plaits and then converted into boater, hats or bonnets!

Today, the town boasts wonderful restaurants and eateries for pre-theatre dinning. Below are our favourites:

Oddfellows Arms – Unique Local Pub

Monty’s – Local Café in the Park

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©The Eric Morecambe Centre 2024

Provided by St Albans City & District Council. Managed in partnership with Everyone Active.

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Eric Morecambe Centre, Rothamsted Park Harpenden, AL5 2FR

Lancaster Civic Vision

The voice of Lancaster Civic Society & Lancaster Vision

Weekend Walk – Eric Morecambe Statue, Morecambe

In 1999 a slightly larger-than-life bronze statue of Eric was unveiled by H. M. The Queen on Morecambe Promenade. The sculptor was Graham Ibbeson. It shows Eric in his famous ‘Give me Sunshine’ pose. He faces the town and round his neck are binoculars to show his love of bird watching for which Morecambe Bay behind him is famous.

Lancaster Civic Society Leaflet No. 102

Eric Morecambe is undoubtedly the best known of Morecambe’s actors and comedians. Born John Eric Bartholomew in 1926 he lived with his parents in Buxton Street in Morecambe. He became one of Britain’s top entertainers along with his stage partner Ernie Wise.  Together they worked with increasing success from the early 1940s to the 1980s in music halls, theatres, radio, film and predominantly BBC and ITV television.  At their peak in the late 1970s they attracted record-breaking television audiences. Eric died in 1984.

In 1999 a slightly larger-than-life bronze statue of Eric was unveiled by H. M. The Queen on Morecambe Promenade. Its cost (£40,000) was raised by public subscription.  The sculptor was Graham Ibbeson. It shows Eric in his famous ‘Give me Sunshine’ pose. He faces the town and round his neck are binoculars to show his love of bird watching for which Morecambe Bay behind him is famous. An endearing flock of chubby bronze gulls guards the statue.

Leading up to the statue are steps designed by Jonathan Speirs, which are lit up at night. In front of the steps is an open area featuring the names of some of the famous stars and scriptwriters who worked with them.

There are also many of Eric’s catchphrases. “Tea, Ern?” “Can’t see the join.”  “What do you think of the show so far?” “Rubbish” and “Ruggish.”  

Text Gordon Clark – Photos Gordon Clark and Ian Green

Published by Lancaster Civic Society (©2022)

www.lancastercivicsociety.uk

A full list of the other over one hundred guides and leaflets to Lancaster, Morecambe and District by category is set out below.

All of these can be accessed, read and downloaded individually by visiting our web page at Guides and Walks – Lancaster and District

Local Villages: 8 Glasson, 9 Sunderland Point, 10 Hornby, 11 Wray, 24 Skerton, 37 Galgate, 53 Scotforth Village, 60 Heysham Village, 82 Dolphinholme, 85 Bare, 87 Overton,  96 Halton, 99 Caton

Morecambe: 12 Morecambe – Along the Prom, 13 Morecambe – The Station by the Sea,  20 Railways around Lancaster and Carnforth, 25 Birdwatching in Lancaster, 29 Shopfronts in Lancaster and Morecambe, 31 New Architecture in Lancaster, Morecambe and District,  34 Five Theatres in Lancaster & Morecambe, 35 Four Parks in Lancaster & Morecambe, 40 Morecambe Bay, 45 On the Road in the Lancaster Area, 47 Three Town Halls, 49 Morecambe in the 1930s, 54 Lancaster & Morecambe Line – Short Station Walks, 58 The Winter Gardens, Morecambe, 60 Heysham Village, 67 Morecambe Clock Tower, 75 The Workhouse for Lancaster and Morecambe, 76 Lancaster and Morecambe’s Water Supply, 81 Morecambe’s Piers, 83 Hospitals in Lancaster and Morecambe, 85 Bare, 89 Torrisholme and Torrisholme Barrow, 92 Heysham Harbour, 102 Eric Morecambe Statue, Morecambe

Lancaster Architecture: 6 Stained Glass in Lancaster, 7 Public Art in Lancaster, 26 Front Doors in Lancaster, 29 Shopfronts in Lancaster and Morecambe, 31 New Architecture in Lancaster, Morecambe and District, 32 Edmund Sharpe, 44 Windows, 52 The Building Stones of Lancaster, 55 The Ashton Memorial, Lancaster, 56 The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster, 57 St Peter’s Cathedral, Lancaster, 61 Georgian Lancaster, 68 The Storey, 70 Kingsway, 73 The Royal Albert, Lancaster, 74 The Moor Hospital, Lancaster, 77 Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster, 80 St Joseph’s Skerton, 88 Cockersand Abbey, 90 Thurnham Church and Gillow Mausoleum, 95 Judges’ Lodgings

Lancaster – Crafts: 5 Gillows of Lancaster, 6 Stained Glass of Lancaster, 86 J M W Turner and the Crook Of Lune

Lancaster – Major Buildings: 1 Almshouses in Lancaster, 28 Lancaster Castle, 34 Five Theatres in Lancaster and Morecambe, 38 Two Universities, 47 Three Town Halls, 48 Lancaster in 1909, 50 Lancaster in the 1960s, 55 The Ashton Memorial, Lancaster, 56 The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster, 57 St Peter’s Cathedral, Lancaster, 59 St George’s Quay, Lancaster, 61 Georgian Lancaster, 68 The Storey, 69 Lancaster Railway Station, 70 Kingsway, 73 The Royal Albert, Lancaster, 74 The Moor Hospital, Lancaster, 75 The Workhouse for Lancaster and Morecambe, 77 Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster, 83 Hospitals in Lancaster and Morecambe, 88 Cockersand Abbey, 94 Ashton Hall, 95 Judges’ Lodgings

Lancaster Streets: 14 Sun Street, Lancaster, 15 High Street, Lancaster, 64 Streets Renamed in Lancaster, 65 The Earliest Map of Lancaster, 66 Map of Lancaster 1778, 71 Freehold, 72 The Development of Haverbreaks, Lancaster, 91 Turnpike Roads Around Lancaster, 93 Golgotha, 98 The Friary and Dalton Square

Lancaster – Wars, Cemeteries and Memorials: 2 Crosses in Lancaster Cemetery, 3 Lancaster Cemetery, 17 Queen Victoria Monument, Lancaster, 18 Lancaster War Memorial, 19 Westfield War Memorial Village, 33 Scotforth Cemetery, 63 Lancaster Cemetery – Notable Gravestones and Memorials

Lancaster – Places of Worship: 4 Friends’ Meeting House, Lancaster, 16 St John’s Lancaster – A Georgian Town Church, 56 The Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster, 57 St Peter’s Cathedral, Lancaster, 80 St Joseph’s Skerton, 90 Thuurnham Church and Gillow Mausoleum

Parks, Open Spaces and Gardens: 22 Lune Bridges Walks, Lancaster, 25 Birdwatching in Lancaster, 35 Four Parks in Lancaster and Morecambe, 36 Fairfield, 39 River Lune and Lancaster Canal, 41 Forest of Bowland, 42 Arnside and Silverdale, 46 Thomas Mawson of Lancaster

Industry and Transport: 20 Railways around Lancaster and Carnforth, 21 Lancaster’s Canalside Mills, 30 Lancaster Wagon Works, Caton Road, 45 On the Road in the Lancaster area, 48 Lancaster in 1909, 49 Morecambe in the 1930s, 50 Lancaster in the 1960s, 54 Lancaster & Morecambe Line – Short Station Walks, 59 St George’s Quay, Lancaster,   69 Lancaster Railway Station, 70 Kingsway, 91, Turnpike Roads Around Lancaster, 92 Heysham Harbour

Miscellaneous and General: 23 Signs and Plaques in Lancaster, 27 Curiosities in Lancaster, 43 Philanthropists in Lancaster, 48 Lancaster in 1909, 49 Morecambe in 1930s, 50 Lancaster in the 1960s, 51 20 Centuries in Lancaster – A Short Walk, 54 Lancaster & Morecambe Line – A Short Walk, 62 Lancaster and the Slave Trade, 71 Freehold, 72 The Development of Haverbreaks, 76 Lancaster and Morecambe’s Water Supply, 78 Lancaster’s Racecourses,   79 The Mill Race, 83 Hospitals in Lancaster and Morecambe, 84 Islands in the River Lune,   97 Lancaster’s Sewers, 100 Rowing and Rivalries, 101 Jubilee Tower    

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Ernie Wise obituary

The one with the short, fat, hairy legs

Ernie Wise, who has died aged 73 following a triple heart bypass operation, was, with Eric Morecambe, one of the two best-loved comedians Britain has ever produced. They were friends for 44 years, partners for most of that time, and seemed inseparable, like two halves of a whole. When Morecambe was pole-axed for several months by a series of heart attacks in the early 1980s, Ernie, in the words of one observer, 'wore the bravely puzzled air of a man trying to scratch a newly-amputated leg'.

The bespectacled, gangling comic genius died in 1984. After that Ernie soldiered on like the old show-business trouper he was, but, inevitably, nothing he touched could recapture the lustre of his years with Morecambe. Yet Ernie was much more than Eric's straight man. He was a wonderful comedian in his own right, often winning just as many laughs as his partner. Comparison with Oliver Hardy is not misplaced: Hardy summed up his own appeal as 'a very stupid guy who thinks he's a cut above another stupid guy'.

Ernie refined this stance and created a brilliantly funny, unique persona for Eric to bounce off: vain, snobbish, puritanical, mean, sexually naive, magnificently smug and given to delusions of artistic grandeur - Ernie: 'My mother's got a Whistler.' Eric: 'Now there's a novelty' - and almost all the humour came from Eric debunking Ernie's pretensions.

The comic and his 'feed' were thus equals - a rarity in traditional double-acts. Rooted in the ping-pong cross-talk of variety, Morecambe and Wise were also knowing and sophisticated, with Eric far more laid-back, sexually experienced and streetwise than the pompous, bustling little Ernie. 'Don't say that - you make us sound like a cheap music-hall act,' Ernie would snap irritably from time to time. 'But we are a cheap music-hall act,' Eric would respond before looking out at the audience and confiding, sotto voce: 'This boy's a fool.'

In most of their shows they played somewhat less successful versions of themselves - two comedians sharing a flat and all the dull chores involved. Sometimes they shared a bed as well, with Eric sitting bolt upright in his pyjamas, smoking a pipe, while Ernie boasted about the latest 'play what I have wrote'. The suggestion that they might be gay never arose.

Nevertheless, this air of comfy domesticity brought another subtlety - Eric's basic insecurity - to the act, the impression that if the high-flying 'Mr Showbiz' Ernie ever left the nest, Eric would feel very alone. This was reinforced at the end of some of their later television shows, when Ernie would smirkingly accept the congratulations of sycophants while, in the background, a completely deflated Eric, with flat cap, shabby raincoat and carrier bag, would wander out of the studio.

In real life they lived miles from each other - Morecambe with his wife and family in Harpenden, and Wise with his wife, Doreen, a former dancer, in Peterborough. They stayed in different hotels when touring. The deep affection that radiated from the stage or screen could not be faked, however, and the public responded warmly to their obviously close friendship. All good comedians make you laugh, of course, but Morecambe and Wise added something rarer: they made you happy.

Ernest Wiseman was born in Leeds, the son of a railwayman. In the evenings his father sang at local working men's clubs, and Ernie was introduced into the act when he was seven. They were billed as Carson and Kid, and Ernie was required to sit on his father's knee, snivelling audibly, while Mr Wiseman sang tear-jerkers such as Little Pal When Daddy Goes Away.

Eric Bartholomew (Morecambe's real name) and Ernie Wise first met at an audition for Youth Takes A Bow, a child talent show, when Eric was 13 and Ernie already a member of the troupe. The second world war caused a temporary hiccup in their burgeoning professional relationship: Wise served in the Navy and Morecambe was a Bevin Boy.

They resumed their friendship in 1947 when Morecambe auditioned for the role of 'feed' to a comic in Lord Sangster's variety circus at Godalming in Surrey. The comic, ironically, was Ernie Wise, and so the partnership began. At first, their act was a ragbag of styles and thefts: routines borrowed from Abbott and Costello, Ernie doing a bit of clog-dancing, Eric 'blacking-up' to sing G H Elliott numbers.

Over the years, however, as they became increasingly useful additions to variety bills up and down the country, the act evolved. Eric was funny, pure and simple. Ernie was funny, too, but had other skills: he was a fine dancer and a good singer. But he thought he was Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra rolled into one, and it was Eric's job to disabuse him of these notions.

In the 1950s, they were theatre bill-toppers and moved, unsuccessfully at first, into television. It was not until they joined forces with the writers Sid Green and Dick Hills (and, much later, Eddie Braben) in the early 1960s that they were able to re-create their variety success in the more intimate medium. Daringly, they abandoned jokes as such, building all their humour from the relationship. 'Some comedians reel off jokes as if they've just come out of a book,' said Ernie. 'There's no future in that. You bring yourself into the public eye, but where do you go from there?'

When they were firmly established as Britain's top double-act, the generous Morecambe was delighted with the laughs Ernie was getting. 'It's taken him longer because he's never had the lines before. Now he's becoming a character, a personality.' Did Ernie resent all the years he spent without getting good lines? 'No. I've always really been a song-and-dance man. I call myself the thin end of sanity. You've got to have some sanity somewhere.' Eric: 'He might have resented it on a Monday, but when he got paid on a Friday...'

Their shows for the BBC and later ITV - still regularly re-broadcast - were comfortingly familiar: some front-of-curtain banter (usually the funniest part of the show), followed by a sketch or two, and then one of Ernie's deliberately atrocious plays, based on classics such as Wuthering Heights or Mutiny On The Bounty, with guest stars like Glenda Jackson, Peter Cushing and Andre Previn. Even Harold Wilson appeared in a Morecambe And Wise Show.

In the mid-1960s they starred in a number of films that failed to recapture their small-screen personalities, although they were commercially successful because the team was so well-loved. From time to time they returned to their roots, topping variety bills. Live at Southport in the 1970s, their first entrance brought them the kind of reception normally associated with rock stars.

Their popularity had not even begun to wane when Eric Morecambe died. Ernie was devastated, personally and professionally. Years earlier, when Oliver Hardy died, a French newspaper headlined the story 'Laurel et Hardy est mort', and Stan, realising the truth of this, never again appeared in public as an entertainer.

Ernie Wise found himself faced with a similar decision, but, poignantly, he was still a comparatively young man and tried to fall back on his old song-and-dance skills. He was in a West End musical and did some television work, but his every appearance as a solo turn only served to remind the public of what had been lost.

This was no reflection on Ernie - he was still regarded with huge affection but there seemed no real place for him until he became a chronicler of a lost showbiz age, drawing on his vast experience, always ready with a quote or an anecdote about days gone by, a familiar figure at comedy awards ceremonies and the like. Ruddy-faced and white-haired, he spent the 1990s as a father-figure of British comedy, immensely respected.

In their heyday, Morecambe and Wise often finished their stage and television shows by singing their theme song, Bring Me Sunshine. Ernie Wise and his dear friend brought sunshine into all our lives.

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