Eric Morecambe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Morecambe
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Bronze bust by Victor Heyfron, 1963
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| Born |
John Eric Bartholomew
14 May 1926 Morecambe, Lancashire, England
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| Died | 28 May 1984 (aged 58) Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1941–1984 |
| Spouse(s) |
Joan Bartlett
(m. 1952) |
| Children | 3 (1 adopted) |
| Family | Jack Bartholomew (uncle) |
John Eric Bartholomew (born 14 May 1926 – died 28 May 1984), known as Eric Morecambe, was a famous English comedian. He was part of a comedy duo called Morecambe and Wise with his partner, Ernie Wise. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Eric's death in 1984. Eric chose his stage name from his hometown, the seaside town of Morecambe in Lancashire.
He was the co-star of The Morecambe & Wise Show on BBC1. Their 1977 Christmas special was watched by over 28 million people in the UK! Eric Morecambe was one of the most well-known comedians in British popular culture. In 2002, a BBC poll named him one of the 100 Greatest Britons.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Comedy
Eric Morecambe was born on 14 May 1926 in Morecambe, Lancashire. His parents were George and Sarah Elizabeth Bartholomew. His mother, Sadie, worked hard as a waitress to pay for his dancing lessons.
Eric was very talented and won many talent contests. In 1940, he won a prize that led to an audition in Manchester. Three months later, he was invited to join a show called Youth Takes a Bow. This is where he met Ernest Wiseman, who was also performing in the show. Eric and Ernie quickly became good friends. With Sadie's encouragement, they started working on a double act, which is when two performers work together.
Their double act became a regular part of the show. However, they were separated during World War II for their War Service. Ernie joined the Merchant Navy, and Eric became a Bevin Boy, working as a coal miner from May 1944.
Comedy Career Highlights
After the war, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise started performing together again on stage and radio. They soon got a contract with the BBC to create a television show. Their first show, Running Wild in 1954, was short-lived. They went back to performing live to make their act even better. Later, they appeared on popular shows like Sunday Night at the London Palladium.
Two of a Kind: A New TV Show
In 1961, a TV boss named Lew Grade offered the duo a new series for the ITV channel ATV. The show was called Two of a Kind. It was written by Dick Hills and Sid Green.
This show was very successful. A special version of the sixth series was even made to be shown in the United States and Canada. It was filmed in colour and featured famous international guest stars. Before it aired in the UK, it was shown in North America as The Piccadilly Palace.
Eric and Ernie also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in the US. In 1968, Morecambe and Wise decided to leave ATV and return to the BBC.
Success with the BBC
When Eric was recovering from a heart attack, their writers, Hills and Green, left. John Ammonds, the show's producer, found a new writer named Eddie Braben. Braben changed their act, making Ernie's character a comedian who wasn't very funny, while Eric became the funny "straight man." This made their comedy even more popular.
Morecambe and Wise created annual Christmas shows for the BBC from 1968 to 1977. Their 1977 Christmas show had an amazing audience of over 28 million people! They were one of the most famous comedy duos in British popular culture. In 1976, both Eric and Ernie were given the OBE award, which is a special honour from the Queen.
Moving to Thames Television
In January 1978, the comedy pair left the BBC and signed a contract with ITV's Thames Television.
Eric had some health problems during this time. In March 1979, he had a second heart attack. He then had a heart bypass operation in June 1979.
Eric also wanted to try new things beyond the double act. He wanted to write and play different characters. In 1980, he acted in a TV special called Betjeman's Britain. He also published a novel called Mr Lonely in 1981, which was a funny but sad story about a comedian. He started to focus more on his writing.
Eric and Ernie also appeared together in a special TV show in 1983 called Eric & Ernie's Variety Days, where they remembered their early days in music halls. Eric published two more novels: The Reluctant Vampire (1982) and The Vampire's Revenge (1983). Morecambe and Wise's last TV show together was their 1983 Christmas special for ITV.
They also worked on a TV movie in 1983 called Night Train to Murder, which was shown in January 1985. Eric also acted in a short comedy film called The Passionate Pilgrim. He was working on another film when he passed away, so it was never finished.
Personal Life
Eric Morecambe married Joan Bartlett on 11 December 1952. They had three children: Gail (born 1953), Gary (born 1956), and Steven (born 1970, adopted in 1974).
In his free time, Eric loved birdwatching. The statue of him in Morecambe shows him holding his binoculars. The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) even named a special bird hide after him at the nearby Leighton Moss nature reserve because he supported them. In 1984, the RSPB bought a large nature reserve called Old Hall Marshes with help from donations to the Eric Morecambe Memorial Appeal.
Eric Morecambe was the nephew of the rugby league player Jack Bartholomew.
Health Journey
Eric Morecambe had some health challenges during his life. He often worried about his health, even before his first heart attack.
On 8 November 1968, after a show, he suffered a serious heart attack while driving home. He was appearing with Ernie Wise in Batley, Yorkshire. He had felt pains in his right arm for a few days, thinking it was just muscle pain. As the pains spread to his chest, he couldn't drive anymore. A passerby helped him, and he was taken to a hospital where a heart attack was quickly diagnosed.
Eric was supposed to perform at the London Palladium on 18 November 1968 but had to miss it while he recovered. Other comedians filled in for him.
After leaving the hospital on 24 November 1968, he was told not to work for three months. Eric quit smoking cigarettes and started smoking a pipe instead. He also reduced his busy work schedule. Eric took six months off to recover. He returned to the stage with Ernie Wise on 27 July 1969 at the Bournemouth Winter Gardens, where they received a huge four-minute standing ovation from the audience.
Eric had a second heart attack in March 1979 and underwent heart surgery in June of that year.
Passing Away
Eric Morecambe took part in a charity show at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, on Sunday 27 May 1984. His wife, Joan, said he was "on top form" that night.
After the show, Eric returned to the stage several times to join the musicians, playing different instruments and taking many bows. As he left the stage for the last time, he collapsed with his third heart attack. He was quickly taken to Cheltenham General Hospital, but sadly, he passed away just before 3 a.m. on Monday 28 May.
His funeral was held on 4 June at St Nicholas Church, Harpenden. His ashes were later buried in the church's Garden of Remembrance. Ernie Wise said that Eric's death was one of the two saddest days of his life.
Eric Morecambe's Legacy
- A large statue of Morecambe, created by sculptor Graham Ibbeson, was unveiled by the Queen in Morecambe in July 1999. It has many of his famous catchphrases written around it. The statue was damaged in 2014 but was repaired and returned on 11 December 2014.
- In Harpenden, Hertfordshire, where Eric and his family lived, the public concert hall is named after him. Eric often mentioned Harpenden in his comedy.
- A West End show called The Play What I Wrote opened in 2001 as a tribute to Eric and Ernie. Each performance featured a different guest celebrity.
- In 2003, Eric's eldest son, Gary, released a book about his father called "Life's Not Hollywood, It's Cricklewood". It shared family photos and parts of Eric's private diaries.
- The Kenilworth Road Stadium, home of Luton Town F.C., has a special room named after Eric Morecambe. He was a big fan and once the president of the club.
- A public house (pub) called The Eric Bartholomew opened in Morecambe in 2004.
- At the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, where Eric performed his last show, there is an Eric Morecambe Room used for meetings.
- There is a bird hide named after him at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve in Lancashire, near Morecambe Bay.
- A play called Morecambe was created in 2009 to celebrate Eric Morecambe's life. It was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and later in London's West End.
- In February 2016, Eric Morecambe's 1968 Jensen Interceptor car was put up for sale.
Images for kids
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Bronze bust by Victor Heyfron, 1963
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Statue of Eric Morecambe in Morecambe, Lancashire, England
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Sculpture of Eric Morecambe, Upper Lea Valley Walk between Harpenden and Luton, England
