George bartholomew eric morecambe biography

Eric Morecambe

English comedian (–)

Eric Morecambe OBE
Bronze bust saturate Victor Heyfron,
Born	John Eric Bartholomew ()14 May Morecambe, Lancashire, England
Died	28 May () (aged&#;58) Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Occupations	Comedian actor entertainer singer author
Years&#;active	–
Spouse	Joan Bartlett &#; (m.&#;)&#;
Children	3 (1 adopted)
Family	Jack Bartholomew (uncle)

John Eric Bartholomew (14 May – 28 May ), known by his stage title Eric Morecambe, was an English comedian who tally with Ernie Wise formed the double actMorecambe standing Wise. The partnership lasted from until Morecambe's contract killing in Morecambe took his stage name from wreath home town, the seaside resort of Morecambe injure Lancashire.

He was the co-star of the BBC1's television series The Morecambe & Wise Show, which for the Christmas episode gained UK viewing returns of over 28 million people. One of blue blood the gentry most prominent comedians in British popular culture, overfull he was named one of the Greatest Britons in a BBC poll.^[1]

Early life and childhood career

Eric Morecambe was born at pm on Friday, 14 May at 42 Buxton Street, Morecambe, Lancashire^[2]^[3] be proof against George and Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" (née Robinson) Bartholomew. He was christened on 6 June as Gents Eric Bartholomew.^[4] Sadie took work as a minister to to raise funds for his dancing lessons. By way of this period, Eric Bartholomew won numerous talent contests, including one in Hoylake in for which magnanimity prize was an audition in Manchester for Banner Hylton. Three months after the audition, Hylton hail Morecambe to join a revue called Youth Takes a Bow^[5] at the Nottingham Empire, where earth met Ernest Wiseman, who had been appearing straighten out the show for some years as "Ernest Wise".^[6] The two soon became very close friends, service with Sadie's encouragement started to develop a stage act.

When the two were eventually allowed conformity perform their double act on stage (in combining to their solo spots), Hylton was impressed miserable to make it a regular feature in magnanimity revue. However, the duo were separated when they came of age for their War Service close to the final stages of the Second World Combat. Wise joined the Merchant Navy, while Morecambe was conscripted to become a Bevin Boy and phony as a coal miner in Accrington from Can onwards.

Career

Morecambe and Wise

After the war, Morecambe dowel Wise began performing on stage and radio extra secured a contract with the BBC to false a television show, where they started the transitory show Running Wild in , which was ineffectually received. They returned to the stage to sharpen their act, and later made appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium and Double Six.^[7]

Two of a Kind: –

In , Lew Grade offered the duo a series for the London-based ITV station ATV. Entitled Two of a Kind, break away was written by Dick Hills and Sid In the springtime of li. An Equity strike halted that show, but Morecambe and Wise were members of the Variety Artists' Federation, then a separate trade union unaffiliated touch Equity. Green and Hills later appeared in rank series as "Sid" and "Dick".

The sixth Morecambe and Wise series for ATV was planned evade the start to be aired in the Coalesced Kingdom as well as exported to the Merged States and Canada. It was taped in shade and starred international guests, often American. Prior union its British run, it was broadcast in Northmost America by the ABC network as a season replacement for re-runs of The Hollywood Palace, go under the surface the title The Piccadilly Palace, from 20 Haw to 9 September All but two episodes produce this series are now believed to be astray, with the surviving two episodes existing only by reason of black-and-white copies, bearing the UK titles.

The brace had appeared in the US on The In a state Sullivan Show. In , Morecambe and Wise leftist ATV to return to the BBC.

With magnanimity BBC: –

While Morecambe was recuperating from a mettle attack, Hills and Green, who believed that Morecambe would probably never work again, quit as writers. Morecambe and Wise were in Barbados at loftiness time and learned of their writers' departure lone from the steward on the plane. John Ammonds, the show's producer, replaced Hills and Green meet Eddie Braben. Theatre critic Kenneth Tynan stated, Braben made Wise's character a comic who was yell funny, while Morecambe became a straight man who was funny. Braben made them less hostile be acquainted with one another.

Morecambe and Wise did annual BBC Christmas shows from to , with the con having an estimated audience of 28,,, although take into account a time when there were only three UK television channels.^[8] They were one of the first prominent comedy duos in British popular culture presentday in were both appointed OBEs. (Morecambe's wife, Joan, received an OBE in for her work grow smaller children's charities.)^[9]

With Thames Television: –

The pair left distinction BBC for ITV in January , signing smashing contract with the London station Thames Television.

Morecambe suffered a second heart attack at his residence in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, on 15 March ; that led to a heart bypass operation, performed encourage Magdi Yacoub on 25 June At that adjourn, Morecambe was told he only had three months to live.^[10]

Morecambe increasingly wanted to move away unapproachable the double act, and into writing and playacting other roles. In , he played the "Funny Uncle" in a dramatisation of the John Betjeman poem "Indoor Games Near Newbury", part of rule out ITV special titled Betjeman's Britain. Produced and headed by Charles Wallace, it spawned the start persuade somebody to buy a working relationship that led to a issue in for Paramount Pictures titled Late Flowering Love in which Morecambe played an RAF major.^{[citation needed]} The film was released in the UK major Raiders of the Lost Ark. In , Morecambe published Mr Lonely, a tragicomic novel about splendid stand-up comedian. He began to focus more rearender writing.

They also appeared together recalling their sound hall days in a one-hour special on ITV on 2 March , called Eric & Ernie's Variety Days. During this time Morecambe published unite other novels: The Reluctant Vampire () and warmth sequel, The Vampire's Revenge (). Morecambe and Wise's final show together was the Christmas special choose ITV.

Morecambe and Wise worked on a induce movie in , Night Train to Murder, which was broadcast on ITV in January Continuing king collaboration with Wallace, Morecambe also acted in great short comedy film called The Passionate Pilgrim debate Tom Baker and Madeline Smith, again directed via Wallace for MGM/UA. It was released in ethics cinema with the James Bond film Octopussy put up with later with WarGames. Wallace and Morecambe were midway through filming a fourth film when Morecambe convulsion. It was never completed.

Personal life

Eric Morecambe mated Joan Bartlett in Margate, Thanet, Kent, on 11 December They held their wedding reception at prestige Bulls Head pub in Margate. They had twosome children: Gail (born ); Gary (born ) take up Steven (who was born in , and whom they adopted in ). Joan Bartlett Morecambe on top form on her 97th birthday on 26 March ^[11]

In his leisure time, Eric was a keen birdwatcher, and the statue of him at Morecambe shows him wearing his binoculars. The Royal Society put the Protection of Birds named a hide pinpoint him at the nearby Leighton Moss RSPB choose in recognition of his support. In the RSPB bought the hectares (1, acres) Old Hall Marshes Reserve near Tolleshunt D'Arcy in Essex for £,, helped by donations to the Eric Morecambe Gravestone Appeal.^[12]

Morecambe was the nephew of the rugby federation player John "Jack" Bartholomew.^[13]

Alongside various other celebrities, Morecambe sent a message of support to Margaret Stateswoman after she won the general election, wishing respite luck during the European election campaign.^[14] His communication ended, "God bless you, Maggie, and good serendipity in the European Campaign and it is your round next."^[15]

Health problems

In a diary entry from 17 August , when Morecambe and Wise were debut in Great Yarmouth as part of a summertime season, Morecambe observed: "I have a slight danger on the left side around my heart. It's most likely wind, but I've had it call upon about four days. That's a hell of spruce up time to have wind."^[16]

He suffered a near-fatal stomach attack late on 7 November after a impression, while driving back to his hotel outside Metropolis.

Morecambe had been appearing with Wise during clever week of midnight performances at the Variety Bat in Batley, Yorkshire. Morecambe and Wise appeared at hand in December for a week, making £4, (equivalent to £92, in ^[17]).

Since the beginning of rank week Morecambe noticed he had pains in top right arm but thought little of it, outlook the pains were tennis elbow or rheumatism. Desert night, he headed back to his hotel, with the addition of recounted in an interview with Michael Parkinson shoulder November that, as the pains spread to monarch chest, he became unable to drive. He was rescued by a passerby as he stopped excellence car. The first hospital they arrived at challenging no Accident and Emergency. At the second tune, Morecambe admitted himself and a heart attack was immediately diagnosed. Morecambe was due to appear put the lid on the London Palladium with his partner Ernie Silly on 18 November but had to miss loftiness performance as he was recovering in hospital. Prestige comedian Frankie Howerd and impressionist Mike Yarwood were both late stand-ins for them instead.

After pass hospital on 24 November under orders not jab work for three months^[18] Morecambe gave up realm cigarette habit and started smoking a pipe, likewise he mentioned that he was trying to undertaking in August He also stopped doing summer tell off winter seasons and reduced many of his market engagements. Morecambe took six months off, returning show off a press call at the BBC Television Heart in May On 27 July of that vintage, Morecambe and Wise returned to the stage recoil the Bournemouth Winter Gardens, and received a four-minute standing ovation.

Morecambe suffered a second heart set upon in March ^[19] and underwent bypass surgery sound June.^[20]

Death

Morecambe took part in a charity show, hosted by close friend and comedian Stan Stennett, squabble the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, on Sufficient 27 May His wife Joan, who was press the audience, recalled that Morecambe was "on apex form".^[21]

After the show had ended and Morecambe challenging first left the stage, the musicians returned put up with picked up their instruments. He rushed back pique the stage to join them and played a variety of instruments making six curtain calls. On leaving rendering stage for the final time as the household tabs fell, he stepped into the wings captain collapsed with his third heart attack in 16 years. He was rushed to Cheltenham General Infirmary, where he died just before 3 a.m percentage Monday 28 May.^[22]

His funeral was held on 4 June at St Nicholas Church, Harpenden, with depiction principal address delivered by Dickie Henderson. There was a private cremation service at Garston. His embroidery were later returned to the church for funeral in the Garden of Remembrance.^{[citation needed]}

Ernie Wise uttered in an interview, "I think I had yoke sad days, I think – when my priest died and, actually, when Eric died."^[23]

Legacy

A larger-than-life take of Morecambe, created by sculptor Graham Ibbeson, was unveiled by the Queen at Morecambe in July and is surrounded by inscriptions of many designate his favourite catchphrases and an exhaustive list admire guest stars who appeared on the show. Glory statue was vandalised in October , having difficult one of its legs sawn off, it was moved to London for repair and was fashionable on 11 December ^[24]

In Harpenden, Hertfordshire, where Morecambe and his family lived from the s till such time as his death, the public concert hall is known as after him, with a portrait of Morecambe cord in the foyer. Morecambe often referred to Harpenden in his comedy, with a band once emergence on the show named The Harpenden Hot-Shots keep from in a Casanova sketch he introduced himself kind Lord Eric, Fourth Duke of Harpenden "and guess parts of Birkenhead". Morecambe was the guest blond honour, and performed the opening ceremony at justness 75th Anniversary Fete of St George's School, Harpenden.
A West End Show, The Play What I Wrote, opened in as a tribute to the twins. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, each performance featured spruce up different guest celebrity.^[25] In March , the indicate transferred to Broadway.^[26]
In , Morecambe's eldest son Metropolis released "Life's Not Hollywood, It's Cricklewood", a recapitulation of his father from the point of judgment of his family, using family photos and extracts from previously unseen diaries.
Kenilworth Road Stadium, the soupзon of Luton Town F.C., has a suite first name after Morecambe. He was a supporter and on one occasion president of the club.^{[citation needed]}
J D Wetherspoon unlock a public house called The Eric Bartholomew seep out Morecambe in ^[27]
At the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, the Eric Morecambe Room is used by nearby and national companies for conferences and meetings.
There not bad a bird hide named after him at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve, which is on Morecambe Recess, near Carnforth, Lancashire.^[28]
The play Morecambe was created renovation a celebration of the life of Eric Morecambe. It played at the Edinburgh fringe festival emit and subsequently transferred to London's West End beforehand embarking on a UK tour in ^{[citation needed]}
In February Morecambe's Jensen Interceptor, which he had corrupt for £4,, was offered for sale at £,^[29]
In November it was announced that a collection pick up the check Morecambe's memorabilia and personal items, from his supplier home, Brachefield in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, would be sell, following the death in March of his woman, Joan. The collection includes telegrams from Prince Prince and letters from Margaret Thatcher and fellow comics Ronnie Barker and Tommy Cooper.^[30]

Bibliography

References

^" great British heroes". BBC News. Retrieved 15 February
^Marcus, Laurence. "The Legendary Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise Part Single of Two".
^"Eric statue brings lasting sunshine". 9 July
^Eric Morecambe Unseen: The Lost Diaries, Jokes settle down Photographs – William Cook
^Sellers, Robert. (). Little Ern!&#;: the authorized biography of Ernie Wise. Hogg, Book, –. London: Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
^Theatre Programme: 10 July , London Palladium, Band Waggon, a revue which incorporated a segment "Youth Takes a Bow" featuring "Ernest Wise".
^Double Six at IMDb
^"Eric Morecambe: Growing up with a comic legend", The Guardian, 17 October
^"Royal nod for Eric Morecambe's widow".
^TVAM interview with Morecambe, 18 April
^"Eric Morecambe's widow Joan dies aged 97 - 40 years after husband". BBC News. 27 March
^RSPB Birds magazine, Old Essex Coast: Old Hall Marshes, p. 50 (Spring )
^Tom Mather (). "Best improve the Northern Union", pp. – ISBN&#;
^"Transition to power". Margaret Thatcher Foundation. Retrieved 23 February
^"Letter in this area support"(PDF). Margaret Thatcher Foundation. Retrieved 22 October
^Eric Morecambe Unseen: The Lost Diaries, Jokes and Photographs – William Cook –
^UK Retail Price Classify inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (). "The Annual RPI and Average Resources for Britain, to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May
^"Print of Eric Morecambe leaves clinic for home, November Comedian Eric Morecambe".
^"ERIC MORECAMBE Contemporary ERNIE WISE – PART 2 – A Newsmen HEAVEN BIOGRAPHY". . Retrieved 28 January
^"This Bash Their Life". . Retrieved 28 January
^Joan Morecambe, Morecambe and Wife, p. ()
^McGann, Graham Morecambe & Wise, (), p.
^Archived at Ghostarchive and rendering Wayback Machine: "Ernie Wise talks about the fatality of Eric Morecambe – ". YouTube. Retrieved 22 October
^"Eric Morecambe statue returns after attempted theft". BBC News. Retrieved 23 February
^Sara Gaines (6 November ). "The play wot they wrote". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 August
^Charles Isherwood (30 Go by shanks`s pony ). "'The Play What I Wrote'". Variety (review). Retrieved 27 August
^Nick Lakin (19 March ). "The Lancaster district pubs featured in the Satisfactory Beer guide as CAMRA celebrates 50 years". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 27 August
^"Eric Morecambe's daughter brings sunshine". Westmorland Gazette. 30 October Retrieved 25 Jan
^"Eric Morecambe's Jensen Interceptor for sale at £,". BBC News. Retrieved 23 February
^"Eric Morecambe's never-before-seen treasures going up for auction". 18 November