Filming locations
 | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2018) |
Eric, Ernie and Me was shot in Bristol, Worthing and Cardiff. [7]
| Eric, Ernie and Me | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Neil Forsyth |
| Directed by | Dan Zeff |
| Starring | Stephen Tompkinson Mark Bonnar Neil Maskell Liz White Rufus Jones Alex Macqueen |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Ben Farrell, Alison Sterling |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Four |
| Release | 29 December 2017 |
Eric, Ernie and Me is a 2017 television film based on the relationship between British television double-act Morecambe and Wise and their writer Eddie Braben. It starred Stephen Tompkinson as Eddie Braben, Mark Bonnar as Eric Morecambe and Neil Maskell as Ernie Wise. It was written by Neil Forsyth. The one-off drama premiered on BBC Four on 29 December 2017. [1]
Forsyth had the idea for the show after reading Braben's memoirs, The Book Wot I Wrote, and travelled to Pwhelli, North Wales to meet with Eddie's widow Dee. The Braben family subsequently gave their support to the project. [2] Stephen Tompkinson, a lifelong fan of Braben's work, agreed to play the lead role. Mark Bonnar and Neil Maskell joined the cast as Morecambe and Wise, Liz White as Dee Braben and Rufus Jones as producer John Ammonds. The film was directed by Dan Zeff.
The film runs from 1969 to 1977. It shows Braben and Morecambe and Wise being put together by Bill Cotton, former Head of Light Entertainment at the BBC, and their changing relationship as they worked together at the BBC until 1977. It shows the pressure that Braben was put under as The Morecambe and Wise Show became the most popular television show in Britain, peaking at 28 million viewers for their 1977 Christmas show, [3] and the two occasions when that pressure led to Braben leaving the show due to nervous exhaustion.
Eric, Ernie and Me was very well received. The Observer said "what a lovely programme, rewatchable often", [4] the Sunday Express called it "beautifully realised nostalgia" [5] and The List said the film was "absorbing and heartfelt" and called Braben "one of British comedy's unsung heroes". [6]
| | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2018) |
Eric, Ernie and Me was shot in Bristol, Worthing and Cardiff. [7]
Eric, Ernie and Me was nominated for a number of awards including two Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, [8] a Broadcast Digital Award [9] and a Royal Television Society Award. [10]
Barry Charles Cryer was an English writer, comedian, and actor. As well as performing on stage, radio and television, Cryer wrote for many performers including Dave Allen, Stanley Baxter, Jack Benny, Rory Bremner, George Burns, Jasper Carrott, Tommy Cooper, Ronnie Corbett, Les Dawson, Dick Emery, Kenny Everett, Bruce Forsyth, David Frost, Bob Hope, Frankie Howerd, Richard Pryor, Spike Milligan, Mike Yarwood, The Two Ronnies and Morecambe and Wise.
John Eric Bartholomew, 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.
Ernest Wiseman,, known by his stage name Ernie Wise, was an English comedian, best known as one half of the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, who became a national institution on British television, especially for their Christmas specials.
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, known as Morecambe and Wise, were an English comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's sudden death in 1984. They have been described as "the most illustrious, and the best-loved, double-act that Britain has ever produced".
Michael Edward Yarwood, was an English impressionist, comedian and actor. He was one of Britain's top-rated entertainers, regularly appearing on television from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Edwin Charles Braben was an English comedy writer and performer best known for providing material for Morecambe and Wise. He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Ken Dodd.
The Morecambe & Wise Show is a comedy sketch show originally broadcast by BBC Television, and the third TV series by English comedy double-act Morecambe and Wise. It began airing in 1968 on BBC2, specifically because it was then the only channel broadcasting in colour, following the duo's move to the BBC from ATV, where they had made Two of a Kind since 1961.
Bring Me Sunshine was originally a three-part retrospective in tribute to Eric Morecambe and was hosted by the comedian and author Ben Elton, who is a big fan of Morecambe and Wise; the first episode was screened on 14 May 1994, which would have been his 68th birthday and featured interviews with many people who had guest starred in The Morecambe & Wise Show during its run from 1968 to 1977 and also had a host of memorable clips from the shows. Those interviewed included John Thaw, Roy Castle who died a few months afterwards, Diana Rigg as well as comments and tributes from modern day double acts Hale & Pace and Fry & Laurie.
"Bring Me Sunshine" is a song written in 1966 by the composer Arthur Kent, with lyrics by Sylvia Dee. It was first recorded by The Mills Brothers in 1968, on their album My Shy Violet. In the UK, the song is associated with the popular comedy duo Morecambe & Wise, after it was adopted as their signature tune in their second series for the BBC in 1969.
Cyrano De Bergerac (1977) was the final "play" made as part of The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968) and featured in their final festive edition originally broadcast on Christmas Day 1977 on BBC1, achieving the highest ever terrestrial viewing figures of over 28,500,000 people. The play starred Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise, Penelope Keith and Francis Matthews, with cameo appearances from Valerie Leon, Paul Eddington and Richard Briers. The plot was loosely based on Edmond Rostand's 1897 story of the titular great swordsman and poet, summed up by Morecambe's memorable line: "...my name is Cyrano, a swordsman and poet, woo the ladies to give them a thrill, but right now I'd like your attention, coz I've got my nose stuck in this grill!" The play, such as it is, concludes with the three main stars singing their version of Joan Edwards' "Darn It, Baby, That's Love" with suitably amended lyrics.
Fools Rush In is a 1973 British fly-on-the-wall TV documentary about the double act Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, produced by Ronald Smedley for the BBC Omnibus arts series. It was first broadcast on 18 February 1973.
Morecambe & Wise: Greatest Moments was a compilation programme originally aired on 2 December 2007 on the UKTV network channel UKTV Gold and featured clips, interviews and home move footage, culminating in the showing of the "best" sketches from their programmes. It featured contributions from several of their guest stars such as Cliff Richard, Edward Woodward, Bruce Forsyth, Francis Matthews, Michele Dotrice and Elton John whom Eric always referred to as "Elephant John" as well as interviews with both Joan Morecambe and Doreen Wise, the latter's first appearance on a show of this kind. There were also chats with writer Eddie Braben, co-star Ann Hamilton and fans Armstrong & Miller among others. The show was narrated by Liza Tarbuck, daughter of comedian Jimmy Tarbuck and gave the following as the choice of "best" sketches from to duo:
The Play What I Wrote is a comedy play written by Hamish McColl, Sean Foley and Eddie Braben, starring Foley and McColl, with Toby Jones, directed by Kenneth Branagh and produced in its original production by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers. The show is a celebration of the British comedy double act Morecambe and Wise, and an irreverent and farcical exploration of the nature of double acts in general.
Ernest Maxin was a British television producer, director, dancer and choreographer. He is best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s with Kathy Kirby, Dick Emery, Dave Allen, Les Dawson, and Morecambe and Wise.
Neil Forsyth is a Scottish author, television writer and journalist. He has written and created a number of British television shows including The Gold, Guilt, and Bob Servant Independent, and has won numerous television awards.
The Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise Show was a comedy variety show, transmitted on BBC Radio 2 in four series from 1975 until 1978. It starred Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. It was written by Eddie Braben and produced by John Browell. Many sketches were adapted from the BBC TV series with different guest stars. Guest singers appearing on the show included Peters and Lee, Lynsey de Paul and Anita Harris.
The Morecambe & Wise Show is a comedy sketch show originally produced by Thames Television and broadcast on the ITV network. The second show to be broadcast under the title, it was the fourth and final television series by English comedy double-act Morecambe and Wise, and saw their return to ITV after their successful nine-year association with the BBC.