Morecambe & Wise Show (1968) Episodes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2007) |
This is an episode summary of British TV comedy show Morecambe and Wise.
The nine series of 50 minute programmes produced between 1969 and 1976 by Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise are generally considered to be their best output; all penned by Eddie Braben (save for the 1976 Christmas Show which was penned by John Junkin and Barry Cryer) these programmes used a familiar format of opening spot with the duo in front of their familiar "tabs", followed by a musical guest, sketches, another musical guest followed by a scene in the fictional flat, either in bed or in the lounge greeting star guests, usually a play "What Ern Wrote" and the closing song and credits. This format was occasionally not used but was considered the "norm" during the pair's BBC years.
[edit] Series One (1968)
The first series was penned by the duo's previous writing partnership of Sid Green and Dick Hills who also appeared in the show, sometimes in flat scenes, embryonic of what was to follow in later seasons. As part of the BBC's policy to wipe and re-use videotape in this era, most of the programme content was lost but a remaining fragment exists and was released on DVD together with the complete second series in 2007. The footage that remains is taken from episode seven and features Edmund Hockridge and the shadow puppets sketch, unseen for nearly forty years.
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 2nd September 1968
Guests: Sid Green, Dick Hills, Georgia Brown, Los Zafiros
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 9th September 1968
Guests: Sid Green, Dick Hills, Acker Bilk, Roy Budd
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 16th September 1968
Guests: Sid Green, Dick Hills, Trio Athinee, Paper Dolls
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 23rd September 1968
Guests: Sid Green, Dick Hills, Bruce Forsyth, Kenny Ball
[edit] Episode Five
Broadcast: 30th September 1968
Guests: Sid Green, Dick Hills, Ronnie Carroll, Kenny Ball
[edit] Episode Six
Broadcast: 1st September 1968
Guests: The Kinks, Englebert Humperdinck, Millicent Martin
[edit] Episode Seven
Broadcast: 7th October 1968
Guests: Sid Green, Dick Hills, Edmund Hockridge, Kenny Ball
[edit] Episode Eight
Broadcast: 14th October 1968
Guests: Sid Green, Dick Hills, Michael Aspel, Chris Langford, Kenny Ball
[edit] Episode Nine
Broadcast: 21st October 1968
Guests: Sid Green, Dick Hills, Matt Munro, Kenny Ball
[edit] Series Two (1969)
The second series was shown on BBC2 and was one of the first to be screened in colour; the opening credits see the duo in a projection room attempting to reproduce the opening credits onto a screen with little success. It was the first series written by Eddie Braben who honed the individual personas of Eric ("the buffoon") and Ernie ("the playwright"). This series also saw the introduction of Janet Webb as "the lady who comes down at the end" and the first performance of Bring Me Sunshine which was to become their signature tune.
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 27th July 1969
Guests: Janet Webb, Peter Cushing, Bobbie Gentry, Vince Hill, Kenny Ball
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 10th August 1969
Guests: Janet Webb, Trio Athenee, Malcolm Roberts, Kenny Ball
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 24th August 1969
Guests: Juliet Mills, Moira Anderson, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 7th September 1969
Guests: Edward Woodward, Kenneth McKellar, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball, Janet Webb
[edit] Christmas Show 1969
This was the first of several highly successful festive editions made by the BBC and is available in its entirety in the archives but strangely was not included on the DVD release of the complete second series, although this did feature the remaining footage from the first series. This edition is less frequently repeated than the later shows, a fact that has been attributed to its lack of "big" guest stars. Although all the guests were high profile at the time, they have since become less prominent in the public eye.
Broadcast: 25th December 1969
Guests: Frankie Vaughan, Nina, The Pattersons, Fenella Fielding, Sacha Distel
[edit] Series Three (1970)
The third season saw the characters settle into place even more, with regular appearances from Kenny Ball and, of course, Janet Webb as well as the expansion of plays to close each show. Also of note is the guest appearance of Eddie Braben himself in episode five and the special edition which was screened as episode six but was, in fact, the BBC's entry into the Golden Rose Of Montreaux competition that year and was specially made for this purpose. The production values on this particular show are notably high. This complete season was released on DVD in 2007.
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 14th January 1970
Guests: Herman’s Hermits, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Robert Webber, Janet Webb, Jenny Lee-Wright
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 28th January 1970
Guests: Ian Carmichael, Nina, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 11th February 1970
Guests: Fenella Fielding, Sacha Distel, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Janet Webb, Alan Curtis, Rex Rashley, Diane Keen
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 11th March 1970
Guests: Diane Cilento, Vince Hill, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Deryck Guyler, Frank Thornton, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Five
Broadcast: 25th March 1970
Guests: Edward Chapman, Clodagh Rodgers, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Janet Webb, Alan Curtis, Eddie Braben, Leslie Murphy
[edit] Episode Six
Broadcast: 8th April 1970 "Montreux Edition"
Guests: Nina
[edit] Episode Seven
Broadcast: 22nd April 1970
Guests: Richard Greene, Nana Mouskouri & The Athenians, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Rex Rashley, Janet Webb
[edit] Series Four (1970)
Owing to their ever-growing popularity, this was the second series to be produced in 1970 and was in production as the previous series was on air. Whilst still featuring Janet Webb as "the lady who comes down at the end" (now an expanded speaking role), this series was notable for the introduction of the largely silent "Monk Sketches" that became a weekly feature. By this time, long-term collaborator Ann Hamilton who would go on to provide her services for the remainder of the boys careers, was fully on board and featured in many of their sketches. Series four was released on dvd in April 2008 but only features the first five episodes of this series with no explanation as to why the last episode is absent from the release.
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 1st July 1970
Guests: Janet Webb, Kenny Ball, Eric Porter, Jan Daley, Trio Athinee, Michael Ward
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 15th July 1970
Guests: Janet Webb, Kenny Ball, George A Cooper, Kenneth McKellar, Samantha Jones, Margery Mason, Jenny Lee-Wright, Rex Rashley
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 29th July 1970
Guests: Nina, Craig Douglas, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Jenny Lee-Wright, Thelma Bignell, Lillian Padmore, Melita Clarke, Penny Beeching, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 12th August 1970
Guests: Fenella Fielding, Ray Stevens, Sylvia McNeil, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Janet Webb, Frank Tregar, Leslie Noyes
[edit] Episode Five
Broadcast: 26th August 1970
Guests: Barbara Murray, Dusty Springfield, Michael Redgrave, Flora Robson, Felix Aylmer, Robin Day, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Bruce & Peter Davis, Ann Hamilton, Alan Curtis, Janet Webb, Penelope Beeching
[edit] Episode Six
Broadcast: 8th October 1970
Guests: Janet Webb, Kenny Ball, Paul Anka, Patricia Lambert With no specific reason citied by either the BBC or the distributing company Entertain, the dvd release of the fourth series released in April 2008 omits this episode completely. It is not known whether performances have been denied repeat showings owing to contractual reasons, or if the recording still exists, or even if it was overlooked at the time of release. The programme was screened some three months after the first five episodes of the series which may account for it not being included, but no explanation appears on the dvd or elsewhere.
[edit] Christmas Show 1970
The second seasonal offering saw the return of recurring guest star Peter Cushing who still hadn't been paid (a joke that was to continue well into their Thames Television days); also starring was William Franklyn who, at the time, fronted an advertising campaign for Schweppes lemonade with his "Shhh, You Know Who..." tagline. Much comedy was drawn from this, especially in light of the fact that the BBC was forbidden to advertise products. He appears in one of the duo's legendary plays at the end of the show in which the Three Musketeers are parodied. Well-known actor Edward Woodward also sang The Way You Look Tonight rather than appearing within a sketch has he had done in previous appearances.
Broadcast: 25th December 1970
Guests: Peter Cushing, William Franklyn, Nina, Eric Porter, Edward Woodward, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Alan Curtis, Rex Rashley, George Day, John Higgins, Clinton Morris, Janet Webb
[edit] Series Five (1971)
The plays what Ern wrote were now well into their stride and from series five were given their own spoof opening credits, recalled by many fans and regularly parodied to this day; the monk sketches continued and guest stars such as Flora Robson, Arthur Lowe and Ian Carmichael lined up to appear in the plays that closed many of the shows. In common with the previous year, 1971 saw two series of the show being produced, with the second being made at the time the first was screened.
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 8th April 1971
Guests: Flora Robson, Esther Ofarim, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Peter & Alex, Ann Hamilton, Alan Curtis, David March, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 22nd April 1971
Guests: Arthur Lowe, Susan Maughan, Robert Young, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Frank Tregar, Rex Rashley, Janet Webb, John Le Mesurier, John Laurie, James Beck, Ian Lavender, Arnold Ridley
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 6th May 1971
Guests: Frank Ifield, The Settlers, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Richard Caldicot, Michael Ward, Gordon Clyde, Ann Hamilton, Grazina Frame, Brychan Powell, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 20th May 1971
Guests: Jack Jones, Sheila Southern, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Gordon Clyde, Rex Rashley, Grazina Frame, Frank Tregar, Lillian Padmore, Michael Mulcaster, Stanley Mason, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Five
Broadcast: 3rd June 1971
Guests: Glenda Jackson, Mary Hopkin, Ronnie Hilton, Ann Hamilton, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Six
Broadcast: 17th June 1971
Guests: Ian Carmichael, Matt Munro, Kiki Dee, Peter & Alex, Ann Hamilton, Charles Rayford, Melanie Fraser, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Seven
Broadcast: 15th July 1971
Guests: Trio Athenee, Design, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Rex Rashley, Gerald Case, Janet Webb
[edit] Series Six (1971)
The second of the 1971 series was to feature further classic sketches such as Tom Jones' rendition of Exactly Like You with Eric and Ernie as backing singers, respected actor John Mills in the prisoner of war play, with Eric advising him "and we've got your mother on too" referring to the popular pianist of the period Mrs. Mills who also appeared that week. This series also marked the last regular appearances of Janet Webb although she would make return appearances later, she ceased to close the show.
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 19th September 1971 Guests: Francis Matthews, Anita Harris, Robert Young, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, A.J. Brown, Bert Palmer, Ann Way, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 26th September 1971
Guests: Keith Michell, Design, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Angie Grant, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 3rd October 1971
Guests: Janet Webb, Kenny Ball, Cilla Black, Ronnie Carroll, Percy Thrower
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 10/10/71
Guests: John Mills, Mrs. Mills, Trio Athenee, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Arnold Diamond, Tony Melody, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Five
Broadcast: 17th October 1971
Guests: Nina, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Ann Hamilton, Frank Tregar, John Scott-Martin, Christine Shaw, Jennifer Watts, Janet Webb
[edit] Episode Six
Broadcast: 31st October 1971
Guests: Janet Webb, Kenny Ball, Tom Jones, Design
[edit] Christmas Show 1971
Considered by many to be their finest hour, the festive edition for 1971 contains several all-time classics such as Shirley Bassey singing Smoke Gets In Your Eyes whilst the boys re-arrange the scenery, with Bassey memorably ending with Eric's boots on, the Hollywood Melody with Glenda Jackson and the BBC newsreaders and, of course, Andre Previn conducting Eric's rendition of Greig's Piano Concerto (by Grieg!). The BBC's other headlining star Dick Emery also makes a brief but memorable cameo appearance in the opening spot of the show. Bassey also sang "Diamonds Are Forever" which of course had been the titular song to the James Bond film of the same years' release.
Broadcast: 25th December 1971
Guests: Shirely Bassey, Glenda Jackson, Andre Previn, Francis Matthews, Dick Emery, Frank Bough, Robert Dougal, Cliff Mitchelmore, Patrick Moore, Michael Parkinson, Eddie Waring
[edit] Christmas Show 1972
No series was produced in 1972 with the duo concentrating on a high-quality spectacular for Christmas Night, by this time their show had become a staple part of festive viewing and the pressure was on to deliver the goods. Braben had suffered a breakdown and was not producing material for some time, but they bounced back with another successful show. This show is a curious mix, showing that the by now established formula worked. For instance, the ridiculing of a guest singer by providing backing vocals and/or dancers is featured twice here, once with Vera Lynn and once with Jack Jones in what are basically similar routines. Also, there are two "plays", one with Pete Murray in the Great War epic "Dawn Patrol" and of course, the Prince Albert spoof at the conclusion of the show. Several guests from previous shows returned, as well as Vera Lynn singing Pass Me By with Eric and Ernie as backing, and Kenny Ball joining in the fun with the Cabaret finale to the Victoria & Albert play with Glenda Jackson.
Broadcast: 25th December 1972 Guests: Glenda Jackson, Jack Jones, Vera Lynn, Pete Murray, Shirley Bassey, Ian Carmichael, Fenella Fielding, Eric Porter, Andre Previn, Flora Robson, Kenny Ball and his Jazz Men.
[edit] Series Seven (1973)
The opening credits heralded a colourful rainbow of entertainment for the pair's return to regular shows, and 1973 saw a bumper twelve episode series with many memorable plays such as The Curse Of Tutankamen with Robert Morley, The Mighty Kong with Susan Hampshire and the riotous heath food shop sketch with Frank Williams, best known as the Reverend Timothy Farthing on Dad's Army. The series opened with Cliff Richard joining in for The Fleets' In Town after some persuasion!
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 5th January 1973
Guests: Cliff Richard, Vicki Carr
The series opened with a visit from pop star Cliff Richard to the pair's fictional flat, interrupting Eric's painting of his model spitfire; whilst Ernie tries valliantly to be "hip" and "with it" sporting a terrible purple flaired trouser suit and red kaftan, the scene concludes with the three appearing as sailors for one of their most memorable routines based on The Fleet's In Town ending with Morecambe stepping off the ship and notable for the Playschool parody mid way through.
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 12th January 1973
Guests: Robert Morley, Vicky Leandros, New World, Ann Hamilton, Reg Lye, Janet Webb
Resepcted thespian Robert Morley appears in The Curse Of Tutankahmun in which it is discovered that the mighty king took some unusual items to his grave including a fan belt and a packet of salt and vinegar crisps! It is also revealed that his had a sister (Tutantesi, a parody on Two-Ton Tessie) who is revealed to still be alive and played by none other than Janet Webb otherwise known as the lady who comes down at the end.
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 19th January 1973
Guests: Lulu, Rostal & Schaefer, Percy Edwards, Allan Cuthbertson, Damaris Hayman, Les Rawlings, Johnny Shannon, Henry Cooper
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 26th January 1973
Guests: Susan Hampshire, Georgie Fame & Alan Price, The Settlers, Ann Hamilton, Janet Webb, Jenny Lee-Wright, Percy Edwards
This show featured The Mighty Kong as the closing play and featured the actress Susan Hampshire as the love interest; the comedically crute special effects including a chimpanzee wreaking havoc on a terrible scale model city (complete with bi-plane on string!) is a memorable moment, and the blue screened ape's at the back of the set are also one of their most fondly-recalled scenes. Fame & Price sang You Are My Sunshine and the show closed in the familiar way, with Bring Me Sunshine and an appearance from the amply-proportioned lady who comes down at the end.
[edit] Episode Five
Broadcast: 2nd February 1973
Guests: Frank Finlay, Wilma Reading, Design, Ann Hamilton, Janet Webb, Maryetta Midgley, Vernon Midgley
Fresh from his appearance in the BBC's own adaptation of Casanova in which he played the title role, Frank Finlay appears in the play Lust Of London which centres around the main characters of Casanova and (of course!) Moveova with long-time collaborator Ann Hamilton providing the love interest. With music from Design and Wilma Reading who sang "I Don't Know How to Love Him" the show concluded with the usual appearance by the guest stars and Janet Webb.
[edit] Episode Six
Broadcast: 9th February 1973
Guests: Helen Reddy, Alex Welsh & His Band, Allan Cuthbertson, Frank Williams, Michael Brennan, Raymond Mason, Mike Yarwood (Voice Only), Grazina Frame, Christine Shaw
Not all the shows concluded with a play What Ern Wrote and this is one notable case; instead there is a rioutous scenario with Ernie deciding to get healthy, appearing at the flat with a large box of supposed health foods which were in vogue at the time. Eric fishes out a tin of "Sugar-Raspa" which of course turns out to be an asparagus tin upside down (!) before they both visit the associated shop, run by Frank Williams, at the time famous for playing the vicar in Dad's Army.
[edit] Episode Seven
Broadcast: 16th February 1973
Guests: Anita Harris, Anthony Sharp, Ann Hamilton, Reg Lye
This programme was the subject of a documentary made by the BBC's Omnibus team entitled Fools Rush In which traced the production of a Morecambe & Wise show from its inception at the script read-through stage, through to the filming of the final product. It featured a scene set in 10 Downing Street which was closely followed in the documentary, with music from Anita Harris. The show was written by Eddie Braben, as was the majority of their output, and he is featured on the accompanying documentary being interviewed, as is producer John Ammonds among others.
[edit] Episode Eight
Broadcast: 23rd February 1973
Guests: Wilma Reading, Springfield Revival, Allan Cuthbertson, Ann Hamilton, Jan Rossini
[edit] Episode Nine
Broadcast: 2nd March 1973
Guests: Hannah Gordon, Mary Travers, Christopher Neil, Anthony Sharp, Raymond Mason, Christine Shaw, Hatti Riemer
[edit] Episode Ten
Broadcast: 9th March 1973
Guests: Roy Castle, Pete Murray, Ann Murray, The Pattersons, Raymond Mason, Les Rawlings, Johnny Vyvyan, John East, Hugh Elton, Charles Finch, Eric French
[edit] Episode Eleven
Broadcast: 16th March 1973
Guests: Nana Mouskouri, The Black & White Minstrels, Sooty With Harry Corbett, George Hamilton IV, Grazina Frame, Constance Carling, Johnny Vyvyan
[edit] Episode Twelve
Broadcast: 23rd March 1973
Guests: Peter Cushing, Bernie Winters, Wilma Reading, Alan Price, Georgie Fame
[edit] Christmas Show 1973
By this time, an established running gag was the fact that our intrepid duo could not get stars to work with them, and this show features four cameo appearances from Yehudi Menuhin, Rudolph Nureyev, Laurence Olivier and Andre Previn all making excuses not to appear. Perhaps the most memorable is Lord Olivier who pretends to be a Chinese Laundry attendant over the 'phone! Vanessa Redgrave joins in the Latin American Extravaganza, and the Napoleon & Josephine play, with music (suitably interrupted!) by John Hanson. The other memorable scene from this show is Hannah Gordon's effort to sing the song Windmills Of Your Mind used in the Thomas Crown Affair against a wind generator with "help"...
Broadcast: 25th December 1973
Guests: Vanessa Redgrave, Hannah Gordon, John Hanson, The New Seekers, Yehudi Menuhin, Rudolph Nureyev, Laurence Olivier, Andre Previn
[edit] Series Eight(1974)
Having been devoid of "the lady who comes down at the end" for some time, this series saw the introduction of Arthur Tolcher as the harmonica player who would interrupt sketches and routines at the most critical moment only to be told "Not Now, Arthur" inevitably by Morecambe who would then sidle off stage grinning. There was no Christmas show this year but a compilation show was presented by the BBC on Christmas Night instead. The stand-out moment of the series is David Dimbleby's interview with the Salvation Army.
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 27th September 1974
Guests: Andre Previn, Magnus Magnusson, Wilma Reading, Gladys Mills, Arthur Tolcher
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 7th October 1974
Guests: Ludovic Kennedy, Wilma Reading, Allan Cuthbertson, Gordon Gostelow, Anita Tibbles, Arthur Tolcher
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 11th October 1974
Guests: The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Wilma Reading, Jo Rowbottom, Aimee Delamain, Grazina Frame, Roy Sampson, Arthur Tolcher
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 18th October 1974
Guests: Richard Baker, Wilma Reading, A.J. Brown, Raymond Mason, Arthur Tolcher, Frank Finlay, Susan Hampshire, Glenda Jackson, Francis Matthews
[edit] Episode Five
Broadcast: 25th October 1974 Guests: Hughie Green, David Dimbleby, Arthur Tolcher, Ann Hamilton, Wilma Reading
[edit] Episode Six
Broadcast: 1st November 1974
Guests: June Whitfield, Arthur Tolcher, Wilma Reading, John Quayle, Jenny Lee-Wright
[edit] Parkinson Takes A Christmas Look At Morecambe & Wise 1974
This was the only year that the duo were with the BBC that no festive programme was made and there was a decrease in their output after this time. Instead of a brand new show (the previous series having only concluded some three weeks prior to Christmas Day itself) the pair were instead interviewed by Michael Parkinson who also introduced some of their most memorable clips from previous shows. Again, the programme was broadcast on the evening on 25th December but, other than the interview, there was no new footage available. Their slot was filled by the Mike Yarwood Show and the interview shown at 11.20pm.
[edit] Christmas Show 1975
After no regular shows at all in 1975 and no Christmas Show in 1974 the pair made a welcome return with a memorable festive offering penned by Eddie Braben; the opening routine which features the much maligned Des O'Connor is the most repeated piece of material still today, aside from Grieg's Piano Concerto from 1971. The show concludes with the historical romp Nell Gwynne which is a brilliant finale to the show and features the first location shots used for an end-of-show play with Diana Rigg in the title role and Gordon Jackson parodying his own character from Upstairs Downstairs effectively. The show is interspersed with Robin Day who, over the course of the programme has his "friendly" discussion turned into a brawl, at the end of the programme, as Morecambe and Wise close with the song Positive Thinking, he is seen to stagger past with the aid of a walking stick. The show also features a parody of Hey, Big Spender with the two as dancers.
Broadcast: 25th December 1975
Guests: Diana Rigg, Des O’Connor, Gordon Jackson, Robin Day, Diane Soloman, Brenda Arnau, Ann Hamilton, Pan's People, Reg Turner, Debbie Ash, Fiona Grey
[edit] Series Nine (1976)
What was to be the last series of shows for the BBC had some stand-out moments, including the supposed appearance of Frank Sinatra which of course turned out to be part of the joke. This series also saw the making breakfast routine to the music of The Stripper which stands out as some of their finest work, and a trio with Lena Zavaroni. The Ernest Wise Players also present The Handyman & M'Lady with Michele Dotrice's unforgettable drivable bed!
[edit] Episode One
Broadcast: 7the January 1976
Guests: Gilbert O’Sullivan, Dilys Watling, The Vernons, Peter O’Sullevan, Arthur Tolcher, Clare Russell, Eve Blanchard
[edit] Episode Two
Broadcast: 14th January 1976
Guests: Michele Dotrice, Frankie Vaughan, Patrick Moore, Tammy Jones, Jenny Lee-Wright, Dave Prowse
[edit] Episode Three
Broadcast: 11th January 1976
Guests: Lena Zavaroni, The Spinners, Ann Hamilton, Allan Cuthbertson
[edit] Episode Four
Broadcast: 10th March 1976
Guests: Jackie Darnell, Kenny Ball, Allan Cuthbertson, Ann Hamilton, The Geraldine Yates Dancers
[edit] Episode Five
Broadcast: 24th March 1976
Guests: The Karlins, Vincent Zarra, Ann Hamilton, Steven Payne, Norman Percival, The Geraldine Yates Dancers
[edit] Episode Six
Broadcast: 19th April 1976
Guests: Diane Solomon, Maggie Fitzgibbon, Champagne
[edit] Christmas Show 1976
The only BBC show that Eric and Ernie made (save for series one) that wasn't penned exclusively by Eddie Braben. Instead, established writers Barry Cryer and John Junkin (among others) were drafted in to create what became another iconic show, the The Sweeney stars John Thaw and Dennis Waterman in the play, Elton John in the Won't You Play A Simple Melody? routine and, Angela Rippon's legs! The opening credits were a comic strip presentation, whilst closing credits had baby photographs of all the stars.
Broadcast: 25th December 1976
Guests: Elton John, John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Kate O'Mara, Marion Montgomery, The Nolans, Angela Rippon
[edit] Eric & Ernie's Christmas Show 1977
The final BBC Christmas Show attracted audience figures of 28.5 million, a record that has still to be broken; this was also the first time that Christian names were used in the opening titles, the "boys" having become something of a national institution by this stage. The following opening sequence features a parody of Starsky and Hutch, in which the comics star as 'Starkers' and 'Krutch', driving through the streets in a red Mini Clubman emblazoned with the same white vector stripe as seen on the TV crimefighters' Ford Torino.
Boasting the longest guest list of all their shows, the casts of both Dad's Army (which by that time had finished its run) and The Good Life all appeared, as did Elton John (eventually!), and the classic There Is Nothing Like A Dame routine featuring a host of BBC news presenters. Angela Rippon also reprised her high-kicking role from the previous Christmas show and Angharad Rees struggled against the blizzards to duet with Ernie. It was a fine finale to Morecambe and Wise's career that was never quite the same at Thames Television.
Broadcast: 25th December 1977
Guests: Penelope Keith, Elton John, Angharad Rees, Francis Matthews, Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, John Laurie, Richard Briers, Paul Eddington, James Hunt, Stella Starr, Michael Parkinson, Angela Rippon, Michael Aspel, Richard Baker, Frank Bough, Philip Jenkinson, Kenneth Kendall, Barry Norman, Eddie Waring, Richard Whitmore, Peter Woods, Sandra Dainty, Jenny Lee-Wright, Valerie Leon
[edit] Availability On DVD
The first series of the show was wiped from the BBC archives and only 25 minutes of one episode now survives in poor quality; this was however included on the DVD release of the complete second series in 2007; also in 2007 the complete third series was released including the Golden Rose Of Montreux episode. The complete set of Christmas Shows was released as a three-disc set in November 2007 but it is worth noting that the cover art of the pair, in white dinner suits and top hats, is actually a publicity still from their later years with Thames Television and one of the photographs on the back cover featuring Cliff Richard is taken from a sketch that doesn't appear in any of their festive programmes. the fourth series was released on DVD in April 2008 but does not include the sixth episode of the series which featured Paul Anka as guest star. Whilst there appears to be no reasoning behind this, it is believed that the BBC wiped the show after transmission and it is lost. No further schedule of DVD releases has been revealed to date.
