Eric Morecambe

I have to admit that probably more than anyone else in my life Eric Morecambe has probably had the biggest influence!

As a child of the 60's and 70's TV was pretty much three channels and no videos. Consequently you watched TV live and if you didn't like what was on, then you either switched over to one of the other two channels or did something else.

I consider myself very lucky to have caught Morecambe and Wise at the very peak of their TV careers. My parents watched the Morecambe & Wise shows that were on every Saturday night - and I watched with them, caught up from the very moment that I clapped eyes on Eric Morecambe.

Their (then unique) brand of humour seemed to suit me straight away and I took to it (as a very "infuenceable" 10 year old) like a duck takes to water. It made me laugh. A lot. And still does to this very day! I made it my business to discover, read and watch as much as I could of Eric Morecambe.

I still love that Eric Morecambe humour, whether it's watching DVD's of the "Boys" themselves, or watching someone else clearly influenced by the inimitable Morecambe brand of humour.

I would be remiss, however if I didn't mention Ernie Wise! Of course, Morecambe & Wise were a double act and I suspect that neither of them would have been quite as popular as they are on their own. Ernie's straight man was absolutely superb, the perfect foil for Eric's jokes and situations. However Eric was - and still is - my hero.

Much of Eric (and Ernie's) work lives on today. There are still young people around who will give the correct response to "What do you think of it so far?..." and "I'm playing all the right notes...". There are comedy double acts around today that are noticebly influenced by the Morecambe & Wise double act. Victoria Wood even wrote and starred in a biopic, focussing on the duo. And who today does not know the song "Bring me Sunshine?"

Testament indeed to one of the greatest comedy geniuses that ever walked the Earth.