Morecambe & Wise: Greatest Moments
Encyclopedia
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" sketch 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 show hightlighted the high regard in which the pair are still held by the viewing public and their peers despite having last worked together in 1983 and many of the guest stars featured now being largely unknown to the youth of the twenty-first century. Their appeal had further been secured by the release of their first three series of BBC
shows and the associated Christmas Specials on DVD
earlier in the year. Also, as part of the anniversary celebrations for BAFTA earlier in the year, contemporary comedians Armstrong & Miller
has recreated their famous making the breakfast scene, re-igniting interest in them.
UKTV
UKTV is a digital cable and satellite television network, formed through a joint venture between BBC Worldwide, a commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Scripps Networks Interactive, spun off from The E.W Scripps Company in 2008...
network channel UKTV Gold
UKTV Gold
GOLD is the original channel of the UKTV network, broadcasting to the United Kingdom and Ireland. It launched on 1 November 1992 as UK Gold, and is currently available on Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk TV and terrestrial subscription via Top Up TV. It shows repeats of classic programming from the BBC...
and featured clips, interviews and home move footage, culminating in the showing of the "best" sketch from their programmes. It featured contributions from several of their guest stars such as Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
, Edward Woodward
Edward Woodward
Edward Albert Arthur Woodward, OBE was an English stage and screen actor and singer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , Woodward began his career on stage, and throughout his career he appeared in productions in both the West End in London and on Broadway in New York...
, Bruce Forsyth
Bruce Forsyth
Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, CBE , commonly known as Bruce Forsyth, or Brucie, is an English TV personality...
, Francis Matthews
Francis Matthews (actor)
-Early life:Matthews attended St Michael's Jesuit College, Leeds and started his acting career with Leeds repertory theatre before service in the Royal Navy.-Career:...
, Michele Dotrice
Michele Dotrice
Michele Dotrice is an English actress best known for her portrayal of Betty, the long-suffering wife of Frank Spencer, played by Michael Crawford, in the BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, which ran from 1973 to 1978....
and Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
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
Eddie Braben
Eddie Braben is a comedy writer and performer who has provided material for such figures as David Frost and Ronnie Corbett, and who is most famous for having written for Ken Dodd and Morecambe and Wise....
, co-star Ann Hamilton
Ann Hamilton (British actress)
Ann Hamilton is an English actress.Hamilton is known for her appearances on both incarnations of the Morecambe & Wise Show .-External links:*...
and fans Armstrong & Miller
Armstrong and Miller (comedians)
Armstrong and Miller are a British standup comedy double act consisting of the actor-comedians Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller. They have performed in two eponymous television sketch shows, the satirical Timeghost podcast, and many individual television appearances.-Radio show:Armstrong and...
among others. The show was narrated by Liza Tarbuck
Liza Tarbuck
Liza Tarbuck is an English actress and television and radio presenter, and daughter of comedian Jimmy Tarbuck.She trained at the National Youth Theatre and RADA graduating in 1986 alongside Clive Owen, Rebecca Pidgeon and Serena Harragin.-Acting:...
, daughter of comedian Jimmy Tarbuck
Jimmy Tarbuck
Jimmy Tarbuck OBE or Tarby is an English comedian. Growing up he was a schoolmate of John Lennon.His first television show was It's Tarbuck 65! on ITV in 1964. He has also hosted numerous quiz shows, including Winner Takes All, Full Swing, and Tarby's Frame Game...
and gave the following as the choice of "best" sketches from to duo:-
-
- Antony & Cleopatra (With Glenda JacksonGlenda JacksonGlenda May Jackson, CBE is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn. She previously served as MP for Hampstead and Highgate...
) - Singin' In The Rain Routine
- "The Stripper" Breakfast Routine
- Greig's Piano Concert (With Andre PrevinAndré PrevinAndré George Previn, KBE is an American pianist, conductor, and composer. He is considered one of the most versatile musicians in the world, and is the winner of four Academy Awards for his film work and ten Grammy Awards for his recordings. -Early Life:Previn was born in...
) - "Exactly Like You" (With Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
)
- Antony & Cleopatra (With Glenda Jackson
The show hightlighted the high regard in which the pair are still held by the viewing public and their peers despite having last worked together in 1983 and many of the guest stars featured now being largely unknown to the youth of the twenty-first century. Their appeal had further been secured by the release of their first three series of BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
shows and the associated Christmas Specials on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
earlier in the year. Also, as part of the anniversary celebrations for BAFTA earlier in the year, contemporary comedians Armstrong & Miller
Armstrong and Miller (comedians)
Armstrong and Miller are a British standup comedy double act consisting of the actor-comedians Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller. They have performed in two eponymous television sketch shows, the satirical Timeghost podcast, and many individual television appearances.-Radio show:Armstrong and...
has recreated their famous making the breakfast scene, re-igniting interest in them.
See also
- Eric MorecambeEric MorecambeJohn Eric Bartholomew OBE , known by his stage name Eric Morecambe, was an English comedian who together with Ernie Wise formed the award-winning double act Morecambe and Wise. The partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death of a heart attack in 1984...
- Ernie WiseErnie WiseErnest Wiseman OBE , 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 an institution on British television, especially for their Christmas specials.-Career:Ernest Wiseman was the eldest of five children, and changed...
- Morecambe and WiseMorecambe and WiseEric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984...
- Two Of A Kind (1961)Two Of A Kind (1961)Two of a Kind was an early TV series for comedy duo Morecambe and Wise. It ran from 1961 to 1968 on ATV.-History:On the back of success on stage in their double act in 1961 the comic partnership of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise were offered a series for ATV by empresario Lew Grade. Paired with...
- Eddie BrabenEddie BrabenEddie Braben is a comedy writer and performer who has provided material for such figures as David Frost and Ronnie Corbett, and who is most famous for having written for Ken Dodd and Morecambe and Wise....
- The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968)The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968)The Morecambe & Wise Show that began airing in 1968 was the second TV series for comedy duo Morecambe and Wise.-Beginnings:The first series of the "new" Morecambe & Wise Show was broadcast in colour on BBC Two in 1968 and was deemed to be a success. Though now established as a popular star, Eric...
- The Morecambe & Wise Show (1978)