Eric Morecambe

Liverpool flashmob in memory of Eric Morecambe

Eric Morecambe fans showed their love for the comedian - by forming a flashmob in his honour.

Growing up with a comic legend

Gary Morecambe has spent his life analysing his father, Eric Morecambe, whose death 25 years ago ended Britain's best-loved double act, Morecambe and Wise. Even now, Gary is no closer to knowing what made him tick.

How Eric Morecambe saved Ernie from an unwise break-up

They were one of the nation's most enduring comedy double-acts, their sketches tickling audiences for more than four decades and catapulting them from music halls to some of the highest audiences ever recorded on British television. But the emergence of a long-lost letter reveals that Morecambe and Wise almost broke up long before their TV debut.

Everybody has a favourite Morecambe and Wise sketch - including those too young to see the shows when they first aired.

Thanks to repeats and tribute shows such as these, even babies are familiar with the 'Andrew Preview' music sketch and the time newsreader Angela Rippon got her pins out for the boys.

Both pop up in this homage to the great comedy duo, hosted by lifelong fan Paul Merton.

It's lovely watching a presenter who genuinely cares about the subject. He's joined by people who worked with Eric and Ernie, including Angela, Bruce Forsyth, conductor Andre Previn and writer Eddie Braban - who provided acres of material for the duo and wrote many of their famous Christmas specials.

Watching the footage again, you realise just how pants today's sketch shows are. Who will remember Tittybangbang in 30 years' time, let alone pay tribute to it?

Paul Merton introduces this tribute to the comedy duo. We'll be honest - we could quite happily spend the entire festive period eating dark chocolate Digestives and watching these two muck about with Angela Rippon and prepare breakfast to The Stripper. So, we're ever so excited - even more than if Baileys flowed from the taps - that Paul Merton's uncovered rare material of the duo in action for this tip-top celebration of the best British double act who didn't share the same first name. What a treat.

Arguably the best-loved comedy duo of all time are given due reverence in this celebration hosted by fan Paul Merton. All the usual clips will be present and correct, but there's also some early material thrown in, alongside fond recollections of the mighty pair's comedy mastery from fans and colleagues. Morecambe and Wise: always a pleasure, never a chore.

The Unseen Eric Morecambe (Channel 4) also went looking for skeletons in the cupboard and found it bare. His cluttered study in Harpenden was out of bounds even to his family and has been untouched since. There was nothing there but the slight whiff of worry.

When Thames announced their 1984 programmes everyone else was given both names and, here or there, a title, but between Jim Davidson and Windsor Davies and Bruce Forsyth and Greta Garbo, they just said Morecambe and Wise. It is a sign of extraordinary intimacy, of adoption almost. I can't think of anyone else known instantly by their first name except that other time-proof double act, Tom and Jerry.

Cannon and Ball (LWT) are the double act Eric Morecambe said was likeliest to succeed him. They have a way of getting simultaneously furious so that, like one of those little balls attached to a bat by elastic, you don't know who's attacking whom.

One or two of the light entertainment shows actually succeeded in being entertaining. Morecambe and Wise (Thames) had a big ratings success. Something like four-fifths of the nation thought they were wonderful. Indeed they are, but in moving to ITV they have lost the benefits of the BBC's production know-how and limitless back-up facilities. To the critical eye they were on thin ice. Routines tended to be only half thought out.