Morecambe & Wise

The dual biography of the great British comedy double-act and the rise and fall of mass audience television by the respected biographer of Cary Grant.

Following the success of Cary Grant - A Class Apart, Graham McCann has now created an intricate portrait of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, possibly the most famous British comedy double-act of all time. This book charts the progress of the duo from a conventional working class music hall act to a mass-audience television team to a national institution.

From northern working men's clubs at the beginning of their career to the 1977 Christmas special that had an audience of 28 million, Morecambe & Wise were a double act continually changing the dynamics of their relationship to reflect their influences and their times. Their shows were like nostalgic reflections on a century of popular entertainment, an entertainment that was inclusive to a wide audience and paid homage to the past.

McCann's study is also an investigation in the background of mass audience entertainment from which Morecambe and Wise rose. Morecambe & Wise is the definitive biography of one of the most-loved double acts as well as a history of their times.

This paperback publication is a revised and updated edition of the original 1998 book.

First published: Thursday 6th May 1999