The Sunday Times - UK (2021-12-19)

This year, the annual Eric

and Ernie fest includes a real

treat, a complete episode of

their BBC show thought lost

for more than 50 years. Eric’s

son, Gary, discovered the

programme in a film can in

2020 and, now restored, it

will be back on our screens

for the first time since

October 8, 1970. Written by

Eddie Braben, the half-hour

show was their first for BBC1,

after four series on BBC2,

and features sketches plus

a couple of risqué numbers

and guest appearances from

Paul Anka, Patricia Lambert,

and Kenny Ball. Scholars can

check out a documentary

about the duo’s missing

archive, The Lost Tapes

(Monday 20, ITV, 10.45pm),

and there is the 1971

Christmas show (Christmas

Day, BBC2, 7pm); plus,

Victoria Wood revisiting the

duo’s early days in Eric &

Ernie Behind The Screens

(Christmas Day, BBC4,

8.35pm) and a selection box

of festive highlights in The

Perfect Morecambe & Wise

Christmas Special (Boxing

Day, BBC2, 6.10pm).

Andrew Male

PICK OF THE

FORTNIGHT

THE

MORECAMBE

& WISE SHOW

1970 – THE

LOST TAPE

Christmas Day, BBC2, 7.45pm

YOUR 14-DAY

GUIDE TO THE

BEST TV, FILM &

STREAMING

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