The man who loved Morecambe so much he took its name

When Eric Morecambe died in 1984, after a long battle with heart disease, he and his stage partner Ernie Wise were the undisputed kings of the British comedy scene, at one point achieving a record television audience of more than 27 million.

Eric would have turned 100 this month, and it's 42 years since he died on stage, yet the love for him and his steadfast sidekick with the "short, fat, hairy legs" endures.

Robbie Williams recently said he cried "happy, childlike tears" after making the winning £20,000 bid for Eric's glasses and pipe at auction and TV presenter Yvette Fielding was thrilled to become the new owner of the comedy legend's writing desk.

His son, Gary Morecambe, said to him and his siblings, "he was always just dad", but to the rest of the world "he was quite a bit more than that because he was known by everyone".

John Eric Bartholomew was born on 14 May 1926 at 42 Buxton Street, Morecambe.

He met Ernest Wiseman on the variety theatre circuit, where Ernie was a child star who topped the bill, while Eric was at the bottom.

Their act was first seen at the Liverpool Empire the same year.

After Bartholomew and Wise failed to draw in crowds, Eric decided to take a stage name from his home town - inspired by his hero George Formby - Ernie shortened his surname, and Morecambe and Wise were born.

The comedy couple made their name in variety before heading to TV, with the Morecambe and Wise Show coming to the BBC in 1968, following several successful years at ITV.

Eric and Ernie entered their golden age with the second BBC series, in 1969, when Eddie Braben became their main writer.

It was so immensely popular that celebrities would fall over themselves to appear on it.

Most famously, they lampooned conductor and composer Andre Previn, called "Andrew Preview" throughout the sketch as he tried to conduct Eric through a rendition of Greig's Piano Concerto.

When he chastised him for playing the wrong notes, Eric issued the immortal reply: "I'm playing the right notes - but not necessarily in the right order."

"There was no-one in the British theatre wouldn't have given their eye teeth to work with Morecambe and Wise," Glenda Jackson once said.

The duo's Christmas Day shows were the most eagerly awaited on the festive TV schedule.

Their 1977 Christmas special attracted the biggest audience for a programme shown on a single channel - 27.5 million viewers.

The Ant and Dec of their day, Eric and Ernie performed in Morecambe more than 1,000 times in what has been described as their "spiritual home".

"The connection between his hometown and his use of Morecambe as his stage name, means there has always been and will continue to be an incredible fondness for Eric," said David Waddington, chair of the town's business improvement district.

Though he spent much of his life living in Harpenden, Hertfordshire with his family, Eric was "a proud Northerner, and proud of his roots that chimed with the people of Morecambe and Lancashire", Waddington said.

"He still has a significant impact on Morecambe, and in fact, whenever there are events taking place relating to his life, it always generates local, regional and national interest," he added.

"His statue on the promenade is a particular visitor hotspot."

Unveiled by the Queen in 1999, the larger than life-sized bronze figure shows Eric in one of his characteristic poses, with binoculars around his neck.

Thousands of fans lined the promenade to watch its unveiling.

The statue features some of Eric's famous sayings - and the names of 103 celebrities who starred alongside him - and took sculptor Graham Ibbeson six years to complete.

Eric's daughter Gail said it "really does capture something of dad".

"And it's not dad being Eric Morecambe, it's the Morecambe lad that loved birdwatching and being on the seafront," she said.

"People still go there day and night, and brides go there to have their picture taken.

"It's very poignant, it's very special."

In 1976, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise were both appointed OBEs and the BBC's 1996 poll saw Morecambe and Wise voted Best Light Entertainment Performers of All Time.

Eric Morecambe died at the age of 58 on 28 May 1984 after suffering a heart attack as he came off stage at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Ernie died aged 73 in 1999 following a triple heart bypass operation.

Gail said she was still "very surprised and absolutely delighted" at the enduring affection for Eric and Ern.

And what would her dad think of his legacy?

"I think he'd be absolutely flabbergasted."

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