Lenny Rush helps get Eric Morecambe book on TV

The son of Eric Morecambe has revealed that actor Lenny Rush's involvement was crucial to finally bring his father's novel to the screen after 35 years of trying.

Gary Morecambe said he had been trying to adapt The Reluctant Vampire children's books for television since his late father asked him to in 1982.

The comedian, who lived in Harpenden when he wrote the stories, told his son they "gave him as much pleasure" as his celebrated work with Morecambe and Wise.

After several unsuccessful attempts to bring the books to screen, Morecambe said he had started to lose hope. But he said of the Essex actor's involvement: "Once we made him the star of it, everything then just fell into place."

The BBC series, adapted by Alan Partridge writers Neil and Rob Gibbons, stars Rush as Val, who struggles with his vampire identity only to discover he has been human all along.

The 17-year-old actor, from Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex, has had notable roles in Slow Horses, Doctor Who and the comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?

This year, he has filmed scenes as Dobby the house-elf for HBO's Harry Potter series at Leavesden in Hertfordshire.

Morecambe said: "Back in 1982 when my father wrote it, he did say to me, 'I'd really love to see this televised or as a film or something'.

"I think the key to it all really was giving it a completely different angle and that took the arrival and stardom of Lenny Rush."

Rush said he was told about the books by TV producer Shane Allen, who had been a fan in his childhood.

He said: "We had a Zoom meeting in late 2022 about maybe getting the rights to the book and making a TV series out of it, then in 2025, we were suddenly making it!

"And I'm so thrilled we've been able to."

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