You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone

Book Review from 2009

The title, taken from something Eric used to say, is so very true, we do miss him.

At least we have material to remember him by and this book does a wonderful job.

After the forward by Dame Judi Dench, and a nice letter from Ronnie Corbett, the book begins with a brief look back to ‘The Play What I Wrote’, with interjections by the original cast and people responsible for great show; ending with a tantalising thought of it coming back to our stages.

From here we jump right back to the very beginning, and Eric’s young life in his home town of Morecambe.

Much of the information comes from recent interviews with old school friends and schoolboy chums, who reminisce about how the young comic was. How he was dragged away from playing football in Christie Avenue by his mother to be sent to dancing class, much to the amusement of his friends.

Many recall how Sadie would push him, and how they could see the comic talent, even at this early age.

We then jump sideways to pick up on Ernie’s young life and his progression from talent contests into the more lucrative pickings with touring shows; where he would eventually meet Eric.

Back to Eric and we follow the progression through the war that split the act up and back to the rejoining of himself and Ernie.

All the time we get insights into what was happening at home, how Gary felt and how Joan coped with a growing family and a man with too much energy and a genius talent to make people laugh.

A nice departure takes us into what made Morecambe and Wise tick, who influenced them and how they can be compared to such people as Laurel and Hardy. We learn that Eric used to enjoy Harold Lloyd (another comic with thick rimmed glasses) and Buster Keaton and how he found it strange that despite Chaplin working and even borrowing ideas from Stan Laurel, he never mentions him in his biography.

Paul Merton, self confessed black and white comedy enthusiast, joins in with some observations and points about all the acts mentioned.

Progressing on and the book covers the move to Thames and how the people around them felt. Again we get a glimpse of family life during this stage of his career from the inside as well as from friends and colleagues.

Littered with pictures and pages from scripts, this book proves an interesting read with a great insight into the private life of Eric Morecambe.

A good read for any fan of our most famous and well loved comedy double act.

Press Release


© morecambeandwise.com 2009