List of The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968 TV series) episodes-Cedar Herald Index

This is an episode summary of British TV comedy show The Morecambe & Wise Show, starring Morecambe and Wise. This was the first show of this title to be broadcast, and ran on BBC2 and BBC1 for a total of nine series, plus eight Christmas specials, between 1968 and 1977.

Overview

The episodes produced for the BBC between 1968 and 1977 by Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise are generally considered to be their best output; From series two, all were written by Eddie Braben (save for the 1972 and 1976 Christmas shows which were penned by John Junkin and Barry Cryer) these programmes used a familiar format of opening spot with the duo in front of their familiar "tabs", followed by a musical guest, sketches, another musical guest followed by a scene in the fictional flat, either in bed or in the lounge greeting star guests, usually a play "What Ern Wrote" and the closing song and credits. This format was occasionally not used but was considered the "norm" during the pair's BBC years. Until 1973, unlike other shows episodes were broadcast every fortnight rather than weekly.

List of The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968 TV series) episodes

From 2 September 1968 until 19 September 1971, The Morecambe and Wise Show aired on BBC 2 (except for their Christmas shows which aired on BBC 1). The main reason for this was that Morecambe and Wise had moved to the BBC because they were making colour television programmes, and Lew Grade, their boss at ATV, could not transmit their show in colour on ITV, so they moved to BBC 2, the only channel who transmitted programmes in colour at the time. BBC 1 would join ITV in launching a full colour service in November 1969, but it took until 19 September 1971 for The Morecambe and Wise Show to be transferred to BBC 1.

List of The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968 TV series) episodes

Series One (September–October 1968) Only BBC series written by Hills and Green. All episodes 30 minutes. 2 episodes survive in colour. 1 incomplete in colour, 4 episodes missing, and 1 has been restored.

List of The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968 TV series) episodes

Series Two (July–September 1969) First series written by Eddie Braben. All episodes survive in colour. Episodes increased to 45 minutes. First appearance of Janet Webb as "the lady who comes down at the end". First use of Bring Me Sunshine.

The Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show (1969) First Christmas special. 60 minutes duration.

Series Three (January–April 1970) Episode six specially produced as BBC entry for Golden Rose Of Montreux and is 30 minutes; all other episodes 45 minutes. All episodes extant.

Series Four (July–October 1970) Second series produced in 1970. All episodes 50 minutes. All episodes extant. { | class="wikitable" width="100%" |- ! scope="col" style="background:#89CFF0;" | No. ! scope="col" style="background:#89CFF0;" | Guests ! scope="col" style="background:#89CFF0;" | Director ! scope="col" style="background:#89CFF0;" | Writer ! scope="col" style="background:#89CFF0;" | Broadcast ! scope="col" style="background:#89CFF0;" | Viewership { { Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 4.1 | Aux1 = Janet Webb, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Eric Porter, Jan Daley, Trio Athenee, Michael Ward | DirectedBy = John Ammonds | WrittenBy = Eddie Braben | OriginalAirDate = | ProdCode = ? | ShortSummary = A This Is Your Life segment forms the opening spot followed by a Moon landing skit; Voice swap skit, then the duo visit Eric Porter in his dressing room before Tarzan’s Last Adventure; a six weeks to live skit, a bill-posting quickie, the glove puppet sketch and the monks in a James Bond spoof precede the play Wuthering Heights. }}