He was the co-star of the BBC1's television series The Morecambe & Wise Show, which for the 1977 Christmas episode gained UK viewing figures of over 28 million people.

During this period, Eric Bartholomew won numerous talent contests, including one in Hoylake in 1940 for which the prize was an audition in Manchester for Jack Hylton.

When the two were eventually allowed to perform their double act on stage (in addition to their solo spots), Hylton was impressed enough to make it a regular feature in the revue.

Wise joined the Merchant Navy, while Morecambe was conscripted to become a Bevin Boy and worked as a coal miner in Accrington from May 1944 onwards.

They returned to the stage to hone their act, and later made appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium and Double Six.

)[9] The pair left the BBC for ITV in January 1978, signing a contract with the London station Thames Television.

Produced and directed by Charles Wallace, it spawned the start of a working relationship that led to a follow-up in 1981 for Paramount Pictures titled Late Flowering Love in which Morecambe played an RAF major.

Morecambe and Wise worked on a television movie in 1983, Night Train to Murder, which was broadcast on ITV in January 1985.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds named a hide after him at the nearby Leighton Moss RSPB reserve in recognition of his support.

In 1984 the RSPB bought the 459 hectares (1,130 acres) Old Hall Marshes Reserve near Tolleshunt D'Arcy in Essex for £780,000, helped by donations to the Eric Morecambe Memorial Appeal.

"[16] He suffered a near-fatal heart attack late on 7 November 1968 after a show, while driving back to his hotel outside Leeds.

That night, he headed back to his hotel, and recounted in an interview with Michael Parkinson in November 1972 that, as the pains spread to his chest, he became unable to drive.

Morecambe was due to appear at the London Palladium with his partner Ernie Wise on 18 November 1968 but had to miss the performance as he was recovering in hospital.

After leaving hospital on 24 November 1968 under orders not to work for three months[18] Morecambe gave up his cigarette habit and started smoking a pipe, as he mentioned that he was trying to do in August 1967.

On 27 July of that year, Morecambe and Wise returned to the stage at the Bournemouth Winter Gardens, and received a four-minute standing ovation.

[20] Morecambe took part in a charity show, hosted by close friend and comedian Stan Stennett, at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, on Sunday 27 May 1984.

On leaving the stage for the final time as the house tabs fell, he stepped into the wings and collapsed with his third heart attack in 16 years.

[22] His funeral was held on 4 June at St Nicholas Church, Harpenden, with the principal address delivered by Dickie Henderson.