Morecambe & Wise In America
- TV documentary
- Gold
- 2018 - 2019
- 3 episodes (1 series)
Jonathan Ross presents this three-part documentary series telling the story of how Eric and Ernie attempted to break America. Also features Glenda Jackson, Nicholas Parsons, Millicent Martin, Diana Rigg, Shaparak Khorsandi and more.
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 1
Further details
In March 1963, Eric and Ernie made their first trip across the Atlantic to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. Jonathan Ross tells the story of how they had been spotted appearing at The London Palladium by Sullivan, and how he booked them for three performances in that year.
At first the American studio audience weren't sure what to make of Eric and Ernie, and on their first appearance they were listened to in virtual silence. They selected a more physical routine for their second performance, and the reaction improved. With the Sullivan Show's huge ratings, they had begun to crack America.
Featuring footage never seen in Britain before, as well as personal home movie footage from Eric and Ernie's own collections, this episode tells of Morecambe and Wise's first steps in their American adventure.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 27th December 2018
- Time
- 8pm
- Channel
- Gold
- Length
- 60 minutes
Cast & crew
| Jonathan Ross | Host / Presenter |
| Glenda Jackson | Self |
| Nicholas Parsons | Self |
| Millicent Martin | Self |
| Diana Rigg (as Dame Diana Rigg) | Self |
| Shaparak Khorsandi (as Shappi Khorsandi) | Self |
| Gina Yashere | Self |
| Anita Harris | Self |
| Stephen K Amos | Self |
| Penn Jillette (as Penn & Teller) | Self |
| Teller (as Penn & Teller) | Self |
| Michele Lee | Self |
| Michael Grade | Self |
| Gary Morecambe | Self |
| Vince Calandra | Self |
| Graham McCann | Self |
| Susan Hampshire | Self |
| Joan Morecambe (as Joan Morecambe OBE) | Self |
| Gail Morecambe | Self |
| Debra Supnik | Self |
| Steve Punt | Self |
| Barry Cryer | Self |
| Jon Culshaw | Self |
| William Cook | Self |
| Eric Morecambe | Self (Archive Material) |
| Ernie Wise | Self (Archive Material) |
| Vina Saffian | Self |
| Bill Bonhert | Self |
| Simon Lloyd | Series Director |
| Simon Lloyd | Series Producer |
| Mark Wells | Executive Producer |
| Andrew Solt | Executive Producer |
| Joe McVey | Executive Producer |
| Helen Nightingale | Executive Producer |
| Greg Vines | US Producer |
| Julian Caidan | Editor |
| Paul King | Director of Photography |
Press
The night that Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise made their US debut on the massively influential Ed Sullivan Show with a routine more suited to Blackpool Pier, they went down like the proverbial cup of cold sick. The second time they were on, they were hitting and wrestling one another to the floor. They had learned their lesson. Jonathan Ross presents this fascinating three-part look at how the comedians fared with Stateside audiences between 1963 and 1968.
Ali Catterall, The Guardian, 27th December 2018