BBC Two Orders Eric & Ernie’s Home Movies

BBC Two has commissioned ITV Studios-owned Shiver to produce Eric & Ernie’s Home Movies, which offers insight into the early days of the legendary double act both on and off screen.

The hour-long program features previously unseen footage from Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise’s home movie collection from the 1950s and ’60s. This is the first time that the home movie collection has been made available to documentary makers. The footage is combined with fresh interviews with family and friends. Eric & Ernie’s Home Movies is scheduled to air on BBC Two over the Christmas period. Ali Lynch serves as producer for Shiver.

Mark Robinson, executive producer of the series and creative director at Shiver, said: “Eric and Ernie’s home movies are a treasure trove. We’ve become familiar over the decades with so many classic Morecambe & Wise sketches and routines but this gives us the chance to see Eric and Ernie in the way their nearest and dearest knew them.

“The footage shines a light on an era when they were in their twenties and thirties, newly wed, often on the road, and still building up to becoming the legends we all know them as today. We are incredibly lucky to be working with the Morecambe & Wise estate on this program and grateful to them for allowing us access to this private collection.”

Shane Allen, controller of comedy commissioning at the BBC, added: “This wonderfully preserved home movie footage shines a new light on what a lifelong close and special friendship Eric and Ernie enjoyed. It’s really moving to see them in their private lives sharing happy times with friends and family. This Christmas marks 40 years since their huge audience special of 1977 and comes just before the 50th anniversary of their first BBC series in 1968.”