Here at the Grand we’re excited about a future show we’ll be welcoming soon: Eric and Ernie.

The brilliant homage to Morecambe and Wise is on a 2019 tour, said to make you feel like you’ve seen the real thing.

“Ashpitel and Stephens have immaculate comic timing, and replicate Morecambe and Wise’s innocent humour with respectful attention.” — Southern Daily Echo

Morecambe and Wise, the Real Eric and Ernie

Considered to be “the most illustrious, and the best-loved, double-act that Britain has ever produced”, Morecambe and Wise were a popular and beloved British comic double act. Their work spanned radio, variety, film, and television, the latter which they were most successful in.

They met when they were both separately booked to be on Jack Hylton’s Youth Takes a Bow at the Nottingham Empire Theatre. Morecambe’s mother Sadie suggested they work on a double act, which debuted in August of 1941 at the Liverpool Empire.

Their friendship and partnership lasted from 1940 until 1984, when Eric Morecambe passed away.

Morecambe and Wise (courtesy of ericandlittleern.co.uk).

Eric and Ernie, The Show

Capturing the brilliance that was Morecambe and Wise, Eric and Ernie is an homage to the comedic duo. Performed by Jonty Stephens as Eric Morecambe and Ian Ashpitel as Ernie Wise, they gained a firm friend in Eric Morecambe’s son Gary when he watched the show and loved it.

This Olivier nominated show Eric and Little Ern was a hit in the West End and it’s now back in the world of laughter and sunshine. Returning in this fabulous, new show, Stephens and Ashpitel have included varied renditions of the famous comedy sketches.

Eric and Ernie is sure to evoke those beloved memories of when families huddled in front of the telly to watch the antics of Morecambe and Wise on Sunday evenings.

Courtesy of ericandlittleern.co.uk.

Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel

Stephens and Ashpitel became friends when they met in 1983 at drama school in Birmingham. Eric Morecambe is one of the many great impressions that Stephens has performed since childhood. As a brilliant mimic and a self-confessed anorak of Morecambe and Wise, Stephens’ love for the famous duo and his knowledge were the backbone to their story.

Highly acclaimed and with an Olivier Award nomination under their belt, Stephens and Ashpitel return on a 2019 tour to keep bringing families across the UK some of the best work of Morecambe and Wise.