Rent Morecambe and Wise: Christmas Specials (1977)
4.6 of 5 from 47 ratings
8h 15min
- General info
- Available formats
- All series
- Synopsis:
It was as much a part of Christmas Day as the Queen's Speech and Turkey and Plum Pudding. The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Day Special was an event not to be missed - even the Queen was said to have delayed her official dinner to watch it. The legendary comedy duo's Christmas Specials began in 1969, but the phenomenon exploded in 1971 when the first, lavish, extended Christmas production was broadcast. Shirley Bassey sang in hobnail boots; Glenda Jackson was serenaded by an assortment of BBC Presenters and the Andre Previn sketch stole the show ("I'am playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order"). From then on, every subsequent year demanded new stars and great sketches. Diana Rigg played Nell Gwynne, Elton John was sent the wrong way round Television Centre, Vanessa Redgrave ('She's tall enough to play in goal!') starred in a Latin-American extravaganza and a leggy Angela Rippon emerged from behind the news desk to perform a legendary dance routine. In their last year at the BBC, the show reached it's peak as a record 28 million people tuned in to see a chorus line of newsreaders acrobatically dance and sing There Ain't Nothing Like a Dame', Penelope Keith climb awkwardly from an unfinished stairway and an unexpected return for Elton John. - Actors:
- Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise, Vanessa Redgrave, Hannah Gordon, The New Seekers, John Hanson, Arthur Tolcher, Yehudi Menuhin, Rudolf Nureyev, Laurence Olivier, André Previn
- Directors:
- John Ammonds, Vic Meredith, Ernest Maxin
- Producers:
- John Ammonds, Ernest Maxin
- Writers:
- Eddie Braben, Eric Morecambe, Barry Cryer, Mike Craig, Laurie Kingsley, Ron McDonnell, Ernie Wise, Jay Whyberd, Jay-Dee
- Studio:
- BBC
- Genres:
- British TV, TV Classics, TV Comedies
- Collections:
- Getting to Know: Vanessa Redgrave, New Waves in Norwegian Cinema
