Eric Morecambe's daughter hails 'uncanny' likeness

The daughter of Eric Morecambe said described as "incredible" the actor who plays her father in a special stage show to mark the 100th birthdays of comic duo Morecambe and Wise.

Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephen are performing Eric and Ern at The Lowry in Salford later this month as part of the centenary celebrations in honour of the entertainers.

Ashpitel and Stephens drew inspiration for the show - which runs from 24-28 March - from the writings of Eddie Braben, who provided material for the double act.

Gail Stuart, Morecambe's daughter, said Stephen was "incredibly like him and gets the mannerisms amazingly well."

After a limited run at the Curve Theatre in Leicester, Eric and Ern will visit the Lowry before going to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End and Morecambe's Winter Gardens.

Stephen told BBC North West Tonight that portraying the much-loved comic duo had been the toughest job the actors had ever faced.

"We have never worked as hard in our career as portraying these geniuses.

"Every little movement, every little gesture, every little wig that Ernie wears - we've got to be spot on. And hopefully we are."

"We do treasure their memory and hopefully the show we do can transport the audience back for that two hours to a time when they were watching Morecambe and Wise."

They said they paid homeage to some of the comedians' best-loved sketches.

Stephen said: "I like the sketches when the boys are in their flat sitting at the sofa or in bed together, where Ernie has got the Financial Times and Eric has got the Dandy. It is a perfect picture of the two."

Ashpitel, who plays Ernie Wise, said the audiences loved to join in with the sketches.

"The audience knows what's coming - and the more they know - the bigger the laugh.

"Sometimes they say the line before we do," he added.

The pair said they never get tired of the classic comedy lines.

"We just love it," said Stephen.

Ashpitel said: "We met in drama school 41 years ago. We've known each other almost as long as Eric and Ern did and we are like the Yin and Yang of each other.

"Like Eric and Ern were like brothers, we are the same.

"It's a joy to make people laugh and there is that emotional connection because people remember watching Eric and Ern making them laugh when they were kids with their mums and dads."

Stephen added: "Morecambe and Wise weren't just liked, they were loved by the public. And with our show we get a little bit of that back, and it is wonderful."

Born John Eric Bartholomew in 1926, Morecambe's stage name was inspired by his Lancashire hometown, which has a statue of him on the promenade unveiled by the Queen in 1999.

He died on 28 May 1984 after collapsing on stage with a heart attack, shortly after his 58th birthday.

Wise, who was born Ernie Wiseman and forged the comedy partnership with Morecambe when he was 16, died in 1999 aged 73.

The pair were both appointed OBEs in 1976.

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