Ernie Wise
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Ernie Wise British Pathé film | |
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Born | Ernest Wiseman 27 November 1925 |
Died | 21 March 1999 Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England | (aged 73)
Occupations |
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Years active | 1939–1995 |
Employer(s) | ATV, BBC, Thames Television |
Spouse |
Doreen Blythe (m. 1953) |
Ernest Wiseman,
Early life and education
Ernest Wiseman, born in
Wise (aged 10) appeared as a clown in the Nignog Revue at the
Performing career
This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2022) |
In August 1940, Wise met Eric Morecambe, then known as Eric Bartholomew, when they were both in the touring Jack Hylton show "Youth takes a Bow".[8]
Gradually, the duo formed a close friendship, and, in 1941, they began their comedy
Both continued to work in theatre comedy during the
They reunited after the war and made their name in radio, transferring to television in April 1954—although their first TV series, Running Wild, was unsuccessful. In 1961, they gained their own series on ATV, which was a success and raised their profile. They transferred to the BBC in 1968. Over a period of more than twenty years, Morecambe and Wise had regular series with both ITV and BBC. In 1976, they were both appointed OBEs.
Wise was commonly regarded as the straight man of the partnership, although his role gradually and subtly changed over the years. When Eddie Braben took over as their chief writer, he enriched Wise's persona by making him pompous and naive. Wise's character changed from being a conventional straight man into a pretentious and self-satisfied buffoon. Braben also made Wise a would-be writer; their BBC shows in the 1970s would regularly climax with an extended sketch, introduced by Wise as "a play what I wrote." It was in such a 'play' that Glenda Jackson, at the height of her career, was made to speak the line "All men are fools, and what makes them so is having beauty like what I have got."
Later years
On 1 January 1985, he made what was publicised as the first public mobile phone call in the UK, from St Katharine Docks, East London, to Vodafone's Headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire.[9] In 2015, it was reported that the actual first call was made a few hours earlier by Michael Harrison to his father, Sir Ernest Harrison, chairman of Vodafone.[10][11]
Also in 1985, Wise appeared in an acting role in an episode of the American TV situation comedy Too Close for Comfort, playing an old friend of the main character Henry, played by Ted Knight. It was Wise's only appearance in an American sitcom, and his last acting role on TV although he would continue to make TV appearances for the next decade, they were all on UK-based documentary, panel, or chat shows.
Wise appeared regularly as a panellist on the ITV revival of the popular panel show
On 14 May 1994, the BBC aired the first of three episodes of a mini-series called Bring Me Sunshine, as a tribute to Eric Morecambe. It was hosted by Ben Elton, who is a huge fan of Morecambe and Wise, and who cites the duo as a big influence on his career. Those interviewed were John Thaw, Roy Castle (who was to die later that year), Diana Rigg, Hale and Pace, and Fry and Laurie. Wise was not asked to participate, the BBC saying that they did not want "too many talking heads". He was, however, recovering from a minor stroke which he had suffered in December 1993 which forced him to spend Christmas and New Year in hospital.[13]
Wise suffered a second minor stroke in August 1995, and as a result, announced his retirement from show business on 27 November 1995, his 70th birthday. In August 1998, Wise was asked by the BBC to take part in Bring Me Sunshine: The Heart and Soul of Eric Morecambe, which was shown on 23 December that year. He had agreed to do so, but then his health had begun to deteriorate further. Earlier that month, Wise suffered two heart attacks within a week while on holiday, and had to undergo a triple
]Death
Wise died from heart failure and a chest infection at the Nuffield Hospital, Wexham, near Slough, on the morning of 21 March 1999.[14] He was 73 years old. His funeral was on 30 March at Slough Crematorium.[15]
Marriage
Wise married to dancer Doreen Blythe (14 May 1930 – 14 April 2018) on 18 January 1953. They remained married until his death.[16]
Legacy and statue
In March 2010, Wise's widow Doreen unveiled a statue of him in his home town of Morley, West Yorkshire, where he won a talent contest in 1936.[17][18] The statue was commissioned by the Morley Murals Committee and funded by Doreen.[19]
References
- ^ a b "Ernie Wise brought sunshine to Leeds". BBC News. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "Stanningley Parish Church Marriages". www.calverley.info.
- ^ "South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times". South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times: 16. 20 January 1933.
- ^ "Bradford Observer". Bradford Observer: 5. 31 March 1936.
- ^ "Daily News (London)". Daily News (London): 3. 7 January 1939.
- ^ "The Stage". The Stage: 3. 26 January 1939.
- ^ "Liverpool Daily Post". Liverpool Daily Post: 5. 15 March 1939.
- ^ "Surrey Advertiser". Surrey Advertiser: 6. 10 August 1940.
- ^ "Mobiles rack up 20 years of use". BBC News. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "UK's first mobile phone user remembers his call 30 years on". BBC News. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ Neate, Rupert. "New Year's Day mobile phone call made history and started a new era". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
- ^ "Rainbow – Morecambe & Wise". morecambeandwise.com. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ "My Life with Mr Sunshine by Doreen Wise. – Free Online Library". thefreelibrary.com.
- ^ "Comedian Ernie Wise dies". BBC News. 22 March 1999. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "Little Ern's final bow". BBC News. 30 March 1999.
- ^ "The Wonderful Girls In Our Lives", Part 2 (1973 article), morecambeandwise.com. Accessed 29 December 2022.
- ^ Dawar, Anil (22 February 2010). "Ernie Wise Statue Unveiled". Daily Express. Northern and Shell Media Publications. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- ^ Ernie Wise Statue is unveiled — "Belfast Telegraph"
- ^ "Wise widow funds home town statue". BBC News. BBC. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
Further reading
Biographies
- Morecambe, Eric; Wise, Ernie (1973). ISBN 9780491012119.
- Morecambe, Eric; Wise, Ernie; Freedland, Michael (1981). There's No Answer to That!: An Autobiography. London: Arthur Barker. ISBN 9780213168032.
- Wise, Ernie; Barnes, Trevor (1990). Still on My Way to Hollywood. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co. ISBN 9780715623381.
- Sellers, Robert; Hogg, James (2011). Little Ern! The Authorised Biography of Ernie Wise. London: ISBN 9780283071508.
External links
- Ernie Wise discography at Discogs
- Ernie Wise at IMDb
- Ernie Wise at British Comedy Guide
- Eric And Ern Keeping The Magic Alive (book, film, TV reviews, interviews)