Long-lost episode of Moorecambe and Wise will air in colour on Christmas Day after it was discovered in the attic by Eric’s son Gary
- The Moorecambe & Wise Show began broadcasting in 1968 and later moved to BBC One with its Christmas specials garnering over 20million viewers
- Gary Moorecambe discovered the old episode when he was searching for scripts in the attic of his family home last year
- The newly coloured episode will be shown on BBC Two on Christmas Day at 7:45pm
A previously unseen episode of Moorecambe and Wise will be broadcast in colour for the first time on Christmas Day, it has been confirmed.
The long-lost footage was discovered by Eric Moorecambe’s son Gary in the attic of his mother’s house and dates from 1970.
According to BBC News, the 45-minute episode had originally been wiped by the broadcaster so they could re-use the tape.
Old favourite: A previously unseen episode of Moorecambe and Wise will be broadcast in colour for the first time on Christmas Day, it has been confirmed
Gary Moorecambe, 65, said the episode represents a ‘golden age of television’.
The newly coloured episode will be shown on BBC Two on Christmas Day at 7:45pm.
The Moorecambe & Wise Show began broadcasting on BBC Two in 1968 and later moved to BBC One with its Christmas specials garnering over 20million viewers.
Gary Moorecambe discovered the old episode when he was searching for scripts in the attic of his family home last year.
History: The long-lost footage was discovered by Eric Moorecambe’s son Gary in the attic of his mother’s house and dates from 1970
He came across seven unlabelled canisters and had them checked by experts.
The episode found was the first show the comedy pair made for BBC One on October 8 1970.
The tape, which is from the fourth series, was not released when then season was put out on DVD in 2008 as it was thought it was lost.
Gary told the BBC: ‘I didn’t realise at that point how far the BBC would go to present it. That it would then get colourised, which is fantastic, so it’s been brought bang up to date.
Family: Gary Moorecambe discovered the old episode when he was searching for scripts in the attic of his family home last year
‘And also what’s really good is the quality of the show itself, you can see the embryonic Morecambe and Wise come through.’
The show, written by Eddie Braben, will feature some classic sketches performed by the legendary comedy duo, as well as music from Paul Anka, Patricia Lambert and Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise enjoyed a hugely successful television career, fronting 175 shows over 22 years.
They became the nation’s favourite double act, with their 1977 Christmas Special watched by 28million people.
Eric died in 1984 while Ernie passed away in 1999.
Success: The Moorecambe & Wise Show began broadcasting on BBC Two in 1968 and later moved to BBC One with its Christmas specials garnering over 20million viewers
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