10 things you didn't know about Morecambe and Wise

1: Name that comedian

Morecambe and Wise weren't actually called Morecambe and Wise.

Ernie Wise was born Wiseman – he shortened it as a teenager on the advice of his manager. Eric Morecambe's real name was Bartholomew, but this was considered too cumbersome for the stage so the teenage Eric decided to take on the name of his hometown instead. Which is just as well, as "Bartholomew and Wiseman" just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

2: The straight truth

It's difficult to imagine now, but Eric Morecambe often played the "straight man" of the act in the early days.

Although Ernie Wise later established himself as one of the most famous straight men in the history of double acts, things were rather different when they started their careers on stage. They often alternated roles, so that Morecambe would be the straight man to Wise's fool, until they eventually saw the light and settled into the niches that made them famous.

3: Those books what Eric wrote

Here's something even hardcore Morecambe fans might not know – the great man had a sideline as a children's writer.

He actually published a pair of kids' novels in the early 80s, titled The Reluctant Vampire and The Vampire's Revenge. So that's two more things to look for on eBay then.

4: The big flop

They may have broken viewing records with their 70s Christmas shows, but Morecambe and Wise were a huge flop when they first appeared on telly.

Broadcast in 1954, their original TV series Running Wild was a clumsy and haphazard affair that was roundly slammed by all the critics. One newspaper pundit even wrote: "Definition of the week: TV set, the box they buried Morecambe and Wise in". Eric, who was always more sensitive to criticism than Ernie, carried a clipping of that review in his wallet for the rest of his life.

5: Lucky strike

Morecambe and Wise owed their TV success to an actors' strike.

It was in 1960 that the duo's agent asked ITV if Morecambe and Wise could get their own show. But the memory of their 50s flop Running Wild was still strong, and ITV rejected the offer. But then came news that Equity, the actors' union, was threatening a massive strike. This led frightened ITV bosses to seek out any performers who were with VAF – the other big actors' union of the time. Morecambe and Wise were VAF-affiliated, so the executives grudgingly signed them up for Two of a Kind – the programme that would later become The Morecambe and Wise Show.

6: You're nicked

Hard as it may be to believe, Morecambe and Wise guest starred in an episode of the ultra-gritty 70s cop show, The Sweeney.

"Hearts and Minds" was in fact the last ever episode of The Sweeney to be filmed, and featured the comic greats playing themselves. It was actually a return favour to John Thaw and Dennis Waterman, who had themselves made guest appearances in the 1976 Morecambe and Wise Christmas special. Fair's fair, guv.

7: The Golden Triangle

You may not know his name, but there was a "third" member of Morecambe and Wise called Eddie Braben.

A comedy writer who started supplying material for the duo during the 1970s, it was Braben who basically created the on-screen personas we know as Morecambe and Wise. Before he came along, Morecambe was characterised as "gormless" while Wise was rigid and egotistical. Braben changed all that, making Morecambe a witty and wily jester and Wise a more loveable buffoon. Morecambe, Wise and Braben were such a success that they even had ther own nickname within the industry: the Golden Triangle.

8: Wise to technology

Ernie Wise was chosen to make Britain's first ever mobile phone call in 1985.

The historic event, which was widely covered by the media, took place on New Year's Day. Ernie made the call across the fledgling Vodafone network from East London to Vodafone's head office in Newbury (situated, oddly enough, above a curry house).

9: Strange bedfellows

It may have forged one of the most iconic images of Morecambe and Wise, but Eric was initially opposed to the idea of sharing a double bed with Ernie on screen.

It was their writer Eddie Braben who came up with the idea, but the prospect made Morecambe so uncomfortable that he vetoed it – until Braben reminded him that Laurel and Hardy also shared a bed on screen. This was enough to persuade Eric to go along wth it – on the condition that he could smoke his pipe during the bed scenes to emphasise his "masculinity".

10: Bring Me Sunshine (and much else besides)

Bring Me Sunshine will always be their anthem, but it was just one of several songs which Morecambe and Wise would sing over the end credits of different shows.

There was also their feel-good tune Positive Thinking, as well as a number of songs dedicated to their own friendship: Following You Around, Two of a Kind and We Get Along (Don't You Agree).