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Morecambe and Wise writer Eddie Braben dies Morecambe and Wise writer Eddie Braben dies
(4 months later)
Eddie Braben, the comedy writer best known for his work on the Morecambe and Wise show, has died after a short illness, aged 82.Eddie Braben, the comedy writer best known for his work on the Morecambe and Wise show, has died after a short illness, aged 82.
Braben, who also wrote material for BBC radio comedy show Round the Horne, Ken Dodd, David Frost and Ronnie Corbett, died on Tuesday morning, his manager Norma Farnes announced.Braben, who also wrote material for BBC radio comedy show Round the Horne, Ken Dodd, David Frost and Ronnie Corbett, died on Tuesday morning, his manager Norma Farnes announced.
"The writer Eddie Braben, the third man behind the success of Morecambe and Wise, died this morning at the age of 82 after a short illness," Farnes said."The writer Eddie Braben, the third man behind the success of Morecambe and Wise, died this morning at the age of 82 after a short illness," Farnes said.
"It was Billy Cotton Jr at the BBC who recognised the brilliance of Eddie's writing was the ideal marriage that would guarantee the success of Morecambe and Wise."It was Billy Cotton Jr at the BBC who recognised the brilliance of Eddie's writing was the ideal marriage that would guarantee the success of Morecambe and Wise.
"He is survived by his loving wife Dee, three children and six grandchildren.""He is survived by his loving wife Dee, three children and six grandchildren."
Braben, born in Liverpool in 1930, began his writing career selling jokes to comedians such as Charlie Chester and later worked with fellow Liverpudlian Dodd for a number of years.Braben, born in Liverpool in 1930, began his writing career selling jokes to comedians such as Charlie Chester and later worked with fellow Liverpudlian Dodd for a number of years.
However, his most famous collaboration, with Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, began in 1969 when the BBC's then head of TV light entertainment, Bill Cotton, suggested they work together.However, his most famous collaboration, with Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, began in 1969 when the BBC's then head of TV light entertainment, Bill Cotton, suggested they work together.
Braben was credited with reshaping the duo's on-screen personas, introducing more elements of their off-screen friendship into their TV act, exaggarated for comic effect, such as having them live together and even innocently sharing a bed in their BBC sketches.Braben was credited with reshaping the duo's on-screen personas, introducing more elements of their off-screen friendship into their TV act, exaggarated for comic effect, such as having them live together and even innocently sharing a bed in their BBC sketches.
He played a key part in Morecambe and Wise's success throughout the 70s, with their BBC Christmas specials in particular becoming must-see festive events.He played a key part in Morecambe and Wise's success throughout the 70s, with their BBC Christmas specials in particular becoming must-see festive events.
However, the pressure to top each year's Christmas special, which featured big numbers such as BBC newsreaders high-stepping through a There Is Nothing Like a Dame routine (1977), took a toll on Braben's health.However, the pressure to top each year's Christmas special, which featured big numbers such as BBC newsreaders high-stepping through a There Is Nothing Like a Dame routine (1977), took a toll on Braben's health.
Speaking to comedian Miranda Hart in March this year, Braben said:Speaking to comedian Miranda Hart in March this year, Braben said:
"The Morecambe and Wise Show became more important than Christmas."The Morecambe and Wise Show became more important than Christmas.
"The real pressure came when I was sat in front of that typewriter with all those blank pages and there was a deadline and there was nothing happening. That's when you realised there were 20 million or 25 million people looking over your shoulder – all saying 'Make me laugh'.""The real pressure came when I was sat in front of that typewriter with all those blank pages and there was a deadline and there was nothing happening. That's when you realised there were 20 million or 25 million people looking over your shoulder – all saying 'Make me laugh'."
Although he kept the burden to himself, Braben admitted that he did "pay a price with health".Although he kept the burden to himself, Braben admitted that he did "pay a price with health".
When Morecambe and Wise switched to ITV in 1978, Braben remained at the BBC, although he did later write for them again.When Morecambe and Wise switched to ITV in 1978, Braben remained at the BBC, although he did later write for them again.
He also wrote for and performed in BBC radio comedy programmes The Show with Ten Legs, featuring Bill Pertwee and Alison Steadman, and The Show with No Name, also with Steadman.He also wrote for and performed in BBC radio comedy programmes The Show with Ten Legs, featuring Bill Pertwee and Alison Steadman, and The Show with No Name, also with Steadman.
Braben also wrote for Seaside Special, The Les Dawson Show, Ronnie Corbett, Little and Large and Mike Yarwood in the late 70s and early 80s.Braben also wrote for Seaside Special, The Les Dawson Show, Ronnie Corbett, Little and Large and Mike Yarwood in the late 70s and early 80s.
In 2001, Braben collaborated with Hamish McColl and Sean Foley on the Olivier award-winning The Play What I Wrote, a tribute to the relationship between Morecambe, Wise and himself. His autobiography, The Book What I Wrote, was published in 2004.In 2001, Braben collaborated with Hamish McColl and Sean Foley on the Olivier award-winning The Play What I Wrote, a tribute to the relationship between Morecambe, Wise and himself. His autobiography, The Book What I Wrote, was published in 2004.
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