Long-lost Morecambe and Wise episode to air on Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday

Key facts

• The episode was originally broadcast on 16 September 1968.
• It was one of four missing episodes from the series.
• The copy was preserved by an industry professional who has since died.
• The episode features sketches by Sid Green and Dick Hills.
• Ann Hamilton appears as Pauline in a nudist colony sketch.
• Jenny Lee-Wright plays Eric's niece, a balloon dancer.
• The Paper Dolls perform a musical number.
• The broadcast coincides with what would have been Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday.

A lost treasure resurfaces

A long-lost episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show, feared wiped by the BBC, will be broadcast on 14 May — what would have been Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday. The BBC confirmed the discovery, made by the charitable trust Film Is Fabulous! (FIF), which unearthed the programme from a private collection. The episode originally aired on 16 September 1968, marking the duo's return to the BBC after a stint in commercial television.

The episode's contents and creators

The black-and-white episode features sketches written by Sid Green and Dick Hills, longtime writers for the duo. Ann Hamilton appears as Pauline in a sketch set in a nudist colony, while Jenny Lee-Wright plays Eric's niece, a balloon dancer. The Paper Dolls, a 1960s pop group, contribute a musical performance.

Family reactions

Eric Morecambe's daughter, Gail, said she was "thrilled" the broadcast date would coincide with her father's centenary year. "What a lovely surprise this is, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it on a screen once again after so many years," she said. She praised the efforts of archivists, adding, "It's excellent to hear that skilled people are actively going through the archives and discovering 'lost' programmes. Not just Morecambe and Wise, of course." Gary Morecambe, Eric's son, described the discovery as "wonderful" and expressed surprise, saying he thought there was not "anything out there left to find."

The recovery effort

The programme was tracked down by FIF, a charitable trust run by film collectors, cinema lovers, and vintage television enthusiasts. Prof Justin Smith, professor of cinema and television history at De Montfort University in Leicester and chair of trustees at FIF, described the episode as "fast-paced" and "witty," with many of the duo's "trademarks." The copy was preserved by an industry professional who has since died, ensuring its survival after the BBC wiped many tapes from that era.

Significance and legacy

The episode is one of four missing from the series, making its recovery a notable event for British television history. The broadcast on 14 May will celebrate Morecambe's centenary, underscoring the enduring popularity of the comedy duo. The discovery highlights the ongoing efforts of archivists and enthusiasts to recover lost television programmes, a cause championed by organisations like FIF.

The bottom line

• A lost Morecambe and Wise episode from 1968 will air on 14 May, Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday.
• The episode was discovered by the charity Film Is Fabulous! in a private collection.
• It features sketches by Sid Green and Dick Hills, and a performance by The Paper Dolls.
• Eric Morecambe's children expressed delight at the recovery and broadcast timing.
• The find underscores the value of archival preservation in recovering lost television history.