Eric Morecambe's Driver

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​Morecambe and Wise - classic family comedy

I don't know about you, but whenever I think about Morecambe and Wise I think about my childhood in the 70s and the Christmas specials on TV.

As many in the UK did (and probably all over the world), I loved Morecambe and Wise and grew up with them on the TV and always looked forward to their series, especially the Christmas special, wondering which famous people were going to appear on the show that year.

If you don't know them, and perhaps you don't, Morecambe and Wise were a British comedy duo, who were fantastically funny and yet the epitome of family entertainment. That doesn't always work now, but back then, in the seventies, it was perfect and everyone loved them.

Do you remember the show with conductor, Andre Previn, or serious British newsreader, Angela Rippon, revealing she could dance, or actress, Glenda Jackson, what about the Singing in the Rain sketch, or the breakfast sketch where no one actually said anything?!

This book Driving Mr. Morecambe comes at the Morecambe and Wise legend from a slightly different angle. It's a memoir written by Eric Morecambe's chauffeur, Michael Fountain.

Who is Michael Fountain?

It's his biography, so you get to learn about him a little, his past and how he came to be a driver, but it was in 1970 that his world was changed forever as he became Eric Morecambe's chauffeur.

The book takes you through all the following years, driving Eric around and what life was like working for him. It covers touring, life with the BBC, the change over to ITV and the later years.

It's a lovely book, both gentle and funny. You get an insight into Eric Morecambe, the man and how life was for both Michael and Eric. Michael became part of the family really and was also Eric's right-hand man in some ways. You'll even find out who it was behind that curtain!

The classic 'breakfast' sketch - apart from all the great 70s stuff I just love that there's a spider plant here.

The day the sun went out

The book also tells of Eric Morecambe's passing - what happened on that fateful night. Michael was there when Eric collapsed backstage after his performance and he describes how his friend fought to hang on, but it was too much for the 58-year-old. The book also includes the funeral and what happened after this sad time - how Michael and the world moved on.

This part of the book is told with such tenderness, I'm not embarrassed to admit I've been in floods of tears each time I read it. This was such a wonderful man who just wanted to make people laugh and give happiness to as many people as possible. His memory lives on, especially in Michael Fountain and the people closest to the world of Morecambe and Wise.

If you're interested in this British icon I can't recommend this book more highly. I'd love to know if you agree with me.

Some more clips to show you them at their best.

I couldn't not include this - the all-time Christmas classic.

I remember watching this as a kid - I thought it was brilliant.