List of The Morecambe & Wise Show (1978–1983) episodes

This is an episode summary of British TV comedy show The Morecambe & Wise Show.

The nine series of 50 minute programmes produced between 1968 and 1976 by Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise are generally considered to be their best output; From series two all are penned by Eddie Braben (save for the 1972 and 1976 Christmas shows which were penned by John Junkin and Barry Cryer) these programmes used a familiar format of opening spot with the duo in front of their familiar "tabs", followed by a musical guest, sketches, another musical guest followed by a scene in the fictional flat, either in bed or in the lounge greeting star guests, usually a play "What Ern Wrote" and the closing song and credits. This format was occasionally not used but was considered the "norm" during the pair's BBC years. Until 1973, unlike other shows episodes were broadcast every fortnight rather than weekly.

From 2 September 1968 until 19 September 1971, The Morecambe and Wise Show aired on BBC Two (except for their Christmas shows of 1969 and 1970 which aired on BBC One). The main reason for this was that Morecambe and Wise had moved to the BBC because they were making colour television programmes, and Lew Grade, their boss at ATV would not make their show in colour at ATV, so they moved to BBC Two, the only channel who produced programmes in colour at the time. BBC One would join ITV in launching a full colour service in November 1969, but it took until 19 September 1971 before The Morecambe and Wise Show to be transferred to BBC One.

Following their move from the BBC to Thames Television in 1978, Thames continued using the Morecambe & Wise Show title (from their BBC show) for the television series and specials the duo made for ITV between 1978 and 1983 with various title changes for seasonal specials as indicated below. Having previously worked for ITV associate ATV in the 1960s making the series Two of a Kind, the pair then spent nine years at the BBC making the original Morecambe & Wise Show; their record-breaking 1977 Christmas special on BBC 1 was their last episode before their return to commercial television. At Thames, the duo made four series of The Morecambe & Wise show, and several specials including Christmas shows. Their last episode was broadcast at Christmas 1983.

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