Morecambe and Wise Show a BBC School's Programme 1973

[@timc924]

Benchmark performers. They were addictive to watch then and now. Great documentary. The BBC at at best- diverse in developing programs with precision and quality content. Thanks for posting, can't get enough of M&W even in my 60's.

[@bobacrey1068]

Good to see Eddie Braben featured in this. Another genius

[@davidtownson1476]

Brilliant download. Many thanks. The two lads at their best.

[@Cameraman61]

Note the Film Cameraman for this programme was Brian Tufano, who later went on to shoot feature films such as Quadrophenia (1979).

[@johnking5174]

0:20 - The recording of this episode of Morecambe and Wise was said by the narrator to have been done "last summer". This means this episode was recorded in the summer of 1972 but did not air on BBC One until Friday 16th February 1973.

[@sharonjones873]

Eric, Ernie, Eddie, I will be watching these comedy genius' til the day I die, and then I get to watch them for real in heaven.

[@johnking5174]

If you take note that Morecambe and Wise spent two weeks per every show to rehearse and record just ONE show. It explains a lot why after 1973 they chose to reduce their work load. In 1973 for example they produced 12 regular editions and a Christmas special, meaning 26 weeks work in a year for just 13 shows.

[@geoffjoffy]

I remember watching this back then.

[@DerrickSmith-z5h]

To be pedantic (sorry) the Omnibus programme was a re-edit of this. All the footage was originally recorded for Scene (broadcast January 1973) and clearly someone felt that it would make a good edition of Omnibus (broadcast February 1973). The big give-away is Ronald Smedley's name (he spent his career working in children's television).

[@johnking5174]

11:15 - Studio 1 mentioned and seen here thankfully survives to this day (May 2022) as it was one of three of the original eight studios saved from being demolished. Studios TC1, TC2 and TC3 remain in operation, all the rest are gone.

[@johnking5174]

@@jmshrrsn Broadcasting House was their oldest property, opened in 1932 and it was decided that the BBC should have just one main headquarters instead of two. Television Centre was the one chosen to be disposed of. In fact originally there was no plans for the BBC to have any presence in the newly developed TVC, but they thought better of it, and chose to keep three television studios which are the busiest studios in London today. Broadcasting House was always going to be kept, as it is hugely historical. It survived the war. It was where Churchill did some of his war broadcasts from. TVC is of course historic, but since it was not the oldest site, it was chosen. Sad, but true.

[@johnking5174]

And to think the BBC only got £200 million for the whole of the Television Centre site. That is a pittance now and most of that money was spent in upgrading BBC Elstree and Elstree Film Studios to use whilst Television Centre was being redeveloped. What a waste. Also, BBC Studioworks only have a 15 year lease to use Studios TC1, TC2 and TC3. This lease will end in 2032, and by then we have no idea what the BBC will look like after the next charter renewal due in 2027.