ROBERT HARDY on Morecambe and Wise

The late great Robert Hardy on a M&W Christmas Special, probably 1981 or 1982 (taped Xmas Day 1983 in New Zealand) Taken from my personal VHS collection - a rare survival. Enjoy!

[@shirleylane131]

Robert Hardy was one of Britain’s finest actor. Loved him in Morse and All Creatures

[@johnking5174]

Shame he was so underused here by Eric and Ernie, seems their writer Eddie Braben had no idea what to do with him, and so gave him a rehashed BBC routine in front of the curtains, and a tedious dance act afterward. What a waste.

[@lindamanas6735]

He was brilliant in ‘Sense and Sensibility’

[@angelacooper2661]

What would James Herriot and Tristan (aka Doctor Who) have thought?

[@tanyaandelvis2698]

Not a great in front of the curtain sketch.Lacklustre at best.

[@dorothyflanagan9535]

Robert Hardy is my favourite actor. His acting parts were always suited to his craft

[@introspectivedreamer3864]

thank you for posting this great film of these three late, great men, thoroughly enjoyed watching this and watched it again, much appreciated

[@boychildnew1]

Great to see any 'new' stuff by the lads on youtube. ta!

[@Lytton333]

The routine at the end is utterly fab..

[@Ladynipchick2]

Eric is just hilarious at any time, and always very fluid! :)

[@johnking5174]

Interesting you say that, as by 1982 when this was made, Eric in private felt his heart illness was slowing him down.

[@bellarosa009]

Thank you for sharing and posting.

[@peterwetherall9160]

It is a very clever dance I enjoyed it

[@naly202]

At first glance I thought "hmmm, his face looks familiar. I think he is a politician" Well, he is a politician indeed Cornelius Fudge - Minister for Magic.

[@greasylimpet3323]

@@DavesRabbitHole All Creatures Great and Small was fantastic! I've read most of the books, and seen nearly all the episodes. It was well loved here in Australia. The cast were wonderful.

[@chesschess6304]

lovely songs !

[@brianneale2006]

all three has unfortunately passed away over the years

[@angelacooper2661]

Here's Siegfried Farnon, arrived all the way from Darrowby, fresh from treating sick animals!

[@shirleylane131]

Just MAGIC !

[@keithdavidson4723]

Great video. Thanks for sharing it.

[@johnking5174]

This was from their 1982 Christmas Show which aired on Monday 27th December 1982 here in the UK. This was the 2nd of their Christmas shows which never aired on Christmas Day. From 1981-1983 their Christmas show never aired on Christmas Day, unlike during their time on the BBC.

[@stephenguppy8886]

Yes, because they were with Thames and LWT always took over at 6pm on Fridays through Sunday night.

[@johnking5174]

@@stephenguppy8886 Thames controlled Fridays up to 7pm until Jan 1982, when LWT got their start time moved earlier to 5.15pm, as they felt Thames had too much control on Fridays.

[@stephenguppy8886]

@@johnking5174 Ok ok Mr Pedantic. It doesn't alter the fact that Eric & Ernie were never on tv on Christmas Day if it fell on an LWT night.

[@johnking5174]

@@stephenguppy8886 Of course I understand that. This is what I said in my original comment.

[@stephenguppy8886]

@@johnking5174 You didn't say that at all, you prick.

[@peterlewis6324]

Very classy Robert H.

[@writeract2]

Was Mr. Hardy doing Siegfried Farnon there? The dance bit at the end - such class and human-ness - would never see anything this graceful, dignified, and full of class as this small little "schitick" routine.

[@gennyreid3240]

Everyone knew that Ernie was a good dancer but look at the way Eric moves. I think he’s better.

[@keithdavidson4723]

I agree. There’s always something very natural and graceful about Eric’s dancing.

[@Dabberontour]

Just genius

[@kalliskyriacou4225]

This was originally done with John Mills on the BBC based on a true story from Eddie Braben when he used to be a greengrocer and John Mills was shopping there and he asked him for an autograph but he only had a brown paper bag. The second part with the award was also done on The BBC with a different actor.

[@buildingladygarnet]

The award part was done with Ian Carmichael on the BBC.

[@johnking5174]

Just shows you how drained of new material Eddie Braben was that they had to rehash this routine. Rehashing old BBC material probably got by in 1980s as there as hardly any videos for the public to remember the material.

[@ange9663]

Is the clip available anywhere of Robert Hardy with Ralph Richardson on Eric & Ernies show. Would love to see that x

[@mariannehepple4907]

I do have a short clip from the Ralph show. I will try to upload it. I grabbed it from YT some time ago so may still be there anyway. There are DVD sets of M&W Xmas shows, so the whole programme may be on them

[@mariannehepple4907]

As per YT system, I have scheduled the clip to become available earliest

[@ange9663]

Your a star thank you, will also look for dvd. Many thanks

[@alexlazebat839]

this wasn't in 1981 xmas special as they met Robert hardy and Ralph Richardson in their flat also 1981 is often shown at christmas along with 78 and 80

[@mariannehepple4907]

Yes - so I believe this is from 1982

[@alexlazebat839]

@@mariannehepple4907 i do have a complete breakdown of every show on paper i could look it up

[@alexlazebat839]

@@mariannehepple4907 yes i just watch the xmas 82 and this is from it

[@chadlambert1986]

Cô giáo hướng dẫn bài dạ khúc của jay chou đi ạ

[@dorothyflanagan9535]

Show us some yank comedy that we can all laugh at

[@dorothyflanagan9535]

Ive yet to see a yank comedy that compares tò English.

[@Lytton333]

All Englishmen great and small.. (sorry Ern..)

[@mariannehepple4907]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnking5174]

@@mariannehepple4907 This was from their 1982 Christmas Show which aired on Monday 27th December 1982 here in the UK. This was the 2nd of their Christmas shows which never aired on Christmas Day. From 1981-1983 their Christmas show never aired on Christmas Day, unlike during their time on the BBC.

[@mariannehepple4907]

Thanks for verifying it was 1982. In those days we tended to get programmes from the UK at least a year after screening there

[@johnking5174]

5:10 - Oh dear, this is bad, as this was a direct copy of a sketch they did with Donald Sinden on their very first Thames special in 1978, so by 1982 they were even copying their old Thames Television material, that was bad.

[@mariannehepple4907]

I didn't know that - I can't say I was ever a M&W fan. Worth it for Robert Hardy

[@ianwilson7248]

John King oh dear the only similarity is what they are wearing , the routine is not even the same. This is from the bbc routine that had only Eric and Ern in it ,all they've done is add an extra person.

[@johnking5174]

This is the Thames TV era with Robert Hardy, not the BBC, and they took their 1978 bit with Donald Sinden and rejigged it here a few years later. Bowler hat, umbrella, it is a copy.

[@ianwilson7248]

John King You misunderstood my comment. I know this is the Thames era but the routine that is performed with Robert Hardy is a rehash from the BBC that was only performed by Eric and Ern, if you look at the Thames performance you will see that the only similarity is what the guys are wearing and this is more a copy of or maybe copied from a skit with Jill Gascoigne where they do a very similar routine to the same music but in police uniforms.

[@johnking5174]

Still a shame they had to rehash material when they moved to Thames. As Gary Morecambe said, there was little left in the pot for them to make as new at Thames, and with Eddie Braben not joining them at Thames until mid 1980, they simply had to rehash old BBC material. Lucky for them this was an era before home videos became the norm.

[@johnking5174]

5:15 - I am sorry, but this routine just falls flat on the ground for me. Tedious to the point of utter boredom, even the studio audience are falling asleep, with not a hint of any laughter until over a minute into the routine. Maybe it is the Californian in me, but this bit was pure garbage, sorry.

[@deedeescantlebury253]

Horrible British humour

[@dorothyflanagan9535]

No sense of humor How old are you?