“I’m playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order…” – Eric Morecambe

One half of the iconic comedy duo Morecambe & Wise, Eric Morecambe, would have been turning 100 this year. To celebrate his legacy, the town which he chose as his namesake (as he was born here!), is hosting a series of exciting events and exhibitions over the course of May 2026 and beyond.

Eric Morecambe was born John Eric Bartholomew in Morecambe in 1926, and would go on to have an illustrious career on stage and screen. Eric is, without a doubt, Morecambe’s most famous son, and most recognisable talent. He was a talented comic, actor, songwriter, performer, and multi-instrument musician. After meeting Ernie at a young age in the 1930s, the two started working and writing together, which would eventually lead to the creation of one of the most iconic comedic duo’s of all time; Morecambe & Wise.

Despite airing decades before I was born, I always like to watch the reruns of the Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show on the BBC each year, and have seen clips here and there of other shows of theirs, finding them joyful, funny, and very silly (all good things in this life!). If you want to see clips of the iconic duo, there are plenty to be found on Youtube and iPlayer (I dare not share any here in case I get clobbered by copyright!).

If you want to get involved with the sunshine legacy of Eric Morecambe, there are loads of opportunities to do so throughout 2026, including shows at the stunningly restored Morecambe Winter Gardens (browse and find tickets here). Alongside shows and tributes, there will also be exhibitions and tours at various venues across Morecambe, showcasing collections from private collectors and those in the public record. The tours will be walking tours of key locations from Eric’s early life.

The thing about Morecambe and Wise that is so enduring is that they were about joy and laughter and silliness, things that I think we can always do with more of. It’s very easy to get philosophical here, but I think we often forget to laugh (especially at ourselves) and play as adults, and it’s so important that we do do it from time to time. In fact, Eric was so dedicated to delivering laughs and joy that even after he received a devasting heart condition diagnosis, he continued to perform. He died during a performance from a heart attack. I believe his most enduring legacy is remembering to not take ourselves too seriously, and that you’ve only got one life, so you might as well use it well, with an extra bit of silliness added in for good measure.

You can see a full list of the events to celebrate the centenary on the Morecambe Town Council Website.