Eric Morecambe centenary: Programme of events

A series of events is taking place this week to mark the centenary of the comedy legend Eric Morecambe.

Beyond Radio will also broadcast a special live programme direct from the Kings Arms, opposite the Eric Morecambe Statue, from 10am to 3pm on Thursday May 14 - the 100th anniversary of Eric's birth in Morecambe.

John Eric Bartholomew was born on Buxton Street in the town, on May 14 1926. He went on to become one half of the famous comic double act Morecambe and Wise, one of the most-loved duos in the history of showbusiness.

THE OFFICIAL ERIC 100 PROGRAMME announced to date

Eric Morecambe Library Hunt

Monday May 11, Wednesday May 13 to Saturday May 16, 9am-5pm, Tuesday May 14 1pm-7pm

Morecambe Library

Celebrate what would have been Eric Morecambe’s 100th birthday with a library hunt! Find all the photos and unscramble the secret word. When you’re done you can collect a small prize.

Birds wot Eric saw

Open Monday, Wednesday to Saturday, 9am-5pm Tuesday 1pm-7pm, until May 21

Morecambe Library

Celebrate what would have been Eric Morecambe’s 100th birthday by taking part in a fun community art project. Eric was a nature lover and an avid bird watcher – and Morecambe Library invite you to stop by and create your own bird in memory of Eric and stick it on their art project.

Still Bringing Sunshine Exhibition

Open Monday, Thursday-Saturday, 9am-5pm Tuesday 1pm-7pm Wednesday 9am-1pm until June 27

Morecambe Library

Browse a small exhibition of Eric Morecambe memorabilia from the private collection of David Harrop.

Follow The Sunshine: Eric Morecambe Centenary Exhibition

Opens May 12, noon
Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 11am-3pm
Morecambe Heritage, Arndale Centre
Browse a collection of photos, postcards, letters and scripts giving an insight into Eric Morecambe’s life, including personal items from his collection.
The exhibition will run throughout the summer of 2026. 
Free entry, no booking required.

Radio Morecambe: We Luv 70s Morecambe and Wise Special
May 12, 2pm
The Platform
DJ Steve Middlesbrough invites you on a musical journey back to the 1970s and the height of Morecambe and Wise’s fame, featuring hilarious songs from their iconic sketch show and numbers from some of the legendary musical guests who gamely braved their company!
Entry £5 per person, payable on the door

Happy Birthday Eric!
May 14, 10.30am
Eric Morecambe Statue
Welcome Gary and Gail Morecambe to town as they pay a visit to their father’s iconic statue accompanied by the artist and sculptor, Graham Ibbeson. Catch a glimpse of Eric’s original Rolls Royce and hear the choir of Sandylands Primary School singing ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ as they arrive.

Eric Morecambe 100th birthday singalong

May 14, 1pm, The Platform, Morecambe

The Friends of the Platform invite you to pay tribute to Eric with a singalong of some of Morecambe and Wise's best loved songs on a day of variety and memories.

Read more: LISTEN: Sing along as venue celebrates Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday - Beyond Radio

Follow The Sunshine: Eric Morecambe Centenary Walks

May 14, 15 and 16, 2pm
Departing from Eric Morecambe Statue.
Take a whistlestop tour of some key locations in the early life and career of legendary comedian Eric Morecambe on the new ‘Follow The Sunshine’ trail. Created to mark the 100th anniversary of Eric Morecambe’s birth, these guided walks are led by local historian and ‘Morecambeologist’ Peter Wade. Visitors can also self-guide using a map and information booklet available throughout the summer from Morecambe Heritage.
Entry £2 per person, payable on departure.

The Intelligence Men (U, 1965)
May 15, 2pm
The Jubilee Club, Torrisholme
Enjoy Morecambe and Wise’s first big-screen outing: comic spy caper The Intelligence Men.
A chance encounter with a SCHLECHT secret agent forces a humble coffee shop manager into the secret world of spies in Swinging London, and a race against time to foil a sinister assassination plot during the ballet Swan Lake.
Free entry, no booking required.

Morecambe Bay Academy’s Eric Morecambe Run
May 15, 2pm
Gary and Gail Morecambe fire the starting gun for over 800 students from Morecambe Bay Academy as they run one mile along the Promenade from the Eric Morecambe Statue, wearing Eric's trademark specs!
Members of the public are invited to line the Promenade and show their support and encouragement in what will be quite the spectacle!

Winter Gardens Eric Morecambe Open Days
May 16 and 17, noon-3pm
Morecambe Winter Gardens
Enjoy classic clips featuring Morecambe and Wise on the big screen and a small exhibition of Eric Morecambe memorabilia from the private collection of David Harrop. 
Plus at 2pm on the Sunday, social media’s Morecambe and Wise Archive tells the story of Morecambe & Wise with archive items, images, film clips and more in a free talk.
Free entry, no booking required.

An advertisement for the Eric Morecambe Centenary events outside the Winter Gardens. Photo: Beyond Radio

Eric Morecambe Centenary Discussion
May 16, 4pm
Morecambe Winter Gardens
Explore the life, career and enduring legacy of Eric Morecambe with Gary and Gail Morecambe, reflecting on his legendary comedy partnership with Ernie Wise, whose influence continues to shape British entertainment.
The discussion offers audiences a rare and personal insight into the story behind one of the greatest double acts of all time.
The conversation will be hosted by Martin Clarkson, Executive Producer of Eric and Ern, who will guide a warm, celebratory look back at the partnership, the performances and the friendship that defined Morecambe and Wise.
Free entry, booking essential HERE.

An Evening of Eric & Ern
May 16 and 17, 7.30pm
Morecambe Winter Gardens, Martin Clarkson and The Production Garden in association with Cube Room Productions present two An Evening of Eric and Ern performances with Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens (below).

From the Olivier nominated duo behind the hugely celebrated critically acclaimed West End hit.
This is a show for all the family from 8 to 80.
A brilliant homage crammed full of renditions of those famous comedy sketches, that hits all the right notes! Coming to Morecambe for one night only, celebrate the Centenary year of the nations favourite comedy legends Morecambe & Wise.
From Greig’s Piano concerto to Mr Memory, “Arsenal!” It’s a show full of Morecambe and Wise’s most loved routines, songs and sketches and of course a musical guest.
This wonderful show evokes memories of times when whole families would huddle around the telly to watch those fantastic Christmas specials.
You’ll feel you’ve experienced the real thing and been taken back to a world of sunshine and laughter.
As seen on The One show BBC1 and The Alan Titchmarsh Show ITV.
Paid ticketed, booking essential HERE. (NOTE - the show on May 16 was sold out but limited tickets may be available, please check with venue.)

That Riviera Touch (PG, 1966)
May 17, 4pm
Morecambe Winter Gardens
Eric and Ern star as two hapless traffic wardens who head to the French Riviera for a holiday, only to find themselves caught in a caper involving stolen gems, a vintage car, and a suspicious villa.
Screened in the spectacular setting of the Morecambe Winter Gardens, this event is a tribute to the man who put Morecambe on the map. Expect laughter, nostalgia, and plenty of sunshine.
Free entry, booking essential HERE.

Morecambe and Wise on the set of That Riviera Touch, with Yolando Ottonello from Morecambe

Eric Morecambe 100: SEND family session
May 25, 11am-3pm
More Music
Play your own way while exploring the funny world of Eric Morecambe, in this specialist session for families with neurodivergence, special educational needs, disability and additional needs.
The session is offered by Connect Play Learn CIC and led by experienced SEND facilitators who will offer crafts, sensory and exploratory play, joke telling skills with actors, funny glasses, seagulls, sand and more!
Open to all ages and abilities, no SEND diagnosis is needed and siblings are always welcome. No activity is compulsory, with multiple options throughout the day. Sessions start at 11 am with themed crafts, break for lunch at 12 (bring your own) before the sensory and exploratory play and actor sessions. The day ends with homemade snacks and story time for those who want it. Allergies catered for.
Entry £8, booking essential HERE.

All The Right Notes: A Musical Tribute to Morecambe and Wise
July 4, 7.30pm
The Platform
Celebrate the musical comedic genius of Morecambe and Wise in this free concert from Morecambe Brass Band.
Whether making breakfast to ‘The Stripper’ or Eric getting drenched while Ernie was ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, Morecambe and Wise’s talent for musical comedy was unmatched. 
The influence of early careers forged in the fires of music hall variety shows carried through to the height of their fame on the BBC, providing iconic moments and barrels of laughs that remain evergreen today.
Morecambe Brass Band perform a musical tribute to the iconic double act, featuring numbers from some of their greatest musical sketches including: Bring me Sunshine, 
Me & My Shadow, Positive Thinking, The Stripper, Singin’ in the Rain, We Get Along So Easily, Big Spender, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Let’s Face the Music and Dance, and many more.
This event is presented by Morecambe Town Council.
Free entry, booking essential HERE.

Eric On The Bay
July 14, 5.30pm
Enjoy the visual spectacle of 100 Erics ‘skipping’ out on the bay in this performance art and photography project.
From creative team Anthony Haddon and Rich Berry, Eric On The Bay is inspired by Antony Gormley's Another Place sculpture installation on Crosby beach. Get involved as one of the many skipping Erics - email Anthony Haddon at ashaddon@gmail.com to volunteer. This project is supported by Morecambe Town Council.

* Other events announced for the centenary week, include:

A mayoral reception for invited guests at Morecambe Town Hall on May 14, the day of the centenary; a Sing Me Sunshine Special with community singing group Sing Me Sunshine, the Jubilee Club, Torrisholme (2pm to 4pm) on May 13; 'Happy Birthday Eric' events featuring Eric Morecambe impersonator Bob More, Morecambe Heritage Centre, Arndale centre, Morecambe (10am to 3pm), May 14; 'We Luv 1970s Eric Morecambe All-Dayer' with Elton John tribute, Jubilee Club, Torrisholme (noon until midnight), May 15; and a portrait of Eric, donated by artist Dave Miles, will be unveiled at the comedian's old school Lancaster Road Primary on the centenary date.

Also keep your eyes peeled for a new Morecambe and Wise mural, commissioned by Morecambe BID, to be unveiled at 11am on May 14 on the side of The Warehouse (formerly Hitchen's) on Marine Road Central by Gary and Gail Morecambe.

Read more: Work under way on new mural to celebrate Eric Morecambe's centenary - Beyond Radio

Morecambe's life-sized knitted Eric created by The Ninja Knitters will also be popping up around the town.

Read more: Life-size knitted mannequin pops up ahead of Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday - Beyond Radio

Look out too for not one, but two of Eric's Rolls Royces...

And Eric and Ernie’s bed trundling down the Prom!