Sphere bags 'definitive story' of comedy double act Morecambe and Wise

Sphere has acquired “the definitive story” of comedy double act Morecambe and Wise, Forever in the Sunshine, written by Morecambe’s son Gary and featuring never-before-seen photographs.  

Tig Wallace, senior commissioning editor, acquired world all-language rights from Suzanne Westrip at Legends Management. Forever in the Sunshine will publish in hardback, e-book and audio on 12th October this year. 

The book “sheds new light on the comic geniuses who became the nation’s best friends”. The publisher said: “Gary reveals what it was like behind the scenes, with touching and hilarious stories of life in the Morecambe and Wise family homes, along with memories from Eric’s wife Joan and his daughter (and Ernie’s goddaughter) Gail.” 

The book also includes conversations with high-profile fans today, from Ben Miller and Bob Golding to Jonathan Ross and Miranda Hart.  

Wallace said: “Gary has written a special book that offers insight into the astonishing trajectory of the UK’s favourite comedy double act and a peek behind the curtain at what their lives were like at home, as only family can. Morecambe and Wise’s popularity endures – not least in the way they remain an integral part of many family Christmases – and all of us at Sphere are certain that fans will love Forever in the Sunshine.” 

Gary Morecambe added: “I’d been toying with the idea of writing a final book that encompasses the whole of the magical Morecambe and Wise story. It occurred to me that I’d never written anything from within the family before – having my sister, Gail, on board, and being able to interview my mother at length, was key to making this book the definitive word on my father and Ernie’s remarkable careers. I was very fortunate that my publisher, Sphere at Little, Brown, totally understood what I wanted to achieve with this book from the outset. Morecambe and Wise became Christmas in the 1970s, and so here is the perfect Christmas gift to recognise that fact. May it bring sunshine to all fans of Eric and Ernie’s unique brand of humour.”