‘Eric & Ernie’ (Linocut Print)
A hand-carved, handprinted limited edition, signed linocut print, originally designed and created for the Thought Press Project - a fundraising collaboration of 100 UK printmakers, each of whom donate a batch of prints designed on a specific theme to be sold in aid of two charities. 2024’s brief was “Bring Me Sunshine”. To British people of a certain age, this phrase can only mean one thing: Saturday-night family TV in front of much-loved comedy double-act, ‘Morecambe & Wise’.
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise were comedy partners for over four decades, right up until Eric’s untimely death due to a heart attack, in 1984. But the 1970s were their heyday, and their Christmas specials became the UK’s most stalwart and unmissable television, peaking with 1977’s which had 28 million viewers and remains the most watched comedy programme in British television history. Their show attracted some of the biggest names of the time, including André Previn, The Beatles, Glenda Jackson, Elton John and Vanessa Redgrave, all of whom participated on the understanding that they would be subject to good-humoured yet disparaging ridicule, often being called by the wrong names. But perhaps those who stick most in the minds of viewers were the repeat guests, most notably TV presenter Des O’Connor, or the BBC’s most prestigious newsreader of the period, Angela Rippon, whose serious demeanour was instantly overturned when the nation was stunned by her ballroom dancing skills!
The highlight of every show, at least for me, was the close, when Eric and Ern would sing their signature tune, “Bring Me Sunshine”, complete with a skippy dance off into the distance. Although this song is always associated with the duo, the music for "Bring Me Sunshine" was actually written by composer Arthur Kent with lyrics by Sylvia Dee, and was first recorded by The Mills Brothers in 1968. Morecambe & Wise then adopted it as their signature tune in their second series for the BBC in 1969 – and it will forever be synonymous with the show. In particular, the music, lyrics and performance combined together to leave the viewer with such an overwhelmingly feel-good factor, and a sentiment that we could all do well to live by.
Bring me sunshine, in your smile
Bring me laughter, all the while
In this world where we live
There should be more happiness
So much joy you can give
To each brand new bright tomorrow
Make me happy, through the years
Never bring me, any tears
Let your arms be as warm
As the sun from up above
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine
Bring me love
Bring me sunshine, in your smile
Bring me laughter, all the while
In this world where we live
There should be more happiness
So much joy you can give
To each brand new bright tomorrow
Make me happy, through the years
Never bring me, any tears
Let your arms be as warm
As the sun from up above
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine
Bring me love, sweet love
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine
Bring me love!
ITEM SPECIFICS:
This Linocut Print is a signed, hand-carved, hand-pressed, Linocut print limited to 100 editions. As with all handmade items, each one will vary slightly, making it completely unique.
It is printed with two shades of water-based ink onto Gerstaecker linoprinting paper, a 100 gsm paper that is warm white with a grippy surface, torn to approximately 320x225mm in size. The image itself measures approximately 290x200mm.
