Eric & Ernie

A perfectly cast and brilliantly acted TV movie.

A funny and moving portrayal of Eric and Ernie's early days together. Victoria Wood and Vic Reeves were excellent as Eric's parents. Daniel Rigby and Bryan Dick were spot on as Eric and Ernie, their facial expressions and mannerisms were excellent, almost to the point that you believed they were them!

If it had been slightly longer it would have been interesting to see the relationships with their future wives expanded on a little more.

A must see programme for any Morecambe and Wise fan!

So why only 9 out of 10? - Because it finished too soon! I would have loved it to have gone on and told the rest of their story.

Simply the best programme on British TV over the festive period. Unlike previous biopics of comedians which tend to be dark and depressing, Eric and Ernie was a warm, moving and funny story of the early days of Britain's best loved double act.

The cast was marvellous, it was really like watching the real Eric and Ernie perform. Victoria Wood and Jim Moir (Vic Reeves)were outstanding as Eric's parents.

The film was clearly a labour of love and it shows in every detail.

So why did I give it 9 instead of 10? Well, I would have preferred it to end with their song "Bring Me Sunshine".

You just cannot make a better biopic than this.

Even their voices were down to a T, which is usually the most overlooked bit. They couldn't have got any closer to the real Morecambe & Wise unless they stuck a camera in the faces of the real M & W. This is so good it must have been a secret candid camera having followed them in real life. I'm just speechless.

You really can't see the join.

Morecambe and Wise remain to this day one of the best double acts of all time and this great drama from the BBC shows us their early years. We all know what happened when they achieved fame so it is nice that this drama focuses on the other side of the coin.

The casting in this is great. All the actors playing Morecambe and Wise not only look the part but capture the voice and characteristics of the two men and in some places you start to think you're watching the real men.

Victoria Wood is also great as Sadie, Eric's mother and her story arc is at the centre of this piece that is beautifully captured by director Johnny Campbell.

My only grumble is that much like every other media piece surrounding the comedians this drama is centred more on Eric than Ernie but otherwise this is a great drama.

Daniel Rigby and Bryan Dick portrayed Eric and Ernie to perfection. It must have been an incredibly daunting task to do Morecambe and Wise's material and make it work. And make it work they did. Daniel Rigby had Eric down to a tee and Bryan Dick was equally as good as Ernie. Jim Moir played Eric's dad in an understated way and Victoria Wood was her usual reliable self as Eric's mum. The writer of the this piece did a fantastic job, capturing the times and the rhythms - he made it all hang together perfectly. If this does not win some kind of award this year there will be no justice. I had waited to see this eagerly but with trepidation as I would have thought it impossible to pull off, but pull it off is what they did, with aplomb.