Secret documents uncovered

The BBC were so shocked to lose Morecambe and Wise to ITV that its governors planned to lobby the government, secret papers have revealed.

The Independent newspaper has uncovered the minutes of a ‘sombre’ meeting on January 30, 1978 when the board first learned of the loss of their most successful comedians.

Eric and Ernie had been lured to Thames by big money to make just two shows a year and, crucially, the chance to make movies.

The corporation wanted to lobby against the spending power of the commercial channels, which meant the BBC would always lose out in bidding wars.

But in the short term, the corporation decided the best strategy was to repeat the duo’s last 13-show series as well as the 1977 Christmas special, which had just attracted a record 27 million viewers.

Governors wanted the government to introduce a ‘levy’ on ITV to curb its spending, but director-general, Ian Trethowan was keen for details of the failed negotiations not to become public, as the BBC had matched ITV’s offer – up to the point the film offer was added.

‘Were other entertainers to know how high [the BBC had raised the bid] Mr Milne [Alasdair Milne, director of programmes and later director-general] would be in a very embarrassing position,’ the minutes said.

However, the deal did not work out well for Morecambe and Wise. Their writer Eddie Braben was contracted to remain with the BBC, their viewing figures started to decline and their movies were relative flops.

Published: 20 Jan 2007