Doing Hamlet, a play what Ernie wrote

Glenda Jackson, who has died at 87, had an illustrious stage and political career.

But for comedy fans of a certain generation, she will also be known for her guest appearances on Morecambe and Wise, including a memorable version of Cleopatra in a play what Ernie wrote when she delivered the line: 'All men are fools and what makes them so is having beauty like what I have got.'

And here she is with the duo on the 1979 Christmas special, in a skit introduced by David Frost, in which she is invited to play Hamlet in of Ernie’s masterpieces. In it,  she expresses surprise at being cast despite being a woman – though later in life she won acclaim for playing King Lear.

On another of their shows she sang Side By Side with the duo:

Jackson won Oscars for Women In Love and A Touch of Class, and was nominated for the 1973 romantic comedy A Touch of Class, which she starred opposite George Segal. She was also nominated for Hedda two years later.

She joined the House of Commons as a Labour MP from 1992 to 2015 before returning to acting.

Her other comedy roles included the 1978 romcom House Calls, co-starring Walter Matthau, which was the biggest box-office hit of her career in the US, as well as 1979's Lost and Found and 1980's Hopscotch.

In 1980 she appeared on The Muppet Show, under the delusion  that she is a pirate captain who takes over the Muppet Theatre as her ship.

Published: 15 Jun 2023