Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise formed one of Britain’s most iconic comedy duos with Morecambe and Wise, and they dominated the comedy scene from the early 1960s all the way until Eric’s unexpected death in 1984. However, despite their surnames forming the basis of their partnership, neither Eric nor Ernie was actually using their real names during their performances, with Eric majorly changing his moniker. Eric, who lived between 1926 and 1984, was born as John Eric Bartholomew, and during the 1940s, he formed a close friendship with Ernie, with the pair starting their comedy careers in the same decade. Due to World War II, the pair had to put their act on hold as they served their country, but following the war, they reunited. In the 1960s and 1970s, their popularity exploded and they initially hosted Two of a Kind on ATV, before swapping to the BBC, where they started presenting The Morecambe & Wise Show. The show became a Christmas institution, and in 1977, the pair secured one of the largest viewing figures …