[JMT1985]

Eric Morecambe wasn't in the best of health by that point, he'd suffered a second heart attack in 1979 and was quoted as only having months to live at that time, and even when he came back, their writer Eddie Braben was pretty much out of ideas as well, rehashing old ideas as you say for that era of the TV show. The heyday was at the BBC, granted.

So you can see why LWT were not exactly thrilled to include them in their prime time Christmas Day schedules of 1981, 1982 and 1983.

I do know from Eric's son Gary that Eric and Ernie were gearing up to "regaining" Christmas Day slot in 1984, as Thames were back in charge for that Christmas, of course it was not meant to be.

I always wondered if Eric and Ernie should have maybe went to LWT - possibly LWT didn't want them, but I think LWT might have been interested, especially after looking at their 1977 Christmas show mega ratings hit for the BBC, the £££ signs were there for Thames certainly who poached them, as they felt they could rake in high ad revenue from the duo.