Little Ern!
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Review
`This entertaining and poignant memoir of one half of Britain's best-loved comedy double acts focuses on the `straight man' in the partnership who was the perfect foil, and whose talent has often been overlooked.'
--Prima
'...fascinating...an in-depth biography of Ernie Wise by Robert Sellers and James Hogg that follows the early life of Wise, his fateful first meeting with Eric Morecambe and their subsequent partnership, thanks to interviews with many fellow entertainers, as well as Ernie's widow, Doreen.' --Choice magazine
`Fully explores the often-overlooked contribution Ernie made to the act and to comedy in general' --Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Chris Burgess
`This well-paced, perceptive book is touching and persuasive in the case that it makes.' --Mail on Sunday, Anthony Russell
`... an uplifting, heart-warming and beautifully written book that will act as a comfort blanket recalling cheery Christmases past; a time when Christmas didn't really begin until the whole family gathered round the television set to enjoy the collective warmth of Morecambe and Wise...if you want some genuinely touching and interesting Christmas reading, pop this one in your Christmas stocking.' --Spectator online Jerry Hayes
`A cheerful and affectionate tribute to "the perfect straight man"' --Christopher Silvester, Daily Express
`Welcome fillers for the stockings of televisionistas include the first authorised biography of Ernie Wise.' --The Stage
--Prima
'...fascinating...an in-depth biography of Ernie Wise by Robert Sellers and James Hogg that follows the early life of Wise, his fateful first meeting with Eric Morecambe and their subsequent partnership, thanks to interviews with many fellow entertainers, as well as Ernie's widow, Doreen.' --Choice magazine
`Fully explores the often-overlooked contribution Ernie made to the act and to comedy in general' --Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Chris Burgess
`This well-paced, perceptive book is touching and persuasive in the case that it makes.' --Mail on Sunday, Anthony Russell
`... an uplifting, heart-warming and beautifully written book that will act as a comfort blanket recalling cheery Christmases past; a time when Christmas didn't really begin until the whole family gathered round the television set to enjoy the collective warmth of Morecambe and Wise...if you want some genuinely touching and interesting Christmas reading, pop this one in your Christmas stocking.' --Spectator online Jerry Hayes
`A cheerful and affectionate tribute to "the perfect straight man"' --Christopher Silvester, Daily Express
`Welcome fillers for the stockings of televisionistas include the first authorised biography of Ernie Wise.' --The Stage
Product Description
An entertaining, funny and poignant biography of this much-loved star.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The public may be more aware of Eric Morecambe's showier role, but Ernie Wise was one half of Britain's most successful double act, contributing as much to the pair's success as his partner. His importance has been downplayed in recent years - indeed, there are times you could be forgiven for thinking that Morecambe must have been a solo act - so it's good news that a biography devoted to Ernie has just been published.
My recommendation, however, at least for fellow devotees, has to be a qualified one. This is because while the book certainly offers a fuller picture of Ernie's life post-Eric than I have read elsewhere, drawing on interviews with his widow Doreen, there's no getting away from the fact that much of the main part of the book, namely the pair's rise to fame, will already be familiar, thanks to the proliferation of books about the pair. Additional details and observations newly supplied by Doreen and other interviewees do illuminate certain aspects of an oft-told tale, but we're not exactly talking blinding revelations on every page.
Inevitably, then, it's the bookends - earliest days and declining years -which will be of most interest to diehard fans. Those early days have been covered in the past, but I don't think I've read elsewhere of Ernie's family's attitude to his cash-making potential: Doreen, uniquely placed to judge, sees Ernie's early years as a kind of slavery, that his childhood was stolen from him, explaining his later enjoyment in the "toys" which his success bought him.
The account of the later years serves to redress the balance of a mean-spirited documentary about Ernie, although it doesn't shy away from sadder moments: a member of the Edwin Drood cast talks of Ernie retreating to his dressing room when it becomes clear the show is going to fail, although the finger of blame is also pointed at the American production team who apparently decamped en masse immediately after the reviews instead of staying around to fix things.
This book does give you a clearer sense of Ernie than in other books to date: his relationship with his father and the forces in his early life which shaped him; the central importance of his marriage; his unselfishness as a feed; his unflappability as a negotiator on behalf of Eric and himself. To reclaim a phrase from that notorious documentary, let's hope that this book serves to remind readers of the importance of being Ernie. But there's no doubt you'll enjoy it as a whole a great deal more if you haven't already read one of the many joint biographies out there.
My recommendation, however, at least for fellow devotees, has to be a qualified one. This is because while the book certainly offers a fuller picture of Ernie's life post-Eric than I have read elsewhere, drawing on interviews with his widow Doreen, there's no getting away from the fact that much of the main part of the book, namely the pair's rise to fame, will already be familiar, thanks to the proliferation of books about the pair. Additional details and observations newly supplied by Doreen and other interviewees do illuminate certain aspects of an oft-told tale, but we're not exactly talking blinding revelations on every page.
Inevitably, then, it's the bookends - earliest days and declining years -which will be of most interest to diehard fans. Those early days have been covered in the past, but I don't think I've read elsewhere of Ernie's family's attitude to his cash-making potential: Doreen, uniquely placed to judge, sees Ernie's early years as a kind of slavery, that his childhood was stolen from him, explaining his later enjoyment in the "toys" which his success bought him.
The account of the later years serves to redress the balance of a mean-spirited documentary about Ernie, although it doesn't shy away from sadder moments: a member of the Edwin Drood cast talks of Ernie retreating to his dressing room when it becomes clear the show is going to fail, although the finger of blame is also pointed at the American production team who apparently decamped en masse immediately after the reviews instead of staying around to fix things.
This book does give you a clearer sense of Ernie than in other books to date: his relationship with his father and the forces in his early life which shaped him; the central importance of his marriage; his unselfishness as a feed; his unflappability as a negotiator on behalf of Eric and himself. To reclaim a phrase from that notorious documentary, let's hope that this book serves to remind readers of the importance of being Ernie. But there's no doubt you'll enjoy it as a whole a great deal more if you haven't already read one of the many joint biographies out there.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It is the inescapable conclusion of the authors and Doreen Wise and eventually the reader that Eric and Ernie paid the ultimate price for fame with their lives.It is clear from Doreens recollections that their performances took a lot out of them both physically and mentally.Even the authors cannot fathom why they went through with their ITV contract when Eric suffered his second major heart attack.Ernie chose not to take up other offer of work whilst Eric was recovering so maybe Eric felt that he had to show loyalty by carrying on.Ernie on the other hand could have chosen to take up the other work which might not have put pressure on Eric to return either so quickly or at all.Whilst Eric died in a very sad and dramatic fashion poor Ernie effectively spent 15 years dying one way or another.So it is a very sad book in many ways.
The one thing i did not like about the book was the way that it sought quotes from the likes of Ben Miller,Miranda Hart and Ant & Dec about the pair.It is one of the curses of modern tv biogs where the opinions of lesser lights are inflicted on us.Let us hope that this will not create a trend in books.
The one thing i did not like about the book was the way that it sought quotes from the likes of Ben Miller,Miranda Hart and Ant & Dec about the pair.It is one of the curses of modern tv biogs where the opinions of lesser lights are inflicted on us.Let us hope that this will not create a trend in books.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A great book telling the whole life story of Ernie Wise from his humble beginnings, the initial meeting and subsequent partnership with Eric Morecambe and finally the story of his final years after the death of Eric in 84. The author has managed to get some BIG showbiz names to contribute to this book Des O`connor. Mike Parkinson and Michael Grade to name but three. And they add a wonderful insight as to how Morecambe and Wise stayed the nations favourite double act for so long.
Have to say though its a very sad read of Ernies attempt to stay in the public eye once Morecambe had died. you get the impression his showbiz pals were willing him to retire apart from the odd chat show or countdown appearance but couldnt persuade him. and he probably in all honesty made a massive mistake trying to carry on in the public eye- the author as good as suggests that.
still a fantastic book with memories almost on every page
Have to say though its a very sad read of Ernies attempt to stay in the public eye once Morecambe had died. you get the impression his showbiz pals were willing him to retire apart from the odd chat show or countdown appearance but couldnt persuade him. and he probably in all honesty made a massive mistake trying to carry on in the public eye- the author as good as suggests that.
still a fantastic book with memories almost on every page
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A partnership of equals
In most comedy double acts one half usually gets the lion's share of the plaudits whilst the other is largely seen as merely a stooge for their more talented partner. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bantam Dave
The Importance of reading Little Ern!
He was the one with the short fat hairy legs. The one who wrote the plays wot he wrote. The one who kept a close eye on the money, both on stage and off. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Random Woman
Ashley review
Hi i have enjoyed this biography very good and enjoyed very much i could not put this down until finished
Published 3 months ago by sweapper
Very moving, although a little clumsy
I found this biography very interesting and extremely moving at times, although it does have it's faults, I think the positives outweight the negatives. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. Wright
Nearly perfect
Excellent view of Little Ern's contribution but yet again cross anecdotes** (I'd just read the one about the vent's dummy in Arthur Askey's biog), and get yer facts right (! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. J. R. Sparks
Liked It
Were the rating system more sensitive I think I'd have given this 3 1/2 rather than 4, but hey - that's still seventy percent. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Ian Payn
Very good
Needed a little gift to chear my mum up and this book was just what I was looking for. Although she hasn't read it yet I'm sure it will be very good
Published 6 months ago by Vikib
Little Ern
I hav't read this yet. It was a present for my husband who is reading this at the moment and he tells me it is a
good book. I'm looking forward reading this.
good book. I'm looking forward reading this.
Published 6 months ago by romer-2009
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