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Morecambe and Wise became so popular that their annual BBC Christmas shows were almost mandatory viewing in the United Kingdom from 1968 to 1977.

Despite his heart condition, he and Ernie still managed energetic song and dance routines and superbly timed visual comedy.

So much effort was placed into their 1977 Christmas show that Eric and Ernie did not even do a television series that year.

An estimated 28, 385, 000 viewers watched it.

Des O ' Connor was frequently the butt of their humour, often because of his allegedly awful singing.