An auction of personal items and showbiz memorabilia from the Hertfordshire estate of Eric Morecambe, the late comedian, has sold for more than £200,000. An OBE medal awarded to Morecambe sold for £11,000 – £8,000 above its estimate – and a pair of his distinctive tortoiseshell glasses sold for £20,000. The auction also included letters from the Duke of Edinburgh and Margaret Thatcher and a number of the comedian’s smoking pipes sold in a lot that raised £1,100.
Morecambe met his comedy partner Ernie Wise in 1940 and, despite a wartime separation, the two stayed together to form the Morecambe and Wise double-act. They toured theatres for many years before breaking into television, with their Christmas special in 1977 watched by 28 million viewers.
The two-day auction consisted of more than 700 lots, including accessories, clothing and personal papers belonging to Morecambe. Other items that were sold included a tailcoat and trousers, as well as a writing desk and a Breitling watch. A personal letter from the then-Prince of Wales was also sold at the auction for £2,500.
Charles Hanson, of Hanson Auctioneers, was very pleased with the results. “We were thrilled with the extraordinary results achieved at this auction. Eric Morecambe’s legacy lives on in the hearts of millions, and the prices reflect not only the quality and uniqueness of the items but also the deep affection fans continue to hold for him. It’s been an incredible two days!” he said.
The sale took place more than 40 years after Morecambe’s death in 1984 and was prompted by the passing of his widow, Joan, in March of 2024. The hard-to-miss tortoiseshell glasses are an iconic feature speaking to the comic’s legendary status in the UK and beyond, as is his standing in the annals of British comedy history
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