SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Variety show. A conceit of the show was Wise’s confident presentation of amateurishly inept plays which often parodied historical television plays or films. Wise’s character would write a play, complete with cheap props and dreadful writing ("the play what I wrote" became a catchphrase), which would then be acted out by Morecambe, Wise and the show’s guest star. In this episode Ernie re-writes Hamlet, with Peter Barkworth as the Prince, Hannah Gordon as Ophelia, Ernie as King Claudius and Eric as the ghost.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Television

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Transmission details

25 Dec 1980 at 20:30 (Channel: ITV)

Duration

60 mins

Credits

Producer

John Ammonds

Writer

Eddie Braben

Cast

Peter Barkworth	Hamlet
Ernie Wise	Claudius
Hannah Gordon	Ophelia
Eric Morecambe	Ghost

Additional Details

Production type

Sitcoms/Variety

Plays

Hamlet

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

History

Available on video in the compilation LOTS MORE OF MORECAMBE AND WISE.

Production Company

Name

Thames Television

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Retail outlets