Eric Morecambe
John Eric Bartholomew, OBE , known by his stage name Eric Morecambe, was an English comedian who together with Ernie Wise formed the awardwinning double act Morecambe and Wise. The partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambes death in 1984. Morecambe took his stage name from his home town, the seaside resort of Morecambe.
Eric Morecambe was born as John Eric Bartholomew to George and Sadie Bartholomew . Sadie took work as a waitress to raise funds for his dancing lessons. During this period, Eric Bartholomew won numerous talent contests, including one in Hoylake in 1940, the prize for which was an audition in Manchester for Jack Hylton. Three months after the audition, Hylton invited Morecambe to join a revue called Youth Takes a Bow at the Nottingham Empire, where he met the then Ernest Wiseman. The two soon became very close friends, and with Sadies encouragement started to develop a double act.
Source: Wikipedia