Paul Whitehouse’s Christmas gift to Bob Mortimer this year is to take him on a quest to catch an elusive English Salmon. So the pair head to the beautiful rivers Eden and Tyne around Newcastle to start their Gone Christmas Fishing seasonal adventure.

They are accompanied as always by fishing dog Ted and are joined along the way by some very special guests. Together they discover and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, to spend quality time with those you love, both on and off the riverbank. There are plenty of laughs, a few tears and some big surprises in this hour-long special episode, which will leave you well and truly immersed in the Christmas spirit.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing, is made by Owl Power. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland and Catherine Catton, and the Commissioning Editor is Max Gogarty.  The Executive Producer is Lisa Clark, and the director is Rob Gill.

The Morecambe and Wise Show 1970 - The Lost Tape

As a Christmas treat for comedy fans, this is a complete episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show, that had been considered ‘lost’ for over 50 years. Eric’s son Gary Morecambe discovered the programme in an unmarked film can in 2020, and now it has been lovingly restored and can be enjoyed in full for the first time since being first broadcast on October 8th 1970.

The show, written by the legendary Eddie Braben, was episode one of Eric and Ernie’s first series to appear on BBC One, and was originally watched by over 14 million viewers. As well as some classic sketches from Eric and Ernie, the show also features songs and music from Paul Anka, Patricia Lambert, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen, and the boys themselves rounding things off with a burst of “Bring Me Sunshine.”

The original version of this episode of The Morecombe and Wise Show a 1 x 45’  was produced by John Ammonds. The writer was Eddie Braden and the Orchestra was directed by Peter Knight. The  Commissioning Editor for this specially restored version for 2021 is Rachel Ashdown and the Executive Producer for BBC TV & Media Operations is Simon Goretzki. Richard Russell was responsible for Colour Recovery, Peter Crocker managed the Video Restoration and the Audio Restoration was overseen by Mark Ayres.

Transmission dates of both shows to be confirmed.