V.p.: N.p., V.d.

5 ALS, 1 TLS and a photocopied ALS, the TLS on Lord's Taverners headed notepaper, 2 ALS on Morecambe's personal stationery, all lacking the envelopes. Original posting creases to letters. A very well preserved collection.

A SMALL COLLECTION OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ERIC MORECAMBE AND THE ACTOR FRANCIS MATTHEWS.

The actor Francis Matthews [1927-2014] is now probably best remembered for playing the amateur detective Paul Temple in the BBC's long-running series of the same name, made between 1969 and 1971. (Most episodes of the show were wiped by the BBC in the 1970s.) Matthews was also the voice of Captain Scarlett in Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlett and the Mysterons (1967), and starred in two Hammer horror classics, The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) and Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966). He also enjoyed a long and distinguished stage career.

Matthews appeared in the first Morecambe and Wise film vehicle, The Intelligence Men (1965), and returned the following year for their follow-up (That Riviera Touch (1966). The three men became friends, Matthews' career went from strength to strength, and in the 1970s he appeared as a special guest star in three episodes of the The Morecambe and Wise Show -- including the 1971 Christmas Special. In one of the letters offered here, dated 24 February 1972, Morecambe thanks Matthews for his contribution (with a typical Morecambe kick): '...Thanks also for helping to make the Xmas show so good and as you know it's always a pleasure to work with you -- not to see you -- just to work with you --!'.

Morecambe and Matthews socialised off-camera, and the collection contains invitations to various social events and letters of thanks to Matthews following his attendance, with Morecambe deploying the long-running gag -- over several years -- of being unable to remember the name of Matthews' wife, the actress Angela Browne: 'Dear Fran + Gladys? Altho I didn't see you much the other day, I am told there's not a lot to see. [...] May I just say thank you for everything you did. And would you say thank you to your wife Betty ? for everything she did!! But the less said about that the better. [...]'. And an undated invitation note reads in full: 'Dear Fran + er....er. Hope you can both make it... If you can't don't bother to come. Love Eric'.

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