Four of Britain’s greatest comedy entertainers are sharing the same billing at auction, in a remarkable sale spanning the careers of Ernie Wise, Des O’Connor, Bob Monkhouse and Norman Wisdom.
Their collections are appearing together at Hansons Auctioneers in Derby on November 27, on what would have been Ernie Wise’s 101st birthday.
The astounding 400-lot haul includes treasures ranging from Norman Wisdom’s drum kit to comedy scripts from the Bob Monkhouse collection.
Material from the Ernie Wise collection comes from a variety of sources, much of it previously unseen by the public. All the items were received directly from the Ernie Wise Estate.
Sale manager Victoria Sheppard, who spent months cataloguing the collection, said: “Much of this collection was gifted to the current owner when Ernie’s wife, Doreen, downsized in 2008. The collection includes hundreds of annotated scripts, photographs, scrapbooks, awards and other memorabilia, all of which had been stored in suitcases and a metal trunk and have been carefully preserved ever since.”
Leading the sale is a rare recording script from The Morecambe and Wise Show, signed by all four members of The Beatles.
Estimated at £4,500-£6,500, script number five for the show which screened in 1964, is signed on the reverse in blue ballpoint by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
During their appearance at Elstree Studios the band performed three hits before joining Wise for a comic barbershop rendition of Moonlight Bay.
The script reveals how the duo’s performance evolved from script to screen.
In the written script Eric refers to The Beatles as “The Heatles” calling Ringo “Bingo”; but in the TV sketch he calls the Fab Four “the Kaye Sisters” and dubs Ringo, “Bongo”.
Victoria continued: “For students of comedy, comedy fans and lovers of The Beatles, this is a rare and important archive.”
Eric Morecambe’s son Gary Bartholomew said: “Ernie and Doreen were great keepers of Morecambe and Wise memorabilia – nothing ever got junked. Sensibly, they kept all the scripts.”
He also paid tribute to Ernie’s vital role in the comedy duo’s success.
He said: “A double act requires two people by definition and my father considered Ernie to be the best partner in the business. He would never have worked with anyone else. The archive really is a fascinating part of comedy history.”
Among the hundreds of scripts, many with Ernie’s annotations, are some of the duo’s best-loved sketches such as Glenda Jackson appearing in Ernie’s play Antony and Cleopatra, in 1971, with the line: “All men are fools, and what makes them so is having beauty like what I’ve got.”
Ernie’s size 6 ½ tap dancing shoes are also expected to fetch up to £1,500, while one of Eric’s famous pipes, which found its way into Ernie’s collection, has a pre-sale guide price of £300-£500.
The sale includes Ernie’s handwritten notebooks, scrapbooks compiled by his wife Doreen, photographs as well as scripts from the early radio series, television series and Christmas Specials.
Handwritten letters date from the 1940s in the years following his first meeting with Eric in 1939. Ernie was 13 and Eric just 12 when they met – the start of a lifelong friendship and legendary comic partnership.
Des O’Connor’s widow Jodie was approached by Hansons to ask if she would like to include any of Des’s memorabilia, given his very close association with Morecambe and Wise and the long-term target of their affectionate running gags.
Victoria continued: “Des, who died on 14 November 2020 aged 88, would no doubt have got a great kick out of being on the same bill as one half of Morecambe and Wise.
“For millions of viewers Eric and Ernie’s digs at Des were an essential part of their comedy routine. Of course, behind the scenes they were great pals, and both had the utmost respect for him. It is wonderful to have pieces owned by Des, one of the great entertainers of the 20th century, in the sale.”
One of the highlights is an 18-carat gold Omega watch presented to Des O’Connor by James and Betty Corrigan, the couple behind Batley Variety Club, the legendary West Yorkshire venue once dubbed the “Las Vegas of the North”.
O’Connor appeared at the club in October 1968, shortly before Morecambe and Wise took to its stage in November.
Their performances became part of comedy history when Eric Morecambe suffered a serious heart attack after a show at the club and required emergency treatment at Leeds General Infirmary. The watch is expected to make £3,000-£5,000.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “It is ironic that Des was the affectionate target for Eric and Ernie’s jokes for many years and now Ernie and Des are both appearing on the same bill.”
The sale also charts Norman Wisdom’s extraordinary journey from a £5 weekly fee for his first professional performance in 1945 to international stardom.
Among the highlights are two of his famous Gump suits, including the original brown tweed outfit and flat cap acquired in 1948, which helped create his instantly recognisable comic persona.
Wisdom’s son Nick said: “I knew my father’s study at his home on the Isle of Man was filled with memorabilia from the early years of his showbusiness career, but I hadn’t realised the depth of what lay beneath the surface.
“Exploring the archive revealed a remarkable collection of photographs, theatre posters, handwritten scripts and stage clothing.”
The Wisdom collection also includes a surviving flyer and handwritten script from his first professional engagement, alongside substantial silver presentation pieces celebrating his record-breaking theatre runs.
Bob Monkhouse’s contribution reveals the painstaking work behind his quick-fire wit.
A prolific comedy writer as well as a comedian and actor, Bob retained television, radio, stage and screenplay scripts along with handwritten working papers. An array of personal items, books, historic periodicals, correspondence and memorabilia also reflects Bob’s eclectic range of interest and his passion for collecting.
Among the material are scripts for Des O’Connor’s television shows, complete with Monkhouse’s own edits and notes – another link between the entertainers whose careers converge in the sale.
Charles Hanson continued: “The way these funnymen were a part of the fabric of 20th century comedy – both on and off stage – is astounding. It is a privilege to have been entrusted by their loved ones to share these pieces with the wider public.
“These four men were at the heart of British comedy during its golden age. Their collections reveal not just the stars themselves, but the craft, characters and working lives behind the laughter.”
“Together, the material offers collectors and comedy aficionados an opportunity to explore around 75 years of British entertainment history, from variety theatre and early stage performances to the golden age of television.”
In 2025 Hansons Auctioneers attracted international attention when it sold the Eric Morecambe Collection, with the comedian’s trademark glasses fetching £20,000.
The auction takes place at Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire on November 27. For further information, visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.
Auction Details
Auction: The Great British Comedy Sale
Auction date: 27th November 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
