Des O’Connor’s death sent this hilarious Eric Morecambe story viral all over again

John Plunkett. Updated November 16th, 2020

Very sad news at the weekend that TV’s ‘ultimate entertainer’ Des O’Connor has died aged 88.

The singer and TV presenter was a permanent fixture in the ITV schedules back in the day and there was no shortage of tributes (we rounded up some of the best here).

He was famously the butt of many Eric Morecambe jokes over the years, and they don’t come much better than this one, shared by journalist Piers Hopkirk (and originally from the Times diary).

‘On a sad day a reminder of classic Eric Morecambe/Des O’Connor banter,’ wrote @piershopkirk

‘It was heartening to see that political point-scoring was largely suspended when Boris Johnson went into hospital. It reminded me of the story about when Eric Morecambe had a heart attack in 1968.

‘Des O’Connor, who was mocked by Morecambe every week, heard the news during a gig and stopped to wish his tormentor well.

‘Later Morecambe was told that O’Connor had asked his entire audience to pray for him. He was touched but not changed. ‘Those six or seven people might have made all the difference,’ he said.’

Fabulous.

Their banter was the best, eventually creating one of the funniest guest scenes on Morecambe and Wise 😂

— Dave (@UK_DC_One) November 15, 2020

I remember Des claimed to be a self made man. Eric replied “it’s nice for someone to take responsibility”.

— Colin Taylor (@Colinville) November 15, 2020

Love this- ranks with the Bob Monkhouse “when I go I want to go like my dear old dad…” joke https://t.co/92upLyEO6V

— Rory Cellan-Jones (@ruskin147) November 15, 2020

Or the time Des told Eric that he had become a limited company. Eric says ” So you should, you’re a limited performer”

— Neville Bartos (@BurgessIII) November 15, 2020

Classic. Good old Des. Good old Eric x https://t.co/GOxMBTh0o9

— Christine Entwisle (@ChrisEntwisle) November 15, 2020

The story that always sticks in my mind is when Des visited Eric in hospital near the end and asked if there was anything he could do for Eric, he replied “Just give it all up”

— bob (@bob_white3) November 15, 2020

And here they are in action together.

#OffToBedWithEricAndErn

Let’s finish the day with part of a wonderful sketch with M&W and their finest guest…

They loved him…he loved them…

Fine performers, each able to laugh at themselves…let’s hope they’re all back together…♥️#RIPDesOConnor #UltimateEntertainer pic.twitter.com/ZHlxUmWGHU

— The Morecambe & Wise Archive (@eric_ernie_col) November 15, 2020

RIP Des O’Connor.

Source Twitter @piershopkirk