It has been more than 40 years since Eric Morecambe's untimely death in 1984 and 25 since Ernie Wise met the same fate, but their humour continues to delight audiences across multiple generations, and their legacy is ever-present.

Eric battled health issues for several years. In 1967, while performing in Great Yarmouth, he noted in his diary about experiencing heart pain for four days.

The subsequent year saw him suffer a near-fatal attack while driving back from a performance to his hotel in Leeds. At this point, Eric was smoking 60 cigarettes a day and was a heavy drinker.

Following these incidents, he quit smoking and drinking, reduced his workload, and even became a celebrity advocate for heart research. However, he suffered another heart attack in 1979 and underwent bypass surgery.

Tragically, his luck ran out on Sunday, May 27, 1984. The 58-year-old was performing at a charity show at The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, when he collapsed from a third heart attack off-stage. This proved fatal.

His widow, Joan, who was present in the audience that fateful night, shared that Eric would have been thrilled to know his comedy is still cherished decades after his passing. She said: "He used to say to me, 'I do hope we won't be forgotten'.

"And indeed, they have been remembered. He'd have been over the moon about that, he really would."