Eric Morecambe‘s widow Joan has sadly died at the age of 97 following a short illness. Joan, who was married to the comedian for 32 years, died peacefully on her 97th birthday.
The couple married in 1952 and shared three children together – Gail, Gary and Steven. Joan was described as a “devoted wife” to Eric until his death in 1984 at the age of 58.
In a statement, her children said: “It is with great sadness and the heaviest of hearts that we must share the news that our mother, Joan, has passed away peacefully at the age of 97 after a short illness.
“Our family kindly requests some privacy during this time while we grieve our sad loss.”
Joan was born on March 26, 1927. In 2015, she was made an OBE for charitable services in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
She was also the founder and president of the Lady Taverners, part of the Lord’s Taverners youth cricket and disability sports charity, from 1987 to 1992.
Morecambe and Wise, are among the most popular and enduring comedy stars in British TV history.
The comedy pairing consisted of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, who died aged 73 in 1999.
In 2000, the British Film Institute drew up a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, and The Morecambe and Wise Show came in 14th place.
The duo’s comedy partnership lasted from 1941 until Eric’s sudden death in 1984.
In 1976, Eric Morecambe and Wise were both awarded the OBE and in 1999, they were posthumously awarded the BAFTA Fellowship.
