Eddie Braben

October 31, 1930 (age 82)

Dingle, Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Ken Dodd. He was evacuated to Anglesey as a child during World World War II, and was a fan of radio comedy, particularly Arthur Askey. He left school in 1945 and worked in a tobacco factory before national service in the Royal Air Force, during which he was posted to the kitchen at Royal Air Force Kenley. He then worked as a market trader with his own greengrocery stall, writing jokes in his spare time. Although shy, he sent jokes to various comedians that were appearing in Liverpool. His first was sold to Charlie Chester for 2s 6d (12½p), but his first major success was with Ken Dodd, with whom he worked for 12 years. Braben"s biggest success came when the British Broadcasting Corporation lured Morecambe and Wise from Independent Television. Bill Cotton, then in charge of Light Entertainment at the British Broadcasting Corporation, was looking for a writer following the duo"s split from Dick Hills and Sid Green. The first Braben-penned Morecambe & Wise Show was broadcast in July 1969, and he wrote most of their British Broadcasting Corporation shows after that, including many of the Christmas specials. In 1980 he joined Thames Television to continue writing for the duo following their move back to Independent Television two years previously. Braben wrote and appeared in various radio comedy shows for the British Broadcasting Corporation, including The Show With Ten Legs and The Worst Show on the Wireless. In 2001, Braben collaborated with Hamish McColl and Sean Foley to write The Play What I Wrote, a stage play and tribute to Morecambe and Wise, which opened at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre before transferring to London"s West End. Braben"s autobiography, The Book What I Wrote, was published in 2004. Braben"s book, Eddie Braben"s Morecambe and Wise Book, was published shortly after his death in 2013.

Eddie Braben

Edit Profile

performer comedy writer

Background

Braben"s father was a butcher at Street John"s Market, Liverpool, and he was born in Monkswell Street, Dingle.

Career

He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Ken Dodd. He was evacuated to Anglesey as a child during World World War II, and was a fan of radio comedy, particularly Arthur Askey. He left school in 1945 and worked in a tobacco factory before national service in the Royal Air Force, during which he was posted to the kitchen at Royal Air Force Kenley.

He then worked as a market trader with his own greengrocery stall, writing jokes in his spare time.

Although shy, he sent jokes to various comedians that were appearing in Liverpool. His first was sold to Charlie Chester for 2s 6d (12½p), but his first major success was with Ken Dodd, with whom he worked for 12 years.

Braben"s biggest success came when the British Broadcasting Corporation lured Morecambe and Wise from Independent Television. Bill Cotton, then in charge of Light Entertainment at the British Broadcasting Corporation, was looking for a writer following the duo"s split from Dick Hills and Sid Green. The first Braben-penned Morecambe & Wise Show was broadcast in July 1969, and he wrote most of their British Broadcasting Corporation shows after that, including many of the Christmas specials.

In 1980 he joined Thames Television to continue writing for the duo following their move back to Independent Television two years previously.

Braben wrote and appeared in various radio comedy shows for the British Broadcasting Corporation, including The Show With Ten Legs and The Worst Show on the Wireless. In 2001, Braben collaborated with Hamish McColl and Sean Foley to write The Play What I Wrote, a stage play and tribute to Morecambe and Wise, which opened at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre before transferring to London"s West End. Braben"s autobiography, The Book What I Wrote, was published in 2004.

Braben"s book, Eddie Braben"s Morecambe and Wise Book, was published shortly after his death in 2013.

Achievements

Braben, along with Morecambe and Wise, won the Society of Film Television Artists 1973 award for Outstanding Contribution to Television. He also won the Best British Light Entertainment Script award from the Writer"s Guild of Great Britain in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1973. The play won an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy,it later transferred to Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event.The director was Kenneth Branagh.

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Connections

Connections

Eddie Braben

Background

Career

Achievements

Born

Died

Nationality

Awards

Tony award; the Best British Light Entertainment Script award