Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks, Drop The Dead Donkey) will play Eddie, as he sets about reshaping the iconic double act into the Eric and Ernie that the nation took to its heart. Meanwhile Eric Morecambe will be played by Mark Bonnar (Apple Tree Yard, Catastrophe) with Neil Maskell (Humans, Utopia) as Ernie Wise.

Stephen Tompkinson says: “Thanks to Eddie Braben, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise became the most beloved comedy double act since Laurel & Hardy. The intimate utopia Eddie created for the boys has left us with everlasting joy and sunshine.

"To be able to tell this beautifully crafted piece by Neil is a rarity that reminds us how lucky we were that these three gentlemen bonded together and the efforts that went behind holding generations eternally grateful. For this project to have the blessings of the Braben, Morecambe and Wise families, makes us constantly aware of what an honour it is to portray these comedic legends.”

Directed by the Bafta award-winning Dan Zeff and written by Neil Forsyth, the programme, which started filming this week in Bristol and Cardiff, also sees Rufus Jones (Stan And Olly, W1A) as the double act’s long-term producer John Ammonds; Alexander Macqueen (Peaky Blinders, Hunderby) as Bill Cotton, BBC’s Head of Light Entertainment, and Liz White (Ackley Bridge, Our Zoo) as Braben’s ever-encouraging wife Deidree.

Eric, Ernie & Me celebrates the man behind Morecambe and Wise’s greatest successes, culminating in their iconic 1977 Christmas Show, whilst showing the pressure and pain he went through to help create the screen work of Britain's most beloved double act.

Commissioned by Gregor Sharp, Commissioning Editor, BBC Comedy the drama will be produced by Objective Fiction, part of Objective Media Group. Ben Farrell and Toby Stevens will executive produce with Alison Sterling producing.