Theatre: Actor Bob Golding has always had an Ernie in his life - now the Eric Morecambe star has got three Ernies.

May 16 2010 by Graham Young, Sunday Mercury

OLIVIER-award nominated actor Bob Golding thinks of Ernie at work, Ernie at home and Ernie in his prayers.

Which is just what you might expect from an actor who has played comedy legend Eric Morecambe more than 150 times on stage.

But the bizarre truth is that all of the Ernies in his thoughts are different people – and not all of them have had short, fat, hairy legs.

When Bob’s at work, his mind is clearly focused on Ernie Wise, the other half of Britain’s favourite TV duo, Morecambe & Wise.

Back at his Hertfordshire home in St Alban’s, Bob is always delighted to pick up his eight-month-old son Ernie in his hands.

And, then there’s a third Ernie in his life.

“My grandfather was called Ernest Albert,” says Bob. “I never met him because he died in the First World War.

“He was my mother’s father and was injured at the Battle of the Somme where he fought as a member of the Rifle Brigade.”

Baby Ernie is Bob’s third child and his only son after daughters Georgina, seven and Lilly, four.

“I’d already started playing Eric Morecambe when Ernest was born,” says Bob.

“He was named Ernest Albert after my grandfather, but, the truth is, an Ernie has always popped up in my life.”

Bob, who learned his trade by relentlessly watching films of Norman Wisdom, Will Hay and Laurel & Hardy, can be seen playing Eric in the one-man show Morecambe at the Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre from May 18 to 22.

“My wife Julia Bunce was once head of props for five years at the Belgrade,” says Bob.

“I first met her there in 1994/95 when I was in panto but she was with someone else at the time.