The Passionate Pilgrim

Eric Morecambe - Lord Eric
Tom Baker - Sir Tom
Madeline Smith - Lady Madeline
Elfrida Ashworth - Principal Maid
John Le Mesurier - Narrator

Short comedy based on William Shakespeare's "The Passionate Pilgrim XV" in which mad Lord Eric competes with amorous Sir Tom for the dippy Lady Madeline. The short mostly silent comedy is narrated with a dash of innuendo by John Le Mesurier in a style reminiscent of his narration of the children’s cartoon Bod. Shot at Hever Castle and originally intended as a three-part feature, a lack of funding deemed that director Charles Wallace cut the existing material into a 23 minute short. Sadly dreams of completing the anticipated filming were ended by the untimely death of Eric Morecambe in 1984.

Lord Eric (Eric Morecambe) would spend many hours wooing wealthy heiress Lady Madeline (Madeline Smith) in the grounds of his castle, but the damsel dreamt of a handsome brave knight. One arrived in the shape of Sir Tom (Tom Baker), a student of the Good Knight Guide. Sir Tom eventually arrived at Lord Eric’s castle and attempted to woo the fair maiden for himself, but various obstacles stood in his way including the castle moat, the drawbridge and Lord Eric’s tin of ‘Knight Rid’ aerosol repellent. However, with the aid of an AA route map Sir Tom is once again drawn back to Lord Eric castle for one final attempt to win the hand of the fair maiden.