Mum was Morecambe and Wise's engine room, says son

Joan Morecambe at the unveiling of her husband's statue in Morecambe

Eric Morecambe's widow was the "engine room" of the famous comedy double act Morecambe and Wise, her son has said in a loving tribute to his mother.

Joan Morecambe died on Tuesday on her 97th birthday after a short illness.

She married the Lancashire comedian in 1952. Along with Ernie Wise, the duo were one of the most popular comedy stars in British TV history.

Gary Morecambe, 67, said: "She made everything work. My father always said that."

Eric and Joan Morecambe had three children as well as Gary, they had another son Steven and a daughter Gail.

Joan Morecambe (bottom left) married the famous comedian in 1952

In a statement issued by the family announcing Joan's death, they described her as a "devoted wife" to Eric until his death 40 years ago in May 1984 at the age of 58.

Gary told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I've always described my mother as the Morecambe and Wise engine room because I don't think there would have been Morecambe and Wise without her.

"She sort of made everything work. My father always said that as well strangely enough.

"She completely understood what she had got herself involved with when she married my father... and took that on fantastically.

"She was so good with the media and everything - she was out there representing Eric and Ernie basically for much of her life."

Joan and Eric Morecambe shared a joke with the then Prince Charles

He said his mother, who was a dancer, put her career on hold to get behind the duo "because she saw their talent".

Gary said his mother allowed his father "to be free to spend almost 99% of his waking time focused on Morecambe and Wise".

In 2015, Joan 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.

In 2016, thieves targeted her home when she travelled to Blackpool, more than 200 miles away from her property at the time in Hertfordshire, to unveil a statue in memory of her husband and his comic partner Ernie Wise, who died in 1999 aged 73.