Robbie Williams explains why he paid £20k for legendary comedian’s glasses
The Angels singer paid more than 10 times the estimate for the imitation
tortoiseshell glasses by Metzler.
Sunday 9 February 2025 15:06, UK
Robbie Williams has said he bought Eric Morecambe’s glasses and pipe because he
has always seen the comedian as an “uncle of sorts”.
The singer said he cried “happy, childlike tears” after submitting the top bid
last month with a final offer of £20,000
[https://news.sky.com/story/eric-morecambes-trademark-glasses-fetch-20-000-at-auction-13287461].
This far exceeded the £2,000 to £4,000 estimate.
In an Instagram post featuring photos of Williams
[https://news.sky.com/topic/robbie-williams-7809] using the glasses and pipe, he
said he treated himself to the items ahead of his 51st birthday.
The Angels singer recalled appointing Mike, a member of his team who handles his
digital presence, to be “chief bidder” as he was in Los Angeles about to board a
plane as the auction got under way.
“As it happens, I got to watch the lot being auctioned live. My iPhone and
Mike’s iPhone acting like walkie-talkies,” he wrote.
Read more on Sky News:
Friends star urges Elon Musk to remove Kanye West from X
[https://news.sky.com/story/friends-star-david-schwimmer-urges-elon-musk-to-remove-kanye-west-from-x-after-hate-filled-ignorant-comments-13305867]
Big Boys cast bid farewell with season three of Bafta-winning show
[https://news.sky.com/story/big-boys-cast-bid-farewell-with-season-three-of-bafta-winning-show-13305882]
Robbie Williams says people from the 90s shouldn’t be shamed for how they think
and feel
Port Vale FC dismiss Robbie Williams takeover rumours
Robbie Williams fan dies after concert fall in Sydney
“‘What should I do Ayd’s?’ I nervously kept asking my wife. ‘Keep bidding’ Ayda
says with the steely determination of someone bursting through an electronics
store door on Black Friday.
“‘Keep going Mike’ I say. This vignette of conversation would repeat itself
several times over the next 10 minutes.”
Once he won the bidding war, Williams said he cried “happy, childlike tears”.
“You see, I guess we all need friends-we-never-meet from off the telly. Eric has
always been mine. An uncle of sorts,” he wrote.
“To the very core of me, Eric Morecambe’s spirit has been salve for my soul. How
Eric made me feel is how I want to make people feel.
“What a gift to be able to create such joy and have that joy be present just by
thinking of them.”
Follow our channel and never miss an update
The imitation tortoiseshell glasses by Metzler, said to be synonymous with
Morecambe’s sharp wit and comedic persona, were sold alongside his Barling briar
pipe and two black-and-white photographs of him with the spectacles.
Hanson Auctioneers offered Morecambe’s belongings in 700 lots on January 10 and
11, more than 40 years after the comic died of a heart attack aged 58 in 1984.
