Editing Ernie Wise (section)

==Later years==
On 1 January 1985, he made what was publicised as the first public mobile phone call in the UK, from [[St Katharine Docks]], East London, to [[Vodafone]]'s Headquarters in [[Newbury, Berkshire]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4138449.stm |title=Mobiles rack up 20 years of use |work=BBC News |date=1 January 2005 |access-date=19 September 2010}}</ref> In 2015, it was reported that the actual first call was made a few hours earlier by Michael Harrison to his father, Sir [[Ernest Harrison]], chairman of Vodafone.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30430475 |title=UK's first mobile phone user remembers his call 30 years on |work=BBC News |date=1 January 2015 |access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New Year's Day mobile phone call made history and started a new era |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/31/new-years-eve-mobile-phone-call-made-history |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=8 September 2015 |first=Rupert |last=Neate}}</ref>

Also in 1985, Wise appeared in an acting role in an episode of the American TV situation comedy ''[[Too Close for Comfort]]'', playing an old friend of the main character Henry, played by [[Ted Knight]]. It was Wise's only appearance in an American sitcom, and his last acting role on TV although he would continue to make TV appearances for the next decade, they were all on UK-based documentary, panel, or chat shows.

Wise appeared regularly as a panellist on the ITV revival of the popular panel show ''[[What's My Line? (British game show)|What's My Line?]]'' He was a guest several times on ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]'', had a gardening column in the ''[[News of the World]]'' newspaper and also appeared in several [[West End theatre|West End]] plays, including ''[[The Mystery Of Edwin Drood]]'' in 1987. He gave talks on cruises about his life and career. In 1989, he made a guest appearance in ''[[Rainbow (TV series)|Rainbow]]'' Series 17, Episode 1276.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rainbow – Morecambe & Wise |url=http://www.morecambeandwise.com/viewpage.aspx?pageid=129 |website=morecambeandwise.com |access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref> He wrote his autobiography, ''Still on My Way to Hollywood'', in 1990. He also was the subject on ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'', which was transmitted on [[Boxing Day]] that year. His 1992 [[Christmas]] single was a recommended retail release in ''[[Music Week]]''. Wise was also an active and long-time participant in the [[Keep Britain Tidy]] campaign.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}

On 14 May 1994, the BBC aired the first of three episodes of a mini-series called ''Bring Me Sunshine'', as a tribute to Eric Morecambe. It was hosted by [[Ben Elton]], who is a huge fan of Morecambe and Wise, and who cites the duo as a big influence on his career. Those interviewed were [[John Thaw]], [[Roy Castle]] (who was to die later that year), [[Diana Rigg]], [[Hale and Pace]], and [[Fry and Laurie]]. Wise was not asked to participate, the BBC saying that they did not want "too many talking heads". He was, however, recovering from a minor stroke which he had suffered in December 1993 which forced him to spend Christmas and New Year in hospital.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/My+Life+with+Mr+Sunshine+by+Doreen+Wise.-a060170730|title=My Life with Mr Sunshine by Doreen Wise. – Free Online Library|website=thefreelibrary.com}}</ref>

Wise suffered a second minor stroke in August 1995, and as a result, announced his retirement from show business on 27 November 1995, his 70th birthday. In August 1998, Wise was asked by the BBC to take part in ''Bring Me Sunshine: The Heart and Soul of Eric Morecambe'', which was shown on 23 December that year. He had agreed to do so, but then his health had begun to deteriorate further. Earlier that month, Wise suffered two heart attacks within a week while on holiday, and had to undergo a triple [[heart bypass]] in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], on 22 January 1999. In March 1999, he was flown back to [[RAF Northolt]], in London, by air ambulance and taken directly to the [[Nuffield Hospital]] at [[Wexham]], [[Buckinghamshire]].{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Wise died from heart failure and a chest infection at the Nuffield Hospital, Wexham, near [[Slough]], on the morning of 21 March 1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/300444.stm |title=Comedian Ernie Wise dies |work=BBC News |date=22 March 1999 |access-date=19 September 2010}}</ref> He was 73 years old. His funeral was on 30 March at Slough Crematorium.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/307559.stm |work=BBC News |title=Little Ern's final bow |date=30 March 1999}}</ref>