What Cantor, Clapton, Idle and, indeed, George Orwell all have in common (4)

I believe the answer is:

eric

(Other definitions for eric that I've seen before include "Man" , "Mr Clapton" , "Boy's name" , "-- Sykes; -- Idle" , "- Sykes, British comedian" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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