Last of the Summer Wine

Who said being retired couldn't be fun?

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Last of the Summer Wine was first broadcast as part of the BBC's Comedy Playhouse, a long running series  which aired unrelated situation comedies. Comedy Playhouse was often used as a proving ground for writers with sit com ideas, and after the tremendous reception the episodes received on the 4th of January 1973, the BBC commissioned it's writer Roy Clarke and James Gilbert Director, to produce a first series. The first episode of the first season of Last of The Summer Wine was broadcast on Sunday 12 November 1973, it is doubtful that anybody involved in this first season dreamed that the show would still be on our screens in 2009 (the show has actually been re commissioned and is filming episodes for 2010).

The premise of the series Last of the Summer Wine has stayed pretty much the same from the start, the show follows the adventures of a trio of pensioners, old men who have known each other all their lives who are reliving their boyhood, in and around their home town in West Yorkshire. The original trio was made up of Compo Simenon (Bill Owen) a scruffy ne'er do well with a very childish sense of humour, Clegg (Peter Sallis) the philosophical shy and biddable one who is afraid of getting into trouble, and the Blamire (Michael Bates) an authoritarian, snobbish pompous and ex-military one.

After two very successful series Michael Bates dropped out of the series due to illness (a recurring theme in a show with such a veteran cast) he was replaced by Foggy (Brian Wilde) who starred in the show from 1976 until 1997. He was replaced by Truly (Frank Thornton) who has been in the show from 1997 to this year and also Michael Aldridge as Seymour from 1986 to 2000.

Bill Owen played Compo in Last of the Summer Wine for one hundred and eighty five episodes until his death in 2000, he has not exactly been replaced but his son Tom Owen as he starred in the show as the son of Compo from 1991 to date, but he certainly was effective in the transition from the old trio to the latest one. Peter Sallis remains the only original cast member still with the show from 1973.

Last Of the Summer Wine's longevity is in no small part due to the fact that over the years the scripts have widened their scope and included many strong supporting characters with their own plots, well defined characters and stories. The strong acting talent and the excellent writing have also gone a long way the success of the show. Of course an ageing population and a positive image of our more senior members of society cannot hurt either.

Despite this at the heart of the show is always a trio of pensioners reliving their boyhood and enjoying simple child like pleasures every week. The 2009 incarnation of the trio is played by Russ Abbott as Hobbo, Burt Kwouk as Entwislte and Brian Murphy as Alvin.

One of the other key characters appearing in the show since 1983 is the small West Yorkshire town of Holmfirth. Initially the exteriors were filmed on location and the interiors in a studio at BBC Television Centre. Unusually for a British Sitcom in the 90's the BBC decided to do away with the studio element and now films the entire show on location in Holmfirth and West Yorkshire. Like that other great BBC Sunday night show, All Creatures Great and Small, Last of the Summer Wine's choice of location has created a thriving tourist industry, as fans flock to take tea in the cafe in central Holmfirth, and enjoy the beautiful walks around the town.

Last of The Summer Wine has been directed by Alan J.W. Bell since 1981, that is an incredible two hundred and forty four episodes. before 1981 the direction of each episode was handled by various Directors:

Sydney Lotterby from 1976-1983  - 29 episodes
James Gilbert  1973 - 7 episodes, 
Bernard Thompson 1975 - 7 episodes
Ray Butt 1976 - 2 episodes
Martin Shardlow 1979 - 2 episodes

Roy Clarke has written all 289 episodes from 1973 to date.

Last of The Summer Wine Seasons 15 & 16 is now available to order from Amazon UK  Click here

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