Last Of The Summer Wine

The longest running sitcom in the world

Set and filmed in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England, the plot centres around a trio of old men, the lineup of whom has changed over the years, but originally consisted of the scruffy and child-like Compo, deep-thinking and meek Clegg, and authoritarian and snobbish Blamire, who was replaced by the quirky war veteran Foggy after two series in 1976. The three never seem to grow up, revelling in youthful stunts, and always finding a unique perspective on their equally eccentric fellow townspeople. Although the cast was originally centred around a handful of people, it has, since the 1980s, grown to include an ensemble of supporting characters, each of whom bring their own unique sub-plots to the show and often become unwillingly involved in the increasingly complex plots of the trio, who seldom tire of trying to meddle in their affairs.

Last of the Summer Wine airs on BBC One and is written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. Last of the Summer Wine originally premiered as a one off play on 4 January 1973, with the first series of episodes following on 12 November 1973. The 28th series, concluded on 23 September 2007. As of November 2007, a 29th series is in production to premiere in 2008. Reruns of the show currently air in over twenty countries. Last of the Summer Wine is the longest running comedy programme in Britain and the longest running sitcom in the world.

Last of the Summer Wine continues to bring in a large audience for the BBC and has been praised for its positive portrayal of older people, and its family-friendly humour. Last of the Summer Wine has subsequently inspired other adaptations including a novel, a prequel, First of the Summer Wine, also written by Roy Clarke, which ran for two series for a total of thirteen episodes between 1988 and 1989,and a stage adaptation, which ran for three years both on tour in Britain and as two summer seasons in Bournemouth