One of the longest running and best loved comedy shows that the BBC has produced, Last of the Summer Wine began as an episode of Comedy Playhouse in January 1973, turning into a full-blown series later that year. Since then it's become an institution, noted for its charm, picturesque settings (around Holmfirth, West Yorkshire), clever scripts and strong central characters. Even though some of the core cast have departed, the programme continues to endure, more than 30 years on. The sitcom follows the second-childhood adventures of three old codgers as they wander about their West Yorkshire village and surrounding countryside, conversing idly and usually getting into ludicrous scrapes. The original trio consisted of neatly dressed philosopher and ex-lino salesman Clegg (Peter Sallis), unhygienic but lovable Compo (Bill Owen), and authoritarian and snobbish Blamire (Michael Bates). In 1976 Bates left the series. Since then, his part has been filled by a range of characters, perhaps the best known being Brian Wilde as quirky war veteran Foggy and Frank Thornton as former police officer Truly. Kathy Staff provided strong support as Nora Batty, who was always being chased by Compo. The series was dealt a sad blow in 1999, when Bill Owen died, and again in 2008 when Kathy Staff died, but the show has soldiered on, with new characters. The trio in the latest series (the show's 30th) are Russ Abbot as Hobbo (a former milkman who fancies himself as a secret agent), Burt Kwouk as electrical repairman Entwistle, and Brian Murphy as the childish Alvin. Sallis and Thornton are still featured, but in support roles. When is Last of the Summer Wine next on TV? In the UK... it's next showing on G.O.L.D. Today, 9:45am and on G.O.L.D. Today, 10:25am. See more...
Main Cast | Peter Sallis |  | Himself/Norman Clegg, Norman Clegg, Norman Glegg | | Jane Freeman | | Ivy | | Kathy Staff | | Herself/Nora Batty, Nora Batty | | Robert Fyfe | | Howard | | Jean Fergusson | | Marina | | Juliette Kaplan | | Pearl | | Sarah Thomas | | Glenda Wilkinson | | Bill Owen | | Compo Simmonite, Himself/Compo Simmonite | | Gordon Wharmby | | Wesley Pegden | | Jean Alexander | | Auntie Wainwright, Aunty Wainwright, Herself/Auntie Wainwright | | Thora Hird | | Edie Pegden | | Danny O'Dea | | Eli Duckett |  | Stephen Lewis | | Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway, Clem 'Smiler' Hemingway | | Mike Grady | | Barry Wilkinson | | Brian Wilde | | Foggy Dewhurst, Himself/Foggy Dewhurst | | Frank Thornton | | "Truly" Truelove, Herbert "Truly" Truelove, Truly Truelove | | Tom Owen | | Tom Simmonite | | Joe Gladwin | | Wally Batty | | Keith Clifford | | Billy Hardcastle | | Dora Bryan | | Auntie Roz | | John Comer | | Sid |  | Burt Kwouk | | Entwhistle, Entwistle, Himself/Entwistle | | Michael Aldridge | | Seymour Utterthwaite | | Brian Murphy | | Alan Smedley, Alvin, Alvin Smedley, Himself/Alvin Smedley | | Ken Kitson | | 1st PC, 1st Policeman, 2nd PC, 2nd policeman, Police Constable Cooper, Policeman | | Jonathan Linsey | | Crusher Milburn | | Josephine Tewson | | Lucinda Davenport, Miss Davenport, Miss Lucinda Davenport | | Michael Bates | | Cyril Blamire | | Tony Capstick | | 1st PC, 2nd PC, 2nd policeman, Policeman | | Julie T. Wallace | | Mrs Avery | | Louis Emerick | | 1st Policeman, 2nd PC, 2nd policeman, Police Constable Walsh | | Rosemary Martin | | Mrs. Partridge |  | June Whitfield | | Delphi, Nellie, Nelly | | Blake Butler | | Mr Wainright | | Christopher Beeny | | Collector, Repo Man | | Trevor Bannister | | Golf Cap., The Tailor | | Norman Wisdom | | Billy, Billy Ingleton | | Jim Whelan | | 2nd man on bus, Car Salesman, Caretaker | | Denis Mawn | | Car Driver, Frank, Ringmaster |  | Philip Jackson | | Gordon | | Alan Starkey | | Costumer | | Johnny Leeze | | Boyfriend, Colin | | James Duggan | | Landlord, Publican | | Peter Ivatts | | Chief Superintendent, Groom | | Ron Backhouse | | Landlord | | Robin Banks | | Golfer, Man at Canal, Mr Reptinstall | | David Williams | | Haberdasher, Mr Fairburn | | Janet Davies | | Miss Jones | | Kate Brown | | Miss Moody | | Kathleen St. John | | Mabel | | Diana Harker | | Housewife, Waitress | | Stuart Fell | | | | Paula Tilbrook | | housewife, Pub Landlady | | Derek Etchells | | Eric | | Liz Goulding | | Josie | | June Watson | | Miss Probert | | Helen Turaya | | Babs | | Gil Morris | | | | Frances Cox | | Annie Murdoch, Jessie | | Ray Cooney | | French Proprietor, Landlord |
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Last of the Summer Wine is a Sitcom programme.
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Comments
when are you going to put the last of the summer wine on and keep it on it was avery good shop and we really enjoyed it thank you
My husband and I are are engaged with all the british comedy, and we have BBC America Channel, but they do not play any of our favorites shows as Last of The Summer Wine, Keeping up Appareances, and Are you being served?
Why? We love those shows and we follow them all the time..