Last of the Summer Wine

Twelve classic TV episodes featuring Yorkshire’s irrepressible adventurer-pensioners, with linking narration by Peter Sallis

Initially conceived as a one-off for TV’s ‘Comedy Playhouse’, Last of the Summer Wine ran for an amazing 37 years on BBC One between 1973 and 2010, attracting nearly 20 million viewers, winning award after award and making the town of Holmfirth famous worldwide. A mixture of light-hearted comedy, whimsical philosophy and outright slapstick, it centred on the madcap antics of three fun-loving senior citizens who are determined to make retirement the best time of their lives.

Collected here are 12 carefully curated soundtrack episodes, many spotlighting the core trio of Compo (Bill Owen), Foggy (Brian Wilde) and Clegg (Peter Sallis, who provides the linking narration for these shows). Compo’s love interest, the inimitable (and formidable) Nora Batty also makes an appearance, as does a later member of the gang, ex-policeman Herbert ‘Truly’ Truelove, played by Frank Thornton. Together, they meander round the Yorkshire Dales causing low-key havoc and getting into preposterous predicaments – from missing ferrets to romantic misadventures. There’s never a dull moment in this fantastic digital collection, so uncork this vintage Wine and enjoy!

Included are five shows from Season 4 (‘Ferret Come Home’; ‘Getting on Sidney’s Wire’; ‘Flower Power Cut’; ‘Who Made a Bit of a Splash in Wales, Then?’ and ‘The Bandit from Stoke-On-Trent’), one from Season 5, ‘Full Steam Behind’, and a quartet from Season 20 – ‘How Errol Flynn Discovered the Secret Scar of Nora Batty’, ‘What Happened to Barry’s Nose?’; ‘Beware the Vanilla Slice’ and ‘Howard Throws a Wobbler.’ Plus, there’s festive fun in two Christmas Specials, ‘Small Tune on a Penny Wassail’ & ‘And a Dewhurst Up a Fir Tree’.

Production credits
Created and written by Roy Clarke
Episodes directed and produced by Sydney Lotterby
Edited by Ray Millichope, Matt Boney, Ross Archer, Jesse Palmer, Steve Murray, David Yates, and Howard Dell
Music composed by Ronnie Hazlehurst

Cast
Compo Simmonite – Bill Owen
Norman Clegg – Peter Sallis
Foggy Dewhurst – Brian Wilde
Nora Batty – Kathy Staff
Wally Batty – Joe Gladwin
Sid – John Comer
Ivy – Jane Freeman
Billy Hardcastle – Keith Clifford
Barry Wilkinson – Mike Grady
Glenda Wilkinson – Sarah Thomas
Marina – Jean Fergusson
Pearl Sibshaw – Juliette Kaplan
Aunty Wainwright – Jean Alexander
Wesley Pegden – Gordon Wharmby
Edith Pegden – Thora Hird
Clem ‘Smiler’ Hemmingway – Stephen Lewis
Eli Duckett – Danny O’Dea
Policeman – Tony Capstick
With Frances Cox, Margaret John, Betty Hardy, Jean Boht, Royston Tickner, Timothy Bateson, Kathy Proctor, Frances Goodall, Robin Boncey, John Dunbar, Teddy Turner, Larry Noble, Charles Booth and Stuart Fell

Episode guide

First broadcast on BBC One on the following dates:

Series 4
Ferret Come Home 9 November 1977
Getting on Sidney’s Wire 16 November 1977
Flower Power Cut 30 November 1977
Who Made a Bit of a Splash in Wales, Then? 7 December 1977
The Bandit From Stoke-On-Trent 4 January 1978

Series 5
Full Steam Behind 18 September 1979

Series 20
How Errol Flynn Discovered the Secret Scar of Nora Batty 25 April 1999
What Happened to Barry’s Nose? 16 May 1999
Beware the Vanilla Slice 6 June 1999
Howard Throws a Wobbler 13 June 1999

Christmas Special: Small Tune on a Penny Wassail 26 December 1978
Christmas Special: And a Dewhurst Up a Fir Tree 27 December 1982

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