"Last of the Summer Wine" (1973) TV series 1973-????

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Creator:

Roy Clarke

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30

Release Date:

12 November 1973 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Three old men from Yorkshire who have never grown up face the trials of their fellow town citizens and everyday life and stay young by reminiscing about the days of their youth and attempting feats not common to the elderly.

Plot Keywords:

Elderly | Sitcom | Countryside | Eccentric | Old Man

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Peter Sallis	...	Norman Clegg / ... (289 episodes, 1973-2009)
Jane Freeman	...	Ivy (269 episodes, 1973-2009)
Kathy Staff	...	Nora Batty / ... (245 episodes, 1973-2008)
Robert Fyfe	...	Howard (224 episodes, 1985-2009)
Juliette Kaplan	...	Pearl (220 episodes, 1985-2009)
Jean Fergusson	...	Marina (210 episodes, 1985-2009)
Sarah Thomas	...	Glenda / ... (209 episodes, 1986-2009)
Bill Owen	...	Compo Simmonite / ... (185 episodes, 1973-2000)
Jean Alexander	...	Auntie Wainwright / ... (164 episodes, 1988-2009)
Mike Grady	...	Barry / ... (155 episodes, 1986-2009)
Thora Hird	...	Edie Pegden / ... (152 episodes, 1986-2003)
Gordon Wharmby	...	Wesley Pegden / ... (137 episodes, 1982-2002)
Stephen Lewis	...	Smiler / ... (133 episodes, 1988-2007)
Frank Thornton	...	Truly / ... (129 episodes, 1997-2009)
Brian Wilde	...	Foggy Dewhurst / ... (116 episodes, 1976-1997)

Also Known As:

"Roy Clarke's Last of the Summer Wine" (Australia)
"The Library Mob" (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Higgin Brigg, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

In May 2009, Peter Sallis (Clegg) revealed that the programme was nearly cancelled before it had even started, when Bill Owen (Compo) who was very left-wing and Michael Bates who was very right-wing started having a heated and vigorous argument about their different political affiliations, over dinner when they first met. Producer James Gilbert read them the riot act and told them that unless they agreed to differ, and not to argue about politics, he was going to cancel the project. Owen and Bates meekly agreed and never discussed politics again.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Edie Pegden: [to Glenda, when she asks a naive question] Drink your coffee.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Holmfirth Hollywood (2006) (TV)

One of the best.

This programme has been one of British televisions centre pieces since the first pilot episode. With wonderful performances from Bill owen as the scruffy, gambleing, Nora Loving, loveable Compo and Peter Sallis as Clegg a widower who is terrified of anything female, but is more immature than your average child at Christmas. Plus brilliant supporting actors like Michael Bates (Clockwork Orange), Brian Wilde, John Comer, Joe Gladwin, Jane Freeman and Kathy "Nora" Staff.

It might on the face of things seem like a comedy for older people but it's anything but, young people love to see older people being immature (e.g)Monty Python. The scripts in the early series where quite wonderful with the setting, timing and situation right it was always going to be what it is........One of the most loveable and enjoyed Sit-coms to ever be made, I know thats said a lot but with this 30 year old gem it's true.