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

User Rating:

6.8/10   

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	...	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 (211 episodes, 1985-2009)
Sarah Thomas	...	Glenda / ... (209 episodes, 1986-2009)
Bill Owen	...	Compo Simmonite / ... (185 episodes, 1973-2000)
Jean Alexander	...	Auntie / ... (163 episodes, 1988-2009)
Mike Grady	...	Barry / ... (155 episodes, 1986-2009)
Thora Hird	...	Edie / ... (152 episodes, 1986-2003)
Gordon Wharmby	...	Wesley / ... (138 episodes, 1982-2002)
Stephen Lewis	...	Smiler / ... (135 episodes, 1988-2007)
Frank Thornton	...	Truly / ... (129 episodes, 1997-2009)
Brian Wilde	...	Foggy / ... (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:

Holmfirth was chosen as the setting for Last of the Summer Wine after Barry Took made a programme about Working Men's Clubs at nearby Burnlee WMC. When producer James Gilbert was looking for a location for an episode of "Comedy Playhouse" (1961), Barry Took recommended Holmfirth. That episode was developed into the series "Last of the Summer Wine".

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Screenwipe: (#2.3)" (2006)

I was always a big fan of this series its a Gem

I was a big fan of this series before i appeared in it. I still get letters and cards from fans despite leaving the show in 1988. Roy Clarke is one of the greatest comedy writers of his generation, he explores the British class system, old age, and the relationships between Yorshiremen and the Women they love brilliantly. The early shows were about boredom, retirement, life in Yorkshire and friendship between men of differing backgrounds. When the show was taken over by Alan J W Bell ,who produced and directed all the episodes i appeared in, the comedy broadened. Wonderful slapstick and unlikely romance became the strong central themes. In 1987 the show regularly had viewing figures just below 20 Million, and it continues to have a cult following to this day. I made some wonderful friends on the series too, Jane Freeman (who played my Auntie Ivy), Bill Owen (who i sadly miss) Peter Sallis (who taught me so much when we worked on stage together) Thora Hird (who told great stories of her early life in the Co-op as a sales assistant) Joe Gladwyn (who told me the most wonderful tales of early music hall and variety shows) to name just a few... I think one of the best qualities of this show is that anyone of any age can watch it and find something amusing, popular family entertainment is rare these days and this is a gem.