Last of the Summer Wine (1973)
Synopsis
Unencumbered by wives, jobs or any other responsibilities, three senior citizens who've never really grown up explore their world in the Yorkshire Dales. They spend their days speculating about their fellow townsfolk and thinking up adventures not usually favored by the elderly. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse in 1973. The show ran for 295 episodes until 2010. It is the longest running comedy Britain has produced and the longest running sitcom in the world.
First Air Date: 1973-01-04
Last Air Date: 2010-08-29
Number of Seasons: 31
Number of Episodes: 269
Created By: Roy Clarke
Networks: BBC One
Top Cast
- Peter Sallis as Clegg
- Jane Freeman as Ivy
- Kathy Staff as Nora Batty
- Jean Fergusson as Marina
- Robert Fyfe as Howard
- Juliette Kaplan as Pearl
- Sarah Thomas as Glenda
- Mike Grady as Barry
- Jean Alexander as Auntie Wainwright
- Bill Owen as Compo
Seasons
Season 1 (1973)
Last of the Summer Wine's first series originally aired on BBC1 between 12 November 1973 and 17 December 1973. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by James Gilbert. The pilot episode, alternately known as "The Last of the Summer Wine" and "Of Funerals and Fish," originally premiered on the BBC's Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 at 8:00 p.m. "The Last of the Summer Wine" was the first episode of that show's fourteenth series. The pilot warranted a positive enough that the BBC ordered a full series of episodes which premiered on 12 November 1973. The first series was released on DVD in region 2 as a combined box set with series 2 on 2 September 2002.
Episodes:
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Ep. 1: Of Funerals and Fish (pilot)
Norman Clegg visits his late wife's grave on the anniversary of her death, then he reunites with his friends Compo Simmonite and Cyril Blamire and the trio wonders through town talking about, life, death and fish.
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Ep. 2: Short Back And Palais Glide
The trio pays a visit to the barbers where they talk about the war, marriage, local women, and the frequent rows that exist between couples. Then they go to the cafe, where the first (of many) arguments between Ivy and Sid takes place. Compo realizes he forgot his house key in the library and the trio wonders through town, in search for the librarian (Mr. Wainwright).
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Ep. 3: Inventor Of The 40-Foot Ferret
Clegg and Blamire try to convince Compo to step inside a church. Then they talk about the existence of God, miracles and the possibility of an afterlife.
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Ep. 4: Pâté And Chips
The trio visits a stately home, but naturally have some problems with Compo's messy ways.
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Ep. 5: Spring Fever
Spring's coming and Compo is once again suffering from spring fever, so he sets off to find the perfect companionship for him. He ends up hiring a female housekeeper, in search of new-found love.
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Ep. 6: The New Mobile Trio
Thinking they need a faster way to travel through the hills, Clegg convinces the others to buy a car. They end up with an old piece of metal that proves to be more trouble than it's worth.
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Ep. 7: Hail Smiling Morn Or Thereabouts
With a new camera in hands, the trio spends the day trying to find interesting things to photograph.
Trailers & Videos
Images & Backdrops
Backdrops
