Last Of The Summer Wine: The Complete Collection [DVD]

Product Information

Britain's Best Sitcom–Top 11–100". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 January 2006 . Retrieved 2 April 2017.

A spin-off prequel show, First of the Summer Wine, premiered on BBC1 in 1988. The new programme was written by Roy Clarke and used different actors to follow the activities of the principal characters from Last of the Summer Wine in the months leading up to World War II. Unlike its mother show, First of the Summer Wine was not filmed in Holmfirth. Period music was used instead of Ronnie Hazlehurst's score to create a more World War II era atmosphere. [116] New supporting characters were added to those from Last of the Summer Wine. Peter Sallis and Jonathan Linsley were the only actors from the original series to appear in the spin-off: Sallis played the father of his own character from the original show and Linsley appeared during the second series as a different character. [12] A live production of Last of the Summer Wine, known informally as the "summer season", was produced in Bournemouth in 1984. While Bill Owen and Peter Sallis reprised their roles as Compo and Clegg, Brian Wilde chose not to take part because of personal differences with Owen. [14] The show focused on the men's interaction with Clegg's new neighbour, Howard ( Kenneth Waller), and his wife, Pearl, played by a local actress. The first act built up to the appearance of Marina ( Jean Fergusson), who was in correspondence with Howard. At the end of the first act, Marina was revealed to be a blonde sexpot. [120] Howard and Marina's story line was partly based on an early subplot of the television show. In the first series, the librarian, Mr. Wainwright, was having a love affair with his married assistant, Mrs. Partridge. Despite their efforts to keep the plot a secret, especially from Mrs. Partridge's husband, the trio of old men were well aware of the affair. [53] The summer season reversed the roles: Howard became the married partner, and the challenge was to keep the affair secret from his wife. [14]

a b Knapton, Sarah (10 December 2008). "Last of The Summer Wine to be cancelled after 35 years, producer claims". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 22 December 2008.

Examiner, Huddersfield (24 July 2010). "Last of the Summer Wine Creator Roy Clarke says he knew this season would be the last". Examiner.co.uk . Retrieved 3 August 2016.Following the success of Getting Sam Home, a second film was made during 1985, and broadcast on 1 January 1986. Titled Uncle of the Bride, the film featured the introduction of Michael Aldridge as Seymour Utterthwaite, the new third man of the trio. The plot centred on the marriage of Seymour's niece, Glenda ( Sarah Thomas), to Barry ( Mike Grady). Also making her first appearance in the film was Thora Hird as Seymour's sister and Glenda's mother, Edie, as well as re-introducing Gordon Wharmby as Edie's husband Wesley, previously seen in three popular one-off appearances. The second film proved a success and all four new characters were carried over to the show beginning with the ninth series in 1986. [107] Documentaries [ edit ] On 5 November 2012, a new book titled Last of the Summer Wine - From the Directors Chair was released and written by producer and director Alan J.W. Bell. [135] 2023 saw the publication of 50 Years of Last of the Summer Wine: An Appreciation by author Miles Eaton. The book was released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of the sitcom. Roy Clarke (writer) & Alan J. W. Bell (director) (7 May 2000). "Just a Small Funeral". Last of the Summer Wine. Series 21. Episode 6. BBC One.