Last of the Summer Wine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Last of the Summer Wine |
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| Also known as | The Last of the Summer Wine (Pilot episode) |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Roy Clarke |
| Written by | Roy Clarke |
| Directed by | James Gilbert (1973) Bernard Thompson (1975) Sydney Lotterby (1976–1979, 1982–1983) Ray Butt (1976) Alan J. W. Bell (1981–1982, 1983–2010) |
| Starring | Last cast: Russ Abbot Burt Kwouk Brian Murphy Peter Sallis Frank Thornton June Whitfield Robert Fyfe Mike Grady Jean Alexander Jane Freeman Josephine Tewson and Kathy Staff |
| Theme music composer | Ronnie Hazlehurst |
| Opening theme | "The Last of the Summer Wine" |
| Composer(s) | Ronnie Hazlehurst Jim Parker |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 31 as of 2010 |
| No. of episodes | 295 as of 29 August 2010 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | James Gilbert (1973) Bernard Thompson (1975) Sydney Lotterby (1976–1979, 1982–1983) Alan J. W. Bell (1981–1982, 1983–2010) |
| Production location(s) | Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England |
| Cinematography | Pat O'Shea |
| Running time | 30 minutes (approx.) |
| Production company(s) | BBC |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Picture format | PAL (576i) (1973-2005) HDTV 720p (2006) HDTV 1080i (2007-2010) |
| Original release | 12 November 1973 – 29 August 2010 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Comedy Playhouse First of the Summer Wine |
Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom. It ran longer than any other comedy show in the UK and longer than any other sitcom in the world. It airs on the television channel BBC One. Roy Clarke writes the show and Alan J. W. Bell produces and directs it. It started as an episode of the television show Comedy Playhouse and originally aired on 4 January 1973. The first series of episodes started airing on 12 November 1973. The show just finished showing its 29th series and a 30th series is in production.
Last of the Summer Wine was filmed in and around Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England. It features three older men who never get old and act like they are children. The three originally were Norman Clegg (Peter Sallis), Cyril Blamire (Michael Bates), and Compo Simmonite (Bill Owen). After two years, Blamire left the show. In his place, Brian Wilde joined as Foggy Dewhurst. The current cast is Russ Abbot as Hobbo Hobdyke, Burt Kwouk as Entwistle, and Brian Murphy as Alvin Smedley.
Some think the show is not as good as it used to be. Many people continue watching it, though, and praise it for portraying older people well and for its family-friendly humour. Members of the British Royal Family enjoy the show. The show has been nominated for some awards and won the National Television Award for Most Popular Comedy Programme in 1999. There have been many holiday specials, two television movies, and a documentary movie about the series. Last of the Summer Wine has inspired other adaptations, including a television prequel, several novelisations, and a stage adaptation.
Images for kids
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Sid's Café in Holmfirth, a regular filming location. The café has become a tourist destination on the strength of the series, and features a model of Compo outside for photographic purposes.
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The most famous of the Last of the Summer Wine trios: From left to right: Peter Sallis as Norman Clegg, Brian Wilde as Walter "Foggy" Dewhurst, and Bill Owen as William "Compo" Simmonite.
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A collage illustrating the different compositions of the main characters during Last of the Summer Wine's 37 year run. From left to right: Series 1–2, Series 3–8 & 12–18, Series 9–11, Series 19–21, Series 21, Series 22–24, Series 25–27, Series 28–29, Series 30–31.
