When Last of the Summer Wine finally ceased production, it had up 32 series, numerous Christmas specials and a 1988 prequel, First of the Summer Wine, with the whole canon being written by just one man: Roy Clarke. Created as a submission for the BBC's Comedy Playhouse in 1973, before the year was up, a full series had hit our screens. A whimsical comedy with a penchant for light philosophy and full-on slapstick, that first run followed the misadventures of three elderly friends tramping around the Yorkshire countryside (the town of Holmfirth and its surroundings). The upper, middle and lowers classes writ large: they were Former Royal Signals Sergeant and notional gang leader Cyril Blamire; flat cap-wearing voice-of-reason Norman 'Cleggy' Clegg and scruffy hormone-riddled layabout Compo Simonite. In a world where men are just over-grown kids, the authority figures come in the shape of some of TV's most formidable women. There's the physically intimidating tea shop owner Ivy, but even she pales in comparison to Nora Batty. With her wrinkled stockings and hair curlers, she's both a bogeyman figure curtailing the trio's fun and became an unlikely lust object for Compo.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/l/lastofthesummerw_7774090.shtml
Episode # 703
Barry is concerned that he may have missed the opportunity to have a mid-life crisis. Howard is imprisoned in his bedroom again, but Truly (on behalf of Clegg, Alvin and Billy) graciously accepts the challenge of springing him. Their first attempt ? pretending to be repairing Clegg's stonework ? results in Howard being caught red-handed.
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 704
Alvin dresses himself up (complete with suit and bow tie) in an effort to encourage Nora Batty to do likewise and improve the tone of the area. He is none-too-enthusiastic when Billy, who scoffs at modern-day barbeques, invites himself,Truly and Clegg to an outdoor feast in a remote place.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 189
Howard decides to pump iron, so Barry sets out to me more assertive. Truly takes charge when failure looms on all fronts. (156)
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
Episode # 705
While out shopping, Nora and Ivy see Alvin walking with a woman unknown to them.When Nora casually asks Alvin who she is, rather than tell her that she is a cousin, he seizes the opportunity to mislead her into thinking she is a girlfriend.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 706
Billy is very excited. He has received a letter from one D W Cheetham, who is keen to join his band of Merry Men Accompanied by Truly, Clegg and Alvin, Billy goes to meet the bus bringing his new recruit ? only to find that D W Cheetham is a six-foot woman with all the charms of a female Rambo.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 707
Undeterred by Nora Batty's disdain at their comic dance routine, Alvin and Billy persist with their rehearsals to entertain the old folk. Whilst out in the hills with Clegg, Truly and Alvin, Billy sees a man in the distance sitting on a wall. On closer inspection, the man turns out to be an old acquaintance: Lenny from the pickle factory (played by comedian Bobby Ball). He reveals that he is there because he heard a 'voice' from above, and is waiting there for more to follow - although there hasn't been a murmur for some time.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 708
Howard is looking after Mitzi (a nice friendly dog) for the day, while its owner goes to a wedding. Pearl won't let the dog in her house, so Clegg agrees to take the dog into his home.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 709
Howard tells Marina that their new interest is Military History. The usual difficulty of his getting out to play still persists, however, so once more he has to call upon the help of Truly, Clegg, Alvin and Billy in a scheme to spring him.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 190
Smiler's first day as a door-to-door salesman is a painful one. (157)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
Episode # 801
An old friend "Doggy (Eric Sykes)" is getting re-married and invites Clegg (Peter Sallis), Truly (Frank Thornton), Alvin (Brian Murphy), Entwistle (Burt Kwouk) and Howard (Robert Fyfe) to his stag night at a local inn. At 82, for Doggy it's more a ?stag afternoon? to celebrate his last day of freedom. Doggy is disappointed that this stag night is less fun than his last, and to make matters worse, he just can?t remember the name of his bride to be. When he gets into a singing mode, he falls from a table and has to be wheeled home in a handcart - but manages to kiss a policeman (Ken Kitson) on the way. Pearl is suspicious of Howard's whereabouts, and goes to the Inn where, unfortunately, Truly has arranged for Marina (Jean Fergusson) to be a Strip-o-gram girl for Doggy's stag night.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 802
Clegg (Peter Sallis), Truly (Frank Thornton) and Alvin (Brian Murphy), never miss an opportunity to mislead Howard (Robert Fyfe), so when Alvin observes that a particular strip of woodland looks as if it could be haunted, they soon convince him of its authenticity. Howard accepts the story that nobody goes to the wood at a certain time because of weird sightings of a ghostly tinker, and immediately sees the opportunity to go there for an innocent nature walk with Marina (Jean Fergusson). To scare Howard, Alvin dresses-up to look like the ghostly tinker, however, into the wood comes Barry (Mike Grady) who is dressed in a costume for a part he has in an amateur dramatic production. When Alvin and Barry see each other, they both think they have seen the real ghostly tinker and flee. The local police (Ken Kitson and Louis Emerick) see the frenzied escape of the men in Entwistle?s (Burt Kwouk) truck and give pursuit. When Alvin ? wide eyed and ghostly -looks out from the truck, the Police car skids off the road into a roadside sign.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 803
When Howard (Robert Fyfe) decides to get more mobile, he buys a second hand car from a woman who is upset at the sad loss of her husband. Whilst giving Clegg (Peter Sallis), and Truly (Frank Thornton), a lift in his new acquisition, he attracts the attention of a particularly fearsome-looking man (Richard Cole), who gives chase ? revealing that his ex wife has sold his car out of spite. A little later, Howard is taking Marina (Jean Fergusson) for a drive in the country when the man ? now getting a lift in a friend?s car - enlists the help of the police (Ken Kitson and Louis Emerick) to give chase. Entwistle (Burt Kwouk) is passing with Truly and Clegg and finds himself in the chase. Pearl, (Juliette Kaplan) and Nelly (June Whitfield) see the pursuit of Howard, so turn round and join in.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 804
Pearl (Juliette Kaplan) decides that the time has come for her errant husband, Howard (Robert Fyfe) to take her out to dinner. Thinking of the cost, Howard?s lack of enthusiasm is doubled when Pearl invites Nelly (June Whitfield) to join their little party . When Howard goes to tell Marina (Jean Fergusson) that he has to take his wife out to dinner, she ? having heard from Truly (Frank Thornton) and Alvin (Brian Murphy) that he was making dinner arrangements -misunderstands and thinks he is inviting her. Clegg (Peter Sallis), Truly and Alvin (Brian Murphy) come to his help and, with the assistance of Entwistle (Burt Kwouk), they work out a plan to have Howard in two places at once. As this involves heavily bandaging Howard, the two policemen (Ken Kitson and Louis Emerick) are intrigued to see Entwistle?s truck passing them at speed with someone in the back apparently assaulting an accident victim. Their noble intervention results in them crashing into the back of Entwistle?s truck.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 805
Kevin (Mark Curry) is a science fiction fanatic who tries to convince Clegg (Peter Sallis), Truly (Frank Thornton), Alvin (Brian Murphy), and Entwistle (Burt Kwouk) that Aliens from some distant planet may well have already landed and are merging into the community. Meanwhile Pearl (Juliette Kaplan) is determined to sabotage the attempts by Howard (Robert Fyfe) to perfect a silent bicycle. Kevin convinces the men that it is possible to communicate with outer space by holding hands. As they stand in a field holding hands, they mistake the whirr of Howard's sabotaged bicycle as a sign that it works, and Howard and Marina (Jean Fergusson) mistake the appearance of the police (Ken Kitson and Louis Emerick) as a sign that Pearl has enlisted them to follow him. The police give the holding hands in a field theory a try - just as their Chief Inspector is passing.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 191
Compo, Clegg and Truly are intrigued when they meet a man testing for earthquakes. (158)
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
Episode # 806
Clegg (Peter Sallis), reluctantly agrees to let Howard (Robert Fyfe) bring his new bicycle in to his house out of sight from Pearl (Juliette Kaplan), but is dismayed when he finds that it is a track bike. When Truly (Frank Thornton), Alvin (Brian Murphy), Entwistle (Burt Kwouk) are assisting Clegg to get the bike out of his house, Pearl appears and wants to know to whom it belongs. Howard tells her that it belongs to Clegg. Later the men happen upon Tom (Tom Owen) who is grieving over the death of a dear friend. After getting him drunk, they wheel him back on an abandoned supermarket trolley. Howard implores Clegg to dress-up as a motor cyclist and just be seen by Pearl with the bike. The ladies hear the noise of the bike and are just in time to see Clegg roar-off in pursuit of Tom in the supermarket trolley, which has silently rolled away. Pearl is convinced that Clegg is really a biker and, for a short while, Howard is in the clear.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
Episode # 807
Alvin (Brian Murphy) and Truly (Frank Thornton) ask the librarian, Miss Davenport (Josephine Tewson) for information about a traditional race where, dressed as crows, contenders must complete a course in a dead straight line between two points. Howard (Robert Fyfe) sees the crow costume as an ideal means of meeting up with an old friend Marina (Jean Fergusson) out in the country, so he teams up with Alvin. With the help of Clegg (Peter Sallis), Truly (Frank Thornton), and Entwistle (Burt Kwouk) and his truck, the two crows set off. A particularly high hedge almost defeats Howard and Alvin, but with the ingenuity of Truly, they find a means of flying over it. The sight of this is too much for a passing drunk.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT
Episode # 808
Following-up a lonely hearts advert in the local newspaper, Tom (Tom Owen) takes Smiler (Stephen Lewis) to the librarian (Josephine Tewson) to get a book on dancing. Unfortunately for Smiler, Truly (Frank Thornton), and Alvin (Brian Murphy) overhear this and offer to help make Smiler irresistible to any woman. Smiler is dressed in top hat and tails so that Entwistle (Burt Kwouk) can take a photograph to send to the woman. But an attempt outside the café ends up with Nora Batty (Kathy Staff) walloping Smiler with her umbrella. Another attempt to re-create the famous dancers on a taxi roof shot, results in Smiler going through the milk float roof. Extracting him proves to be a challenge for everyone.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:29 PM
Episode # 702
There is trouble at the Clegg household. Clegg has somehow allowed his cousin Aubrey (Col Farrell) to stay with him, and has found, to his cost, that the man is coming between him and his friends.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 701
Resting on the bank of the river, Clegg, Truly, Billy and Alvin are intrigued by a bottle containing a note that floats past them. With the help of Entwistle and his truck, they track the bottle on its course downstream, making various attempts to catch it on the way. Meanwhile, Auntie Wainwright rewards Smiler for unearthing an old rusting suit of armour, by letting him exercise it to rid it of squeaks.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 610
Clegg convinces the gullible Howard that, contrary to his belief, he was left on a doorstep as a baby. While Howard tries to come to terms with this, Alvin is coming to terms with the fact that his newly-made kite won't fly.
Rebroadcast
Monday, February 06, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
07:00 PM
Episode # 188
When Marina gets stood up by Howard, she decides the time has come to give up her interest in men. (155)
Rebroadcast
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
01:31 PM
Episode # 609
Overcome by the smell of a real bargain, Auntie Wainwright has made a successful bid at the auction rooms. Unfortunately she doesn't know what it is, and when she finds out, she doesn't know what to do with it.
Rebroadcast
Friday, February 03, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 608
Truly leads the enquiries into the whereabouts of a Co-op Manager who was a tyrant when Clegg worked there. With the help of Alvin and Billy, their enquiries lead them to Billy Pilsworth, the father of an ex-boyfriend of Marina, who reveals that his son, Ronnie, went off to Australia. Ultimately, Clegg finds out that the Co-op Manager lost his life in the war and was commended for bravery.
Rebroadcast
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 607
Smiler has met a woman who - forgetting to leave her address - told him to look her up sometime. Truly, Alvin and Billy go on the trail to track her down. With the help of Nora Batty and Ivy they find out that the woman lived at Jamieson Street. And Entwistle finds out that everyone in Jamieson Street was re-housed to Pepworth Street. So they go knocking on doors. Unfortunately, the first door has a rather ugly dog and the enquiries come to a sudden end.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 606
Cycling down a hillside for a short-cut, Clegg ends up with a fractured foot. Truly decides that the accident could have been avoided if they had used studded tyres, and promptly puts in hand a practical demonstration of his theory.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 605
The day starts with Clegg reading in the local paper that a statue of some civic dignitary has been unveiled. Truly, Alvin, and Billy remember when they were at school and would hold their breath as long as possible to see who could stay still the longest. They decide to do this, and create some incredulous interest for two passing walkers.
Rebroadcast
Monday, January 30, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT
07:00 PM
Episode # 187
Compo tries to win Nora's heart by dressing up as Robin Hood. (154)
Rebroadcast
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
01:35 PM
Episode # 604
Howard and Pearl are very concerned when Clegg doesn't answer his door - is he all right? Truly and Billy arrive and find that Clegg is merely writing-up his diaries and doesn't want to be disturbed. Smiler is pining for Hermione, a lost love and Alvin is upsetting Nora Batty by complaining about the depressing drabness of her washing.
Rebroadcast
Friday, January 27, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 603
Clegg has bet an old friend that you can still see the clock in the village over the hills from the top of a certain tree. Unwisely, he sets out to prove that he was right, but gets stuck up the tree and can't get down. Meanwhile, Nora Batty, Ivy, Pearl and Glenda buy a slightly used cooker from Auntie Wainwright for the Church hall. Smiler and Tom (Tom Owen) are charged with delivering the cooker and soon find that its weight makes the handcart uncontrollable - especially on hills, when it passes a police car.
Rebroadcast
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:28 PM
Episode # 602
Clegg has bet an old friend that you can still see the clock in the village over the hills from the top of a certain tree. Unwisely, he sets out to prove that he was right, but gets stuck up the tree and can't get down. Meanwhile, Nora Batty, Ivy, Pearl and Glenda buy a slightly used cooker from Auntie Wainwright for the Church hall. Smiler and Tom (Tom Owen) are charged with delivering the cooker and soon find that its weight makes the handcart uncontrollable - especially on hills, when it passes a police car.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:29 PM
Episode # 601
Alvin is teaching Nora Batty Line Dancing, Howard and Marinaare trying out diving suits, and Barry is hiding from his neighbour - the Repo Man who, although he is completely useless at it, wants to play golf with him. Then, whilst walking by the canal, Clegg, Truly, Alvin and Billy see a strange figure in the nearby reservoir pond wrestling with a large inflatable swan's neck. The man turns out to be Lenny - who is determined to get to Ilkley by canal in his swan boat, and become famous as The Swan Man of Ilkley. But first he must fix a puncture or two.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 510
Truly keeps missing calls on his mobile telephone. When the caller eventually gets through, he is horrified - it is his former wife.
Rebroadcast
Monday, January 23, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
06:59 PM
Episode # 186
Auntie Wainwright has a new line of all things equestrian, even a riding simulator, which Compo thinks might come in rather handy. (153)
Rebroadcast
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
01:34 PM
Episode # 509
Nora Batty has never forgiven Audrey Craig for laughing at her hat. Truly decides it's time for the two protagonists to patch things up.
Rebroadcast
Friday, January 20, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 508
Barry and Glenda exchange addresses with a couple while on holiday. To their surprise, the man shows up at their house without his wife, who has left him.
Rebroadcast
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 507
Just as Smiler is about to believe he will never find a woman to share his fun-filled life, along comes Bessie, who is mad about him.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 506
Nora Batty informs Alvin he has volunteered to take some old timers out for the day. The trouble starts when he loses one of them.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 505
Truly, Clegg and Billy surprise Barry in the woods carrying a suitcase. Glenda is concerned another woman is involved.
Rebroadcast
Monday, January 16, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
07:00 PM
Episode # 185
Compo tries being an aviator to win over Nora. He implores Auntie Wainwright's assistance in obtaining a flying suit and parachute. A plane, however, is not so readily available. (152)
Rebroadcast
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
01:42 PM
Episode # 504
Billy surprises everyone when he shows up in a green suit to commemororate the birthday of his famous ancestor.
Rebroadcast
Friday, January 13, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:31 PM
Episode # 503
Lionel has a reputation for being unpredictable, so when he walks off from his new wife Mavis, while out for a drive in the hills, she is not surprised.
Rebroadcast
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:31 PM
Episode # 502
Nora Batty dresses up in a Victorian costume for to ride in the annualBattle Mazurka parade and is surprised when part of the float comes alive.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:31 PM
Episode # 501
Howard gets Truly, Clegg and Billy to select a suitable surprise birthday present for Marina. They happen upon a despondent Barry, who has won a model dinosaur in a competition and has been instructed by Glenda to get rid of it because of its size.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 410
Rebroadcast
Monday, January 09, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
07:00 PM
Episode # 184
When Truly hears that little Audrey Nash - his childhood sweetheart - is returning from Australia, his head goes in a spin. When Ivy and Nora go to collect Audrey from the station, Truly decides to surprise her and dress up exactly as he did the last time he saw her. (151)
Rebroadcast
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
01:36 PM
Episode # 409
Rebroadcast
Friday, January 06, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 408
Rebroadcast
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:29 PM
Episode # 407
Rebroadcast
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
01:31 PM
Episode # 406
Rebroadcast
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT
01:30 PM
Episode # 405
Rebroadcast
Monday, January 02, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT
07:00 PM
Episode # 183
Clegg and Compo are invited to witness Truly's ability to spot accidents waiting to happen. Suspecting that workmen may have been overcome by fumes down an open manhole, Truly sets about rescuing them, but when he loses his balance, he finds it is he who has to be rescued. (150)
Rebroadcast
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Length : 29 min
MPT2
