Last Of The Summer Wine The Best Of British Comedy

The best jokes, gags and scenes from a true British comedy classic. ‘Do you reckon I’m in love with Mrs. Batty, or is it just sex?’ Compo

An insider’s look at story behind the longest running situation comedy in British television history. Quite simply, Last of the Summer Wine is the longest-running comedy programme in the world. It premiered thirty-seven years ago, in 1973, and, after thirty-one series it finally came to an end—even though all its original protagonists—Compo, Foggy, even Nora Batty—are now dead. Remarkably, for a series of such longevity and international appeal, it is all about elderly people, has little action or plot, and is set and filmed in and around the small Yorkshire town of Holmfirth. Now, Andrew Vine, the deputy editor of Yorkshire’s daily newspaper, has written the definitive history of this television phenomenon. It covers the show’s inauspicious beginnings, with low ratings, its endless reinvention as participants like Bill Owen, Michael Bates, Brian Wilde and Kathy Staff retired or died, the appearance of a string of guest stars from John Cleese and Norman Wisdom to Thora Hird and Russ Abbott (both of whom soon found themselves fixtures in the cast), and the ingenious plot contrivances as the protagonists became too old and frail to attempt any of the slapstick stunts with runaway prams—indeed any outdoor action. The town of Holmfirth is now a year-round tourist attraction, and the endless availability of the show via streaming, ensures that Last of the Summer Wine, and the book it inspired, will live on for generations of fans.

Roy Clarke's rural tales of three bumbling, elderly eccentrics have been entertaining audiences for over 25 years. In this tribute, the authors retrace the history of the hugely successful TV series, including interviews with the regular stars, and disclosing the some behind-the-scenes secrets.

IN THIS AFFECTIONATE TRIBUTE TO THE HUGELY POPULAR AND MUCH-MISSED BBC TV COMEDY SERIES "THE LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE", AUTHOR MILES EATON TAKES US ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MAKING OF THE SITCOM AND THE LOCATIONS WHERE IT WAS FILMED. HE ALSO WRITES ABOUT MANY OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE MAKING, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CAST AND CREW. FEATURING ORIGINAL INTERVIEWS AND DRAWING UPON PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS, THIS BOOK IS A MUST NOT JUST FOR FANS OF "LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE", BUT ALSO ANYONE INTERESTED IN TELEVISION COMEDY AND HOW IT IS BROUGHT TO THE SCREEN.

This book is a tribute to the long-running sitcom "Last of the Summer Wine." It contains interviews with the show's major stars, and recalls the numerous guest stars that have been featured over the years, from John Cleese to Kate Robbins. There is a guide to every single show since 1973 and archive photographs that provide a nostalgic trip down memory lane.