Last of the Summer Wine(TV-Show/Serie, 1973-2010)

Last of the Summer Wine's 31st and final series was aired in 2010, beginning on 25 July. All six episodes in series 31 were 30 minutes in length. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. The series was the first in 19 years to be only six episodes long, due in part to the BBC axing the show and then recommissioning it. Actress Juliette Kaplan (Pearl) wrote on her website that the series was a result of fan response to rumours of the show's axing in December 2008, whilst director Alan J. W. Bell also credited the series to fan reaction. The series continued with the same trio from series 30, with Russ Abbot (Hobbo), Burt Kwouk (Entwistle), and Brian Murphy (Alvin). Peter Sallis (Clegg) and Frank Thornton (Truly), who were previously central characters, remained, but were now secondary characters, only taping studio scenes owing to the cost of insurance for actors of their advanced age on location. Jane Freeman (Ivy) also filmed only in-studio scenes. On 2 June 2010, the BBC announced that the 31st series would be the last, despite the show still having a loyal fan base. To commemorate the show's final appearance, the BBC broadcast Songs of Praise from Holmfirth, and a special edition of Countryfile about Holmfirth and the surrounding area ... ()

Last of the Summer Wine's 30th series originally aired 19 April 2009. All eleven episodes in series 30 were 30 minutes in length. A New Years Special aired on 31 December 2008. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. This series is notable for forming a new trio composed of Alvin, Entwistle and Hobbo, who was introduced in the New Years Special.Clegg (Peter Sallis) and Truly (Frank Thornton) are now demoted to secondary characters, filmed only in studio scenes due to the cost of insurance for the actors at their age on location. ()

The Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-ninth series aired on BBC One from 22 June to 31 August 2008. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-eighth series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-seventh series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-sixth series aired on BBC One from December 2004 through May 2005. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-fifth series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-fourth series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-third series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-second series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-first series aired on BBC One. Most of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twentieth series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's nineteenth series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's eighteenth series aired on BBC1. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's 17th series was broadcast on BBC1. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's sixteenth series aired on BBC1. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's fifteenth series aired on BBC1 in 1993. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's fourteenth series aired on BBC1 in 1992. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. This was the first series to be shot entirely on film, although the complete episode was still assembled on videotape. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's thirteenth series aired on BBC1 in 1991. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. Notably, this series of the show was shot entirely on videotape. Prior to this, the show had used videotape for studio scenes and film for location footage. From the following series until 2004, when it started being shot digitally in High-Definition, the show moved to being shot entirely on film, although the laughter track is still included, respectively. The completed shows were still assembled on videotape (with credit and title captions being added during this stage) until the 1995 series. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's twelfth series aired on BBC1. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. With the departure of Michael Aldridge who had left to nurse his ill wife, the character of Foggy Dewhurst returned to the fold. ()

The eleventh series of Last of the Summer Wine aired on BBC1 in 1989. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

The tenth series of Last of the Summer Wine aired on BBC1 in 1988. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's ninth series originally aired on BBC1 between 1 January 1986 and 27 December 1987. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. The ninth series was released on DVD in region 2 as a box set on 5 May 2008. For reasons not disclosed, the DVD box set in the UK splits series 9 into two series, renaming the second half as series 10. As a consequence, every subsequent DVD release is miss-numbered (series 10 is now series 11; series 11 is now series 12, etc). ()

Last of the Summer Wine's eighth series originally aired on BBC1 between 30 December 1984 and 17 March 1985. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. The eighth series was released on DVD in region 2 as a combined box set with series 7 on 3 March 2008. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's seventh series originally aired on BBC1 between 25 December 1982 and 27 December 1983. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby, except for "Getting Sam Home", which is produced and directed by Alan J.W. Bell. The seventh series was released on DVD in region 2 as a combined box set with series 8 on 3 March 2008. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's sixth series originally aired on BBC1 between 4 January and 15 February 1982. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. The sixth series was released on DVD in region 2 as a combined box set with series 5 on 5 March 2007. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's fifth series originally aired on BBC1 between 18 September and 30 October 1979. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby. The fifth series was something of a departure; it was the first to include multiple two-part episodes and saw an increase in the more physical comedy for which the programme would become more well-known latterly. The fifth series was released on DVD in region 2 as a combined box set with series 6 on 5 March 2007. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's fourth series originally aired on BBC1 between 9 November 1977 and 4 January 1978. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby. The fourth series was released on DVD in region 2 as a combined box set with series 3 on 26 July 2004. A box set featuring just series 4 was released for region 1 on 9 September 2008. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's third series originally aired on BBC1 between 27 October 1976 and 24 December 1976. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced by Sydney Lotterby Five episodes were directed by Sydney Lotterby but two: the two-parter, "The Great Boarding House Bathroom Caper" and "Cheering Up Gordon", were directed by Ray Butt. Although none of the episodes from series 3 made it into the top ten programmes of the week on their initial screening, a repeat showing of the final episode, "Isometrics and After," attracted 15 million viewers during a repeat screening in spring 1977. Also notable was the inclusion for the first time of a two-part episode consisting of "The Great Boarding House Bathroom Caper" and "Cheering Up Gordon," both featuring guest appearances by Philip Jackson as Compo's nephew, Gordon. Blake Butler reprises his role from the first series as the librarian, Mr. Wainwright, before departing the show again at the end of the year. The most notable change this season, however, was the addition of Brian Wilde as the new third-man of the trio, Foggy Dewhurst, an ex-military sign painter. Wilde would play this role twice: between 1976 and 1985 and then again from 1990 until 1997, when he was forced to leave due to health problems. ... ()

Last of the Summer Wine's second series originally aired on BBC1 between 5 March and 16 April 1975. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Bernard Thompson. Although ratings from the first series were not good, the BBC ordered a second series of Last of the Summer Wine after the first season aired but were delayed due to strike action. The second series was eventually produced and aired during March and April 1975. For the first time, series 2 saw two episodes make it into the top ten programs of the week, starting with the opening show, "Forked Lightning," which was watched by over 18 million people. Joining the cast this season was Joe Gladwin as Wally Batty, Nora Batty's henpecked husband. Series 2 would also mark the final appearance of Blamire, played by Michael Bates, who left at the end of the series due to health problems. The second series was released on DVD in region 2 as a combined box set with series 1 on 2 September 2002. ()

Last of the Summer Wine's first series originally aired on BBC1 between 4 January 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 "The Last of the Summer Wine" was the first episode of that show's fourteenth series. The pilot received a positive enough reaction that the BBC ordered a full series of episodes, premiering on 12 November 1973. ()