Last of the Summer Wine: The Inside Story of the World's Longest-Running Comedy Programme

Andrew Vine

ISBN 10: 1845137116 / ISBN 13: 9781845137113

Published by Aurum Press, 2011

About this Item

New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. 270.

Seller Inventory # B9781845137113

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Last of the Summer Wine: The Inside Story of the World's Longest-Running Comedy Programme
• Publisher: Aurum Press
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1845137116
• ISBN 13: 9781845137113
• Binding: Paperback / softback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 270 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Quite simply, Last of the Summer Wine is the longest-running comedy programme in the world. It premiered 37 years ago, in 1973, and, after 31 series it finally came to an end last year – 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.

Holmfirth is now a year-round tourist attraction, and endless repeats and new DVD box sets will ensure a readership for this book for years to come.

About the Author

Andrew Vine is an award-winning journalist and assistant editor of the Yorkshire Post. He is author of 'Last of the Summer Wine: The Story of the World's Longest Running Comedy Series', and of 'A Very Strange Way to Go To War: The Canberra in the Falklands'. He lives in Leeds.