“Summer Wine Decanted” is the title of the book based on my YouTube series. It is the story of the BBC TV sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from its humble start to becoming a world-wide favourite and the longest running situation comedy in the world.
It has biographies of the actors and covers every major character and many of the regular and occasional supporting characters appearing in the show’s 37 year run.
There is also an in-depth Trivia section, covering details you might find interesting, things you missed when you watched the show and behind-the-scenes secrets.
In August 1914, Lord Kitchener, the war minister, began a recruiting campaign calling for men aged between 19 and 30 to join the British Army.
Harry Williams, my Grandfather, was born in 1896 and volunteered for the army before his 19th birthday. Men could volunteer at age 18 but were not allowed to serve abroad until they were 19 years old. This did not deter Harry!
It is not an encyclopaedic record, but it is a true account of his army exploits. Despite his claim to be uneducated, his writing has a colourful style, punctuated by his unique humour and descriptive narrative of the often pitiful conditions he and his comrades were subjected to.
The Grimsby Evening Telegraph described it as “a very emotional and sentimental read”
He recounts the challenge of telling his parents he had joined the Army, especially as his mother who was strongly against military service. Harry describes the early days of training, and the difficulties faced by new recruits adapting to harsh conditions and learning the unforgiving realities of military life.
Harry’s story provides a powerful and insightful portrayal of the realities of war, highlighting the courage, sacrifice, and camaraderie of the soldiers who fought on the Western Front.
In my “Summer Wine Decanted” series, I have covered the Pilot and all 294 episodes of “Last of the Summer Wine” that were broadcast. But did you know there could be two missing “Last of the Summer Wine” episodes?
We spent about 30 days over a period of ten months in 2022 and 2023 filming for the “Summer Wine Decanted” series. It did not always go to plan. Here are some of the technical failures, fluffs and – as Dennis Norden would say – “cock-ups”… These are not the only out-takes, often what goes wrong is not captured by the camera!
If you watched the YouTube Premiere of “The Last Drop” then you may have already seen this as a bonus video!
The BBC TV sitcom “Last of the Summer Wine” was the longest-running comedy programme in Britain, and the longest running situation comedy in the world. The year 2023 marks 50 years since the pilot and first series were broadcast.
Alan J.W. Bell has died on 19 October 2023, aged 85 after suffering from dementia.
Having just finished a series of videos documenting “Last of the Summer Wine” we thought it only right to honour him in a short video. This video takes a brief look at his career in television production from 1958, including producing and directing 250 episodes of “Last of the Summer Wine”.
The year 2023 marks 50 years since the pilot and first series of “Last of the Summer Wine” were broadcast. This series of videos is filmed in many of the well-known, and some less well-known, locations seen in the programme.
“The Last Drop” will be a special YouTube Premiere on Sunday 29 October 2023, at 7:00pm (GMT)
This is the final episode in my “Summer Wine Decanted” series, so I went back to Holmfirth for one last time. While there I visited The Wrinkled Stocking Tearoom to meet someone who has been a fan of the show for forty years, appeared as an extra, and has helped with my research: Terry Bartlam.
If you join us at from about 5pm you can chat and leave messages. Peter and Leigh will be online to reply. During the Premiere you will be able to continue chatting and we will try and answer questions during the video. You can always leave comments and other questions in the comment section under the video after the Premiere has ended.
In the video we will also reveal some of what went in to making this series of videos, and some of what was cut out!
This is the story of the BBC TV sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from its humble start to becoming a world-wide favourite and the longest running situation comedy in the world.
The year 2023 marks 50 years since the pilot and first series were broadcast.
This book is based on my series of YouTube videos, with some additional details and updates. It has biographies of the actors and covers every major character and many of the regular and occasional supporting characters appearing in the show’s 37 year run.
There is also an in-depth Trivia section, covering details you might find interesting, things you missed when you watched the show and behind-the-scenes secrets.
In this video we will look at some of things you probably didn’t know or hadn’t noticed before – from continuity errors to behind-the-scenes secrets in series 26 to 31.
What was the original title of the series 27 episode “Follow That Bottle”?
In the series 28 episode “The Crowcroft Challenge”, did you spot the posters in the library for a newly published book by the wife of one of the stars?
Brian Conley played “Boothroyd”, a neighbour of Barry and Glenda, in the series 29 episode “Enter The Finger”, but who was the role was originally offered to?
The year 2023 marks 50 years since the pilot and first series of “Last of the Summer Wine” were broadcast. This series of videos is filmed in many of the well-known, and some less well-known, locations seen in the programme.
