Summer Wine Decanted: The Ultimate Guide to Last of the Summer Wine

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.

Available now on Amazon: Summer Wine Decanted: The Ultimate Guide to Last of the Summer Wine

Front cover of the book "Summer Wine Decanted" showing a view of the Yorkshire town of Holmfirth taken from the cliffs on the south-east of the town
Front cover of Summer Wine Decanted – The ultimate Guide to Last of the Summer Wine

Summer Wine Decanted – Trivia: Series 26 to 31

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.

Near the End of “Summer Wine Decanted”

As the Summer Wine Decanted series is drawing to a close, I thought we would have a special final video. On Sunday 29 October 2023, at 7:00pm (GMT) there will be a YouTube Premiere of the final video. Assuming all the technical stuff works, if you join us at 7pm (or as early as about 5pm) you can comment and chat live in the YouTube chat next to the video – and watch the video from 7pm.

There is still one more trivia video to come on Monday 23 October 2023, at 7pm (BST).

Wide view of interior of The Wrinkled Stocking Tearoom, showing Leigh and Terry at a table with a pot of tea, showing the video cameras and lights used for the video shoot.
Filming in The Wrinkled Stocking Tearoom.

Special thanks to: Dennis and Jackie Fussell at The Wrinkled Stocking Tearoom, for their help and allowing us to film there.

Trivia: Series 21 to 25

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 21 to 25.

Sadly, Bill Owen died during filming for series 21. It was already known he was unwell, so some scenes were re-written to reduce his time on screen. Roy Clarke then had the unenviable task of dealing with Bill Owen’s passing. Rather than just write him out of the show, he chose to create a trilogy of episodes where Compo dies and has a funeral. It is some of the best comedy television writing in history.

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.

Trivia: Series 16 to 20

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 16 to 20.

  • Who really is Compo’s “old flame” on the motorbike?
  • When did director and producer Alan Bell think Summer Wine was going to end?
  • Who is the actress playing the wife of Mr Lucy?

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.

Trivia: Series 11 to 15

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 11 to 15.

  • Which was the first episode to feature two “Third Men”?
  • When did Tom Owen (Bill Owen’s son) make a cameo appearance before joining the show as Compo’s long-lost son?
  • Who was watching the series 12 episode “That’s Not Captain Zero” in a 1991 BBC tv sitcom?

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.

Trivia: Series 6 to 10

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 6 to 10.

  • Who was Nigel Hinchcliffe, that Compo claimed had a septic nose?
  • Why didn’t the Trio appear in a Christmas special of “The Val Doonican Show”?
  • What is the music blasting out of the radio in Wesley’s Land Rover?

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.

Subtitles

All Upstaged by a Dog videos on YouTube have subtitles.

Sometimes they are already on the videos when they are released, but sometimes you might have to wait a few days for them to be checked and uploaded.

Many thanks to Rick Anschutz in North Carolina US, for creating the subtitles for the “Summer wine Decanted” video series.

screenshot of YouTube page displaying an "Upstaged by a Dog" video with subtitles displayed
screenshot of YouTube page displaying an “Upstaged by a Dog” video with subtitles displayed

Trivia: Pilot and Series 1-5

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 the Pilot and episodes in series 1 to 5.

  • In the series 2 episode “Forked Lightning” why did an onlooker say, “Nice one Cyril” When Clegg has the accident on his bike?
  • Do you recognise the green/grey striped blazer Compo wears in the series 3 episode: “The Great Boarding House Bathroom Caper”?
  • … and, what is in Compo’s matchbox?

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.