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Last Of The Summer Wine
''Last of the Summer Wine'' is a British sitcom set in Yorkshire created and written by Roy Clarke and originally broadcast by the BBC from 1973 to 2010. It premiered as an episode of ''Comedy Playhouse'' on 4 January 1973, and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. Alan J. W. Bell produced and directed all episodes of the show from late 1981 to 2010. The BBC confirmed on 2 June 2010 that ''Last of the Summer Wine'' would no longer be produced and the 31st series would be its last. Subsequently, the final episode was broadcast on 29 August 2010. Since its original release, all 295 episodes, comprising thirty-one series – including the pilot and all films and specials – have been released on DVD. Repeats of the show are broadcast in the UK on BBC One (until 18 July 2010 when the 31st and final series started on 25 July of that year), U&Gold, U&Yesterday, and U&Drama. It is also seen in more than 25 countries, including various Public Broadcasting Service, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Comer
John Comer (1 March 1924 – 11 February 1984) was a British comic actor. He was best known for his roles in ''Coronation Street'' as Mr Birtles, then as a taxi driver, and later as Wilf Jones, in ''Emmerdale Farm'' as Ernie Shuttleworth, Les Brandon in ''I Didn't Know You Cared'', and cafe owner Sid in ''Last of the Summer Wine''. Early life Born and brought up in Stretford, Lancashire, Comer gained an engineering apprenticeship at Metropolitan-Vickers, Trafford Park. He served in mining as a Bevin Boy during World War II. Early career Comer began his career performing a comedy routine around local social clubs and pubs in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1952, with his younger brother Tony, he performed in a children's theatre production for local schools in Stretford. The siblings then formed a double act named the Comer Brothers. In 1957, the brothers began a regular slot at the Manchester Apollo, performing a variety act entitled Comer's Cottage. In 1958, the Comer Brothers pa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jane Freeman (actress)
Shirley Ann Pithers (12 June 1935 – 9 March 2017), better known as Jane Freeman, was an English-born Welsh actress who was best known for her work on British television, mostly notably for her role as Ivy in ''Last of the Summer Wine''. Early years Freeman was born in Brentford, Middlesex, in 1935, the daughter of railway engineer Arthur Pithers and his wife, Joan Pithers, née Dewhurst. She was raised in Merthyr Tydfil following the death of her father in an accident when she was 9 years old and her mother's subsequent remarriage to Russell Evans. For a time, she used his surname and was known as Jane Evans. She graduated from the Cardiff College of Music and Drama (now the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama) in 1955. Career After a stay in London, Freeman joined the Osiris Repertory Theatre touring company, based in Gloucestershire. She joined the Arena Theatre, Sutton Coldfield in 1958, followed by Birmingham Rep from 1968. Her stage appearances include Margaret ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sitcom
A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent setting, such as a home, workplace, or community. Unlike sketch comedy, which features different characters and settings in each Sketch comedy, skit, sitcoms typically maintain plot continuity across episodes. This continuity allows for the development of storylines and characters over time, fostering audience engagement and investment in the characters' lives and relationships. History The structure and concept of a sitcom have roots in earlier forms of comedic theater, such as farces and comedy of manners. These forms relied on running gags to generate humor, but the term ''sitcom'' emerged as radio and TV adapted these principles into a new medium. The word was not commonly used until the 1950s. Early television sitcoms were often filme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trevor Bannister
Trevor Gordon Bannister (14 August 193414 April 2011) was a British actor. He was best known for having played the womanising and wisecracking junior salesman Mr Lucas in the sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' from 1972 to 1979, and for his role as Toby Mulberry Smith in the long-running sitcom ''Last of the Summer Wine'', from 2003 until it ended its run in 2010. Career In 1960, Bannister appeared on stage at the Cambridge Theatre in London in ''Billy Liar'', which starred Albert Finney. He starred as Darkie Pilbeam, a wartime spiv, in the 1968 television series '' The War of Darkie Pilbeam;'' from 1969 to 1970, he appeared as "Heavy Breathing" in Jack Rosenthal's sitcom, '' The Dustbinmen''. Shortly afterwards, he was asked to play Mr. Lucas in a '' Comedy Playhouse'' pilot called ''Are You Being Served?'' and took the part in the series. It was originally intended as a vehicle for him as the average man caught up in the store full of odd characters and baroque customs and, fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Juliette Kaplan
Marlene Juliette Kaplan (2 October 1939 – 10 October 2019) was a British actress who was most famous for playing the role of Pearl Sibshaw in the BBC comedy ''Last of the Summer Wine'', from 1985 to 2010. Early years Kaplan was born in Bournemouth to Jewish parents Pearl (née Cress), a nurse, and Jeremiah Kaplan, a sailor. She spent her early years in South Africa, where her father was from, and moved to New York City when she was nine, before returning to Bournemouth two years later. She took afternoon classes at the Hampshire School of Drama in the town in her teens. Career Kaplan worked in many British drama series, including '' Doctors'', '' Brookside'', ''EastEnders'', and '' London's Burning'', and in the film '' The Death of Klinghoffer'' (2003). Kaplan was in ''Last of the Summer Wine'' from 1985 until the very final episode on 29 August 2010 as battle-axe Pearl Sibshaw, and did a tour around British theatres in a one actor show, performing as Pearl. She worked ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thora Hird
Dame Thora Hird (28 May 1911 – 15 March 2003) was an English actress. In a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in more than 100 films, as well as many television roles, becoming a household name and a British institution. Hird was a three-time winner of the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress, for '' Talking Heads: A Cream Cracker Under the Settee'' (1989), '' Talking Heads: Waiting for the Telegram'' (1999) and '' Lost for Words'' (2000). She also received a BAFTA Special Award in 1994. Her film credits included '' The Love Match'' (1955), '' The Entertainer'' (1960), '' A Kind of Loving'' (1962) and '' The Nightcomers'' (1971). Early life and career Hird was born on 28 May 1911 in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe to James Henry Hird and Jane Mary (née Mayor). Her family background was largely theatrical: her mother had been an actress, while her father managed a number of entertainment venues in Morecambe, including the Royalty Theatre, where Hird made ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Grady (actor)
Michael Grady (born 6 February 1946) is an English character actor. He is best known for his comedy roles in films and television, particularly as Ken Mills in '' Citizen Smith'' (1977–1980) and Barry Wilkinson in ''Last of the Summer Wine'' (1986–2010). Early life Grady was born on 6 February 1946, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He undertook classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Career Grady's theatre career was extensive, including theatre roles at the Royal Shakespeare Company and London's Royal National Theatre, as well the West End, the Royal Court, the Bush, and the Soho Poly, plus many tours and pantomimes around the country. His television roles have included '' Minder'' as Kev in the Series 1 episode, '' The Bengal Tiger'', Steve Bracket in ''Rooms'', '' Citizen Smith'', as series regular, Ken Mills, '' Look and Read'', ''Dr Ballantyne'', '' Sweet Sixteen'', 161 episodes of ''Last of the Summer Wine'', playing Barry Wilkinson, husband ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joe Gladwin
Joseph Gladwin (22 January 1906 – 11 March 1987) was an English actor, best known for his roles as Fred Jackson in Coronation Street, Stan Hardman in '' Nearest and Dearest'', and Wally Batty in the world's longest-running sitcom, ''Last of the Summer Wine'' (1975–1987). Biography Gladwin was born at 44 Tatton Street in the Ordsall district of Salford, Lancashire, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (née Dooley). His father was a coal dealer. Gladwin was baptised on 28 January 1906 at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Ordsall, and educated at the parish school. He married Lily Anne Wynne on 30 December 1933 at Mount Carmel Church. Gladwin was appointed a Papal Knight (of the Order of St. Gregory the Great) for his charity work. Before his professional career took off, Gladwin performed with The Decoys during World War II, a concert party based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. This concert party (ENSA) entertained the troops in hospitals and elsewhere. At the time, Gla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Fyfe
Robert Douglas Fyfe (25 September 1930 – 15 September 2021) was a Scottish actor, best known for his role as List of Last of the Summer Wine characters#Other regular characters, Howard in the long-running British sitcom ''Last of the Summer Wine'' from 1985 to 2010. Early life Fyfe was born in Kirkcaldy on 25 September 1930, the son of Douglas Fyfe, a watchmaker, and Mary Fyfe née Irvine. He attended Kirkcaldy High School, before studying English literature at the University of Edinburgh. He did not complete his degree and instead trained under Esmé Church at the Northern Theatre School in Bradford, graduating in 1954. Whilst studying, he performed in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Halifax, York and Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Scarborough, including appearing in the York Mystery Plays in 1954. Career Fyfe appeared in the films ''Xtro'', ''The 51st State'', ''Around the World in 80 Days (2004 film), Around the World in 80 Days'', ''Gaolbreak'' and ''Babel (film), Babel''. In ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jean Fergusson
Jean Fergusson (30 December 1944 – 14 November 2019) was a British television and theatre actress, who was best known for playing the part of Marina on the British situation comedy ''Last of the Summer Wine'' from 1985 until it was cancelled in 2010, and her several guest roles in the soap ''Coronation Street''. Early life Fergusson was born in the village of Woolley, near Wakefield, to Margaret (née Jackson) and Francis Fergusson, a civil engineer. They moved several times between Yorkshire and Dumfriesshire, Scotland before settling in Bridgend, Glamorgan in 1956 where Fergusson attended Bridgend Girls' Grammar School. While studying for her A-levels, she joined an amateur dramatics company, the Bridgend Castle Players, then trained as an actor at Cardiff College of Music and Drama (now the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama) and graduated in 1965. Career After touring schools with Brian Way’s Theatre Centre company, she spent two years in rep at Oldham Coliseum, f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Louis Emerick
Louis Emerick Grant (born 10 June 1960) is a British television actor, known for his role as Mick Johnson in the Channel 4 soap opera '' Brookside'', as well as his appearances in the BBC soap opera ''Doctors''. Life and career He was born in the Toxteth area of Liverpool to a Liberian father and British mother. He is the youngest of ten children. He is best known for his portrayal of Mick Johnson in the soap opera '' Brookside''. He also played PC Walsh in 55 episodes of ''Last of the Summer Wine'' (1988, 1989, and 2004–2010). In 2003, Emerick was cast in four episodes of ''Casualty'' as Mike Bateman, the fireman husband of Tess Bateman (Suzanne Packer). Emerick and Packer had co-starred as a married couple on ''Brookside''. He has also had roles in ''New Tricks'', ''The Bill'', ''Benidorm'', '' Waterloo Road'', ''Cold Feet'' and ''Coronation Street''. He has appeared in films such as ''Layer Cake''. He came third in the 2008 series of ''Celebrity Master Chef''. In 2014, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keith Clifford
Keith Clifford (born 20 June 1938) is a British retired actor best known for his role as Billy Hardcastle in ''Last of the Summer Wine'' between 1999 and 2006. Career Clifford was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire. He played Billy Hardcastle in the British sitcom ''Last of the Summer Wine'' from 1999 until he decided to leave the programme at the end of series 27 in 2006. (Billy was a comedy character who believed he was a direct descendant of Robin Hood.) He also made guest appearances on '' Heartbeat'', ''Dalziel and Pascoe'' and an episode of ''Cold Feet'', and appeared in the TV film '' Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise'' (2001). In 2007 Clifford played Frank Nicholls in ''Coronation Street'' having previously appeared in the series in the guises of different characters; that of Les Battersby's mate, Charlie West, and Harry Norton, a showbiz associate of Alec Gilroy. He won a Sony Radio Award in 1993 for his portrayal of the Lancashire comedian Frank Randle Fra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
