To celebrate Yorkshire Day, U&GOLD is giving a first look at The Last Drop of Summer Wine, an exploration of Sir Roy Clarke’s classic series and the longest‑running TV sitcom in the world.
Actor and comedian Brian Conley takes viewers on a jaunt to Holmfirth and the heart of Summer Wine country to revisit the locations that became a worldwide tourist attraction, and meet the families of cast members, local residents and friends of the show.
Exclusively for this new special, Sir Roy has also created a selection of brand‑new written reflections inspired by the series.
Woven throughout the special, these offer a personal response to the characters, places and enduring legacy of Last of the Summer Wine, giving Sir Roy’s unmistakable voice a central role in the celebration.
The film will also feature unseen photos, scripts and scrapbooks from the personal archives of Sir Roy, along with family photos from the families of Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Kathy Staff and the show’s long-term producer and director, Alan JW Bell.
Last of the Summer Wine first aired on the BBC in 1973 and ran for 31 series, with the last series ending in 2010. Holmfirth celebrated its 50th anniversary (above) in 2023.
All 295 episodes, including Christmas specials, television films and a one-off prequel, were written by Sir Roy.
The original cast comprised the trio of Bill Owen, Peter Sallis and Michael Bates, alongside the likes of John Coman and Jane Freeman as café owners Sid and Ivy and Kathy Staff’s Nora Batty, but over the years has included Russ Abbot, Jean Alexander, Trevor Bannister, Dame Thora Hird, Burt Kwouk, Brian Murphy, Tom Owen, Brian Wilde, Gordon Wharmby, June Whitfield and many more. Brian Conley previously appeared in the series in a guest role.
In a video clip released for Yorkshire Day, Brian drives around the country lanes in Edie Pegden’s (played by Dame Thora Hird) red Triumph Herald convertible.
He says: “This landscape has barely changed since the nation first clapped eyes on two blokes and a Compo, mooching around these valleys over 50 years ago. Three unlikely heroes. Basically, old farts that stole our hearts.
“Their story is one of the most remarkable in television history. Set over four decades, 295 episodes, with a glittering cast of stars, it is the world’s longest running sitcom.
“So Roy Clarke knows the lads better than anyone, and so he should, because he invented them.
“Last of the Summer Wine is his love letter to the place where his heart truly belongs – Yorkshire.
“Under Roy’s guidance, I am setting off on a journey across this glorious Summer Wine country to visit the places and to find out more about the people who helped transform this sleepy valley into a worldwide tourist attraction.”
Brian has been filming in and around Holmfirth over the last few months and also went along to the Midsummer Wine event at Sid’s Café in June, where there was a meet-and-greet with actor Jonathan Linsley, who played ‘Crusher’ Milburn.
The 120-minute retrospective documentary is due to air in early 2027.
Watch the video clip on the Huddersfield Hub Facebook page.
