First of the Summer Wine

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First of the Summer Wine
Format Comedy
Created by Roy Clarke
Written by Roy Clarke
Directed by Mike Stephens
Gareth Gwenlan
Starring (listed in no order)
David Fenwick
Paul Wyett
Richard Lumsden
Paul McLain
Peter Sallis
Linda Davidson
Gary Whitaker
Helen Patrick
Paul Oldham
Joanne Heywood
Sarah Dangerfield
Maggie Ollerenshaw
Derek Benfield
Theme music composer Al Bowlly
Opening theme "Sweet and Lovely"
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 13
Production
Producer(s) Mike Stephens
Gareth Gwenlan
Running time 30 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel BBC One
Original run 3 January 1988 – 8 October 1989
Chronology
Related shows Last of the Summer Wine
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

First of the Summer Wine was a sitcom written by Roy Clarke. The series was a prequel to one of Clarke's long running series, Last of the Summer Wine, and follows some of the characters from the original series as they revel in antics in their youth.

First of the Summer Wine ran for two series of thirteen episodes between 1988 and 1989. The BBC has never shown repeats of the series, although repeats do occasionally appear in the UK on satellite station UKTV Gold.[1], The show was broadcast in Australia on the ABC network in the early 1990s.[2]

Contents

[edit] Production

[edit] Concept

With the success of Last of the Summer Wine, the BBC approved a new series which Roy Clarke would carry over characters of the original show.[1] With the new series, Clarke hoped to show the lives of his characters as they were in the "first summer" of their lives, as opposed to the second summer depicted in Last of the Summer Wine. While there would still be the "shadow of the Grim Reaper" hanging over them, this time it would be because of World War II, not due to their old age.[3]

For the new series, Clarke used mostly young, inexperienced actors to fill the roles of the characters carried over from the original series. The actors were required to mimic the vocal characteristics and mannerisms already established in Last of the Summer Wine to create a continuity between the two series.[3]

[edit] Music

The show features much 1920s and 1930s music which adds to the nostalgic feel of the show. The theme tune is "Sweet and Lovely", sung by Al Bowlly, accompanied by Roy Fox and his Band. The recording was made in London on 18 September 1931.

[edit] Plot

First of the Summer Wine takes place between May and September 1939, in the months leading up to World War II.[2] The series revolves around the diary entries of the young Norman Clegg. Each episode begins with him resting on his bedroom windowsill and greeting the day; the words "the diary of Norman Clegg, aged 18 years" introduce the theme of each episode.

Episodes revolve around the antics of the young men of a small Yorkshire village and their usually level-headed female counterparts, all of whom are grappling with the world around them, their youth, and their experiences with the opposite sex. With rumblings of war on the European continent as Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Great Britain become increasingly poised for war, the lives of the young men and women will be changed forever.

[edit] Characters

Unlike its mother show, First of the Summer Wine did not follow a trio. Instead, the show focused on a handful of young men and women, some of whom originally appeared in Last of the Summer Wine, with others created specifically for First of the Summer Wine.

  • David Fenwick as Norman Clegg
  • Paul Wyett as Compo Simmonite
  • Richard Lumsden as Foggy Dewhurst
  • Paul McLain as Seymour Utterthwaite
  • Peter Sallis as Mr. Clegg (Norman's Father)
  • Linda Davidson as Anita Pillsworth
  • Gary Whitaker as Wally Batty
  • Helen Patrick as Nora Renshaw
  • Paul Oldham as Sherbet
  • Joanne Heywood as Dilys
  • Sarah Dangerfield as Ivy
  • Maggie Ollerenshaw as Mrs. Clegg (Norman's Mother)
  • Derek Benfield as Mr. Scrimshaw
  • Anthony Keetch as Chunky Livesey (Series 1)
  • Jonathan Linsley as Chunky Livesey (Series 2)
  • Joe Belcher as Mexican Admiral

[edit] Inconsistencies

Though based on characters from Last of the Summer Wine, several inconsistencies have been noted between the two series. Most notably is the presence of Seymour Utterthwaite.[2] Unlike other "third men" of the trio on Last of the Summer Wine, Seymour was not introduced as a former classmate of Compo and Clegg. Instead, they are introduced to him by his brother-in-law, Wesley Pegden, shortly before the marriage of Wesley's daughter.[4] There is no evidence that he ever met Foggy, as he leaves town just before Foggy returns.[5] However, in First of the Summer Wine, he is shown as being present not only in town, but as being a close friend of Compo, Clegg, and Foggy.

Also troublesome is the absence of Blamire and Truly, who are both said to be former classmates of Compo and Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine. Though Blamire's absence could be explained by the fact that it is said Compo was a bully to him during their youth,[6] Truly's can only be explained by the fact the character was created after First of the Summer Wine ended.

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of First of the Summer Wine episodes

Both series of First of the Summer Wine contained six episodes. In addition, the pilot episode aired on 3 January 1988. Including the pilot, thirteen episodes of the show were produced and aired during 1988 and 1989. All episodes of the show were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Mike Stephens and Gareth Gwenlan.

[edit] DVD Release

No official DVD Release has been made yet of the complete series.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "First of the Summer Wine - Special Article", Summer Wine Online. Retrieved on 2007-12-28. 
  2. ^ a b c "First of the Summer Wine - Uncovered!", Summer Wine Online. Retrieved on 2007-12-28. 
  3. ^ a b "First of the Summer Wine", BBC Guide to Comedy. Retrieved on 2007-12-28. 
  4. ^ "Uncle of the Bride". Roy Clarke (writer) & Alan J W Bell (director). Last of the Summer Wine. BBC One. 1986-01-01. No. New Year Special, season 8.
  5. ^ "Return of the Warrior". Roy Clarke (writer) & Alan J W Bell (director). Last of the Summer Wine. BBC One. 1990-09-02. No. 1, season 12.
  6. ^ "Last of the Summer Wine: Of Funerals and Fish". Roy Clarke (writer) & James Gilbert (director). Comedy Playhouse. BBC One. 1973-01-04. No. 1, season 14.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Roy Clarke's Last of the Summer Wine
Episodes · Characters
Current cast members
Former cast members
Related shows
Comedy Playhouse · First of the Summer Wine