Last of the Summer Wine (series 21)

Last of the Summer Wine Series 21

Country of origin

United Kingdom

No. of episodes

Broadcast

Original channel

BBC

Original run

2 January 2000 – 4 June 2000

Season chronology

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22

1 Outline
2 First appearances
3 Last appearances
- 3.1 2000 Millennium Special
- 3.2 List of Episodes
4 See also

Outline

The trio in this series consisted of:

Actor	Role
Bill Owen	Compo ¹
Peter Sallis	Clegg
Tom Owen	Tom ²
Frank Thornton	Truly

^1 Compo only appeared in the Special and the first three episodes of this series prior to his death

^2 Tom only appeared in four episodes of this series and became a supporting character from series 22 till the shows end

First appearances

Tom Simmonite (2000-2010)
Mrs Avery (2000-2001)
Babs (2000) (Only appeared in 3 episodes)
Ros Utterthwaite (2000-2005)

Last appearances

Compo (1973-2000)

2000 Millennium Special

Title	Airdate	Description	Notes
Last Post and Pigeon	2 January	Compo is selected to travel to France with a group of local WWII veterans, only to have the offer withdrawn when the organisers realize how scruffy he looks. The local ladies take pity on him and collect enough money for him to go, and Truly and Clegg join him for the trip. Meanwhile, Edie's long-estranged sister Ros shows up in town, ready to make amends with Edie and possibly settle down again. Edie, angry at her for leaving her husband and devastating their mother, isn't interested in reconnecting. In France, the trio has two goals: to release Billy Hardcastle's homing pigeon and to revisit a spot Compo and some of his fellow soldiers camped overnight after a grueling escape from the Germans. There's just one snag: Compo doesn't remember where it is.	This special is 60 Minutes long. First appearance of Dora Bryan as Ros Utterthwaite This was the last ever episode to be filmed with Bill Owen as Compo and finished filming days before he died. The BBC & crew agreed not to be credited at the closing credits and be moved to the opening credits instead, allowing for the moving final image of Compo. However, the first three episodes of Series 21 had already been filmed, thus Compo appears in them (albeit very brief). Second guest appearance of Billy Hardcastle Audience of 9.16m - 22nd most watched programme of the week.

List of Episodes

Title	Airdate	Description	Notes
Lipstick and Other Problems	2 April	When Glenda finds Barry covered in lipstick he needs assistance from the trio to explain it away. Truly comes up with the notion of a sponsored kiss which only leaves one problem, making it look like they've each been kissed.	The first three episodes of Series 21 had already been partly filmed before Bill Owen's death. To make them complete for broadcast, scripts were re-worked, camera tricks and stock shots were used, and a body double was used for far off shots. Also Compo's appearances in each of those episodes were very brief. Audience of 7.91m - 35th most watched programme of the week.
Under the Rug	9 April	Clegg finds himself having to model Howard's new wig after Pearl becomes suspicious. With Howard reluctant to take the wig they concoct a plan to show him attractive it makes the wearer to the ladies; roping in Smiler and Marina to help.	Audience of 7.28m - 36th most watched programme of the week.
Magic and the Morris Minor	16 April	The trio finds a married couple stranded in a field trying to contact ancient civilizations with a Morris Minor hubcap. Meanwhile, Howard tries to carry on his relationship with Marina over two-way radio, and Barry tries to prove he's "one of the boys".	Final appearance of Compo. Audience of 7.96m - 32nd most watched programme of the week.
Elegy for Fallen Wellies	23 April	Nora, in "sexy" costume for a church pageant, takes a dare from Ivy to call Compo's bluff and present herself on his doorstep. The unexpected result is that he collapses and has to be rushed to the hospital. Although Clegg and Truly expect the best, Compo dies as the doctors try to save him. Cleggy and Truly, as well as Nora and Ivy, spend the night remembering him and trying to figure out how to give him a proper send-off.	This, and the following 2 episodes were hastily written to deal with the death of Bill Owen. The end theme is slightly different to give it a more sombre tone. This and "Just a Small Funeral" are the only two episodes to use the sombre end theme. Audience of 6.45m - 46th most watched programme of the week.
Surprise at Throstlenest	30 April	Clegg and Truly find out a few unexpected things about Compo as they take his ferrets to their new home.	Guest star Liz Fraser as Reggie Unsworth Audience of 7.23m - 31st most watched programme of the week.
Just a Small Funeral	7 May	As the funeral approaches, Howard struggles with having two dates for the occasion, Barry tries to conceal his engine noises from Wesley, and Compo's lady friend Regina is in desperate need of an appropriate dress.	A choir sings the theme tune for the third and final time, this time with lyrics rewritten to reflect Compo's death. The end theme is again given a more sombre tone. Guest star Liz Fraser as Reggie Unsworth Audience of 7.86m - 25th most watched programme of the week.
From Here to Paternity	14 May	Nora intercepts a letter from Compo's son, Tom, who Compo didn't know about until shortly before he died. They learn that Tom doesn't know about his father's death and is coming to town for a visit.	First appearance of Tom, Mrs Avery and Babs. Audience of 6.81m - 33rd most watched programme of the week.
Some Vans Can Make you Deaf	21 May	While others unite in the effort to repair his tatty van, Tom does his best to avoid lifting a finger to help.	Ros becomes a regular character from this episode onwards. Audience of 7.54m - 29th most watched programme of the week.
Waggoner's Roll	28 May	Tom decides Babs is destined for showbiz, even though Babs herself wants nothing to do with it. Barry quickly becomes another unwilling participant in the act.	Audience of 7.13m - 33rd most watched programme of the week.
I Didn't Know Barry Could Play	4 June	Picking up "music" for Babs turns out to be a deceptively simple-sounding task for Clegg, Truly and Barry.	3rd & final appearance of Babs. Audience of 6.97m - 36th most watched programme of the week.