Last of the Summer Wine

Hi BigUnc, and everybody else. Yeah i know golf is a popular game and i accept, To each, his own. Just got a bit upset as i did not realise golf was on. Had this before and had the sense to record 4 hours, still missed it as they cancelled the show, hey, never mind, as long as they show the 2nd episode. Strange Billy Hardcastle doing a vanishing act, but wasn't it great to see Eric Sykes. Love the way Roy Clarke brings in special guests on a regular basis. Hats off to Peter Sallis, soldiering on well into his eighties, diamond geezer.

itschad

BBC is catching up with situation and broadcasting episodes in correct order. Missed Episode#2, 'Variations on a Theme of Road Rage' will go out next Sunday, 29th July, at 18.05. Episode #3, 'What Happened to the Horse', will be broacast on 5th August (at 19.05?).

Like many, very much miss Billy Hardcastle. Was beginning to see him as the third partner with Clegg and Truely. Felt Roy Clarke had a great sympathy with the character and gave him some great lines.

Roy Clarke is, of course, getting on and nearing 80 (born 1930). Feel continuation of show is in his and Peter Sallis hands. Lose either and that is it.

Big Unc

Thanks for the info BigUnc. I tend to agree with your last paragraph. I suppose it must happen somewhen, but thanks to the wonders of technology and people like us LOTSW will go on forever!

'The way to ensure summer in England is to have it framed and glazed in a comfortable room.' - Horace Walpole 1717 - 1797

Keep dry!

What about Scotland?

My sentiments exactly!
Just for you BigUnc
'The way to ensure summer in Scotland is to have it framed and glazed in a comfortable room.' - Cleggscap 1942 -

Hello BigUnc and Cleggscap. Thanks BigUnc for info on Summer wine running in sequence by the Beeb. So they can do something right. I know what you mean about the future of LOSW owing to the fraility of dear Peter and Roy Clarke. They said the same when Foggy went and then Compo (Bill Owen) died but they pulled thru, but do worry should anything happen to Roy. There can be no replacement for Roy, he seems to have a feeling for the show that cannot be replicated. I to have searched the web for Billy, dont know what has happened. Should i learn i will let you all know.
Itschad

First, thanks to all of you who've added to my love of and knowledge of LOTSW, and even answered questions I haven't got around to asking yet.

Here's two I have got around to: what's happened to "a merry heatwave", transmitted in '76 or '77 in series 4? It's always missed out when the series is shown (as currently).

Does anyone in UKTV drama planning or scheduling - or any other dept. come to that - actually read these contributions? It would be helpful to know why some episodes are never transmitted. May be there are copyright problems, or perhaps the BBC isn't releasing them, but knowing would help reduce the frustration.

Finally, can anyone offer a translation into Italian of Last of etc. I need something that captures the full meaning of the phrase - end of an era and that sort of thing. To explain why I need it would take far too long but if anyone really wants to know I can email them - it's in a good canse.

WofW.

Sorry, I know there were three questions, not the promised two. I can count on a good day, but forget to do so.

WofW

'A Merry Heatwave' I have always designated as Series#4, Episode#7. It was first broadcast 1st January 1978 (a clue there). But then, 'The Bandit from Stoke-on Trent' was transmiitted just three days later on 4th January 1978. In other words, it looks to me as if 'The Bandit from Stoke-on Trent' was Series#4, Episode#7 (and not #8) and that 'A Merry Heatwave' was the 1977 Christmas Special, and there has been several contributions on the failure of UKTV (Drama or Gold) to broadcast Christmas Specials. Having said all that and strained the old brain cells, I have just checked the BBC Series#3 and #4 DVD and indeed confirmed that 'A Merry Heatwave' is indeed designated a Christmas Special. It is not strictly part of Series#4.

Don't know if UKTV still monitor the Message Boards. If you go back to near beginning of this message board you will see a July 2006 contribution by 'Richard' of UKTV.

Can't help you on Italian. Having a Spanish niece in law I could get you a good Spanish translation. However, since 'Last of the Summer Wine' is highly idiomatic and only really meaningful to the English speaking peoples, I don't think it would translate successfully into any foreign language. I mean, do you think any any other language speakers in the world even understand and appreciate the programmes themselves. And that's me in trouble with the PC of this world.

BigUnc

Not sure on how many of Christmas Specials BBC has released to UKTV. Last Christmas UKTV broadcast four up to and including 1990 (between Series#12 and #13). UKTV has broadcast all regular series up to and including Series#19 of 1998. However, not long ago BBC put out 'The Man Who Nearly Knew Pavarotti', the 1994 Christmas Special between Series #15 and #16. UKTV do only seem to put out Christmas Specials around Christmas except the dreaded 'Loxley Lozenge' which I do not think they realsie was a Chrismas Special.

BigUnc

'Ultimo del vino di estate' but that strikes me as merely literal and not idiomatic.

"I Do Not Believe It!" Not a LOSW line, I know, but it does to express my sentiments.

BBC#1 has now changed back to 'What Happened to the Horse' on Sunday, 29th July, at 18.05 and 'Variations on a Theme of Road Rage' on 5th August (at 19.05?). Just watch both and we can decide which was episode #2 and which episode#3 in the fullness of time. I suspect BBC#1 realised that this would be necessary to harmonise what was being transmitted with the hard copy of Radio Times.

I note timeliness of Wrinkled's point on Series#4. Tomorrow, 'Green Fingers' goes out tomorrow on UKTV Drama followed by 'Bandit of Stoke-on Trent'. 'A Merry Heatwave' is missed out. But as I said earlier, it is a Christmas Special. Incidentally, UKTV really should note that not all 'Christmas Specials' have a Christmas theme in case that is their rationale for holding them back for Christmas season. And I still want to know how 'The Loxley Lozenge' keeps breaching their Christmas Special policy (though it must be admitted, it does not have a Christmas theme).

Big Unc

Big Unc: many thanks. Your suggestion about A Merry Heatwave makes a lot of sense. Its position as no 7 in series 4 came from a web site which listed "all" episodes with a short summary of plot - unfortunately I can't easily find the address.

Having now thought a bit more about the Specials, I wonder if their absence is caused by the BBC. I notice from the contribution by "Richard" (thanks again for pointing this out) that UK TV buy these programmes from the Beeb - maybe the latter's marketing wing hasn't quite got its act sorted out yet - or even that they are charging a "special" price. I'm not really cynical.

Re LOTSW in Italian, you've accurately put your finger on the problem. It's unfair on others to go into this any more but I'll happily let you know what's behind my interest separately. There may be a way of contacting you individually via this site but I haven't found it
Thanks again, WofW

GRRRR I was not pleased when Summer Wine was not shown just because some guy likes to 'Whack his balls with a big stick and whoopie do gets them into a plastic hole in the ground?' AHHHH, I HATE GOLF! Episode 2 of Summer Wine better be shown on sunday, 'Aunty Beeb is a Rotten Bitch!' If she keeps this up, I wont like her anymore!!

Ye Sad Haggis

So, we got "What Happened to the Horse" after all and a great episode it was. I think we can anticipate the missed, casualty of the golf, episode, "Variations on a Theme of Road Rage", next Sunday, 5th August.

Wrinkled, I think the site to which you referred, 'a web site which listed "all" episodes with a short summary of plot' is
[link]
That does not designate 'A Merry Heatwave' as a Chrismas Special but , in a way, it was the very first. Other useful sites:
[link]
[link]
[link]

Wikipedia is particularly authorative. It is interesting that many sites note Billy Hardcastle's departure but none can explain it. I suspect a BBC economy drive. I have a feeling that Dora Bryan (Aunt Ros) might also have been written out. I cannot recall if she was in 2006 Christmas Special (and it is more than my life's worth to interrupt someon'e television at this moment to check my DVD recording.

BigUnc

You are right BigUnc 'what happened to a horse was very funny! I loved the bit when Barry and Alvin saw eachother ha ha ha and the policemen I fell over laughing cheered me up a treat!

Haggis

What Happened to Billy Hardcastle? sounds like a LOSW title. It will be a pity if he has been written out. Truly, Alvin and Billy would have been the natural team to carry on should anything, God Forbid, happen to poor old Peter Sallis. Does anyone know if a further series has been commissioned? The current series was filmed last year and I don't know if there has been any filming done recently. I sincerely hope the young, spotty faced executive oiks at the Beeb have not got their wish to cancel approved.

Hello folks. Well at least the Beeb will show episode 2 next Sunday, seems like i'm not the only one who got a little upset at the extended coverage of golf. Anyway, Billy Hardcastle (Keith Clifford) had decided himself to be written out of the series, shame really as i was really warming to him. Did not realize but dear old Keith had been playing Billy for nearly nine years.
Found the following on WIKIPEDIA.

Keith Clifford is a British actor who played Billy Hardcastle on the British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 1998 until he decided to leave the series following the 2006 series. He also made guest appearances on Heartbeat and Dalziel and Pascoe, and appeared in the TV movie .
.
So friends thats it, no more Billy. Still i appreciate the arrival of Alvin Smedley (Brian Murphy) and his battles with Nora just like ol Compo.
Keep Watching
itschad

For Wrinkled:

I consulted my nephew what is married to a Spaniard and he came up with (in Spanish):
Literal translation of 'Last of the Summer Wine', 'El ultimo vino del verano'.
He went on to suggest that to the humble continental mind. it might be better to start with (as more poetic): 'Last drops of the vine harvest' which translates to, "Las gotas de la cosecha" .

So moving to Italian, as I have already said, the literal translation is 'Ultimo del vino di estate'. but if we go to 'Last drops of the vine harvest' we get 'Ultime gocce della raccolta della vite', 'Last drops of the summer wine harvest' gives us 'Ultime gocce della raccolta del vino di estate' or we could go to, 'Fruits of the last drops of the wine harvest of the summer' which gives, 'Frutte di ultime gocce della raccolta del vino di estate'. Play around with variations using: [link]

The Email address you posted got edited out. It is not for me to worry about why you want this translation. I trust though that it in association with some seduction along the lines Compo employed on Nora Batty.

On a general note, I do not want to worry folk but on Monday 13th August we are reduced to a single episode Of LOSW throughout UKTV (at 18.20 on UKTV Drama from memeory)

BigUnc

Some good news for a change. Filming is currently underway for the 2008 series, so we do have something to look forward to. Now all we have to do is persuade the Beeb to release a few more sets which include the Christmas specials, and , maybe, The First of the Summer Wine?

Some good news for a change. Filming is currently underway for the 2008 series, so we do have something to look forward to. Now all we have to do is persuade the Beeb to release a few more sets which include the Christmas specials, and , maybe, The First of the Summer Wine?

Thanks again, BigUnc. Since this message board seems to be the only way of contacting you, would others please forgive the following.

For BigUnc:
I love your idea of a Compo/Nora-style seduction, but sadly it's all rather more prosaic: I'm the lucky owner of a picture (water colour on litho) by John Ward RA who died a few weeks ago. It's of the hills of Urbino with a picnic scene in the foreground. The opening long-shot of the Dales in an LOTSW episode strongly resembled the Urbino hills. John painted the picture earlier this year when he was coming up to 90 - still very active (happily painting nubile nudes in his studio) but in his LOTSW years. I thought an italian translation would make an appropriate title for the painting. Not a good idea! Italian and italian-speaking friends were no help, hence my clogging up this message board. It does seem that other countries don't have the same concept of "running down" that underlies the title - possibly because of a stronger sense of family, but that's another subject.

Pip pip, WofW.

Eh! Iv'e got an echo on my pc! Must have been past your bedtime Grumpy Uncle Still good news though. I must admit, I thought Peter looked unwell in Sundays show.

All the best.

Cleggscap

Hey up Cleggscap, not a question of bedtimes. Just frustration of dealing with recalcitrant electrical gadgetry that seems to have a mind of it's own. I now fully understand Basil Fawlty thrashing his car and have every sympathy with him. I think my laptop must be a teenager, it exhibits all the signs. Bring back the quill!!

Now, this is a worry!

Sunday 26th and Monday 27th August, not a single episode on either UKTV Drama or UKTV Gold. All we have got is the new "Elegy for Small Creature and Clandestine Trackbike" on BBC#1 on the Sunday. Is UKTV pulling out of LOSW transmissions? Or should we look on bright side and anticipate a big Autumn splurge moving the story on into Series#20 and beyond!