More Summer Wine

Last Of The Summer Wine, the world’s longest-running sitcom, has been re-commissioned for a further six half-hours by Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, and Lucy Lumsden, former Controller, Comedy Commissioning.

Filming will take place this summer, in and around the Yorkshire town of Holmfirth, for transmission in 2010.

The series, described by the BBC as a “whimsical comedy about people in the autumn of their years” has aired on the channel since 1973. While popular with older audiences the series has been perceived by many as the ‘same old, same old’ for many years.

And while many of the more popular cast have died, such as Kathy Staff and Bill Owen, the show – as yet – isn’t going to go to the TV Heaven of axed programming. Written by Roy Clarke since episode one the series only has one original main actor left, Peter Sallis who stars as Norman Clegg.

Writer Roy Clarke said: “It’s like going home again.”

Other cast members added in recent years include Russ Abbot as Hobbo, Frank Thornton as Truly, Brian Murphy as Alvin and June Whitfield as Nelly

Mark Freeland, Head of Comedy at the BBC, said: “I am pleased that Roy Clarke’s much loved and unique comedy is once more returning to BBC One.”

Last Of The Summer Wine has amazingly clocked up more than 30 series, many produced and directed by Alan J W Bell.