Last of the Summer Wine (series 24)

Last of the Summer Wine
No. of episodes	11
Release
Original network	BBC One
Original release	29 December 2002 (2002-12-29) – 16 March 2003 (2003-03-16)
Season chronology

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-fourth series aired on BBC One. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell.

Outline

The trio in this series consisted of:

Actor	Role
Keith Clifford	Billy
Peter Sallis	Clegg
Frank Thornton	Truly

First appearances

• Entwistle (2002–2010)
• Alvin Smedley (2003–2010)
• Miss Davenport (2003–2010)

Returning this series

• Nora Batty (1973–2001, 2003–2008)

Last appearances

• Edie Pegden (1986–2003)

List of episodes

Christmas Special (2002)

Title	Airdate	Description	Notes
A Musical Passing for a Miserable Muscroft	29 December	Billy Ingleton has acquired a mobile pipe organ, the use of which the ladies feel appropriate for a charity pageant. Meanwhile, isn't anyone going to nasty old Muscroft's funeral?	Nora Batty returns having been absent since the series 22 episode "The Coming of the Beast". Norman Wisdom makes his fifth guest appearance as Billy Ingleton. First small appearance of Entwistle (Burt Kwouk), (although his introduction to the other characters occurs in the next series). The closing theme is played on organ by Phil Kelsall recorded at Tower Ballroom. Audience of 6.27m – 44th most watched programme of the week.

Regular series

Title	Airdate	Description	Notes
The Lair of the Cat Creature	5 January	A new adventurer lands in town, eager to make a name for himself; luckily for him, the trio has in mind a heroic test of mettle.	First appearance of Brian Murphy as Alvin Smedley (then a guest star). Audience of 6.67m – 33rd most watched programme of the week.
Ancient Eastern Wisdom-An Introduction	12 January	Enthralled by a book of fiction, Howard begins emulating its hero; meanwhile, Truly and Clegg meet an inscrutable bearer of ancient Eastern wisdom whom they recruit to help Tom deal with the repo man.	This episode introduces Entwistle (Burt Kwouk), despite him previously appearing in the 2002 Christmas special. Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald in Coronation Street) appears as Sharlene, a shop assistant with Marina. Audience of 5.76m – 53rd most watched programme of the week.
A Pick-Up of the Later Ming Dynasty	19 January	After helping Entwistle fix his truck, the trio are recruited to lay hands on Smiler's cart.	Audience of 6.17m – 50th most watched programme of the week.
The Secret Birthday of Norman Clegg	26 January	Clegg wants to celebrate his birthday as quietly as possible, so he goes to pieces when everybody in the village is dressed for a celebration.	Audience of 6.26m – 33rd most watched programme of the week.
In Which Gavin Hinchcliffe Loses the Gulf Stream	2 February	An old schoolmate's preparations for global warming are hampered by a drunk girlfriend and one very nervous driver.	Guest appearance of Josephine Tewson (Keeping Up Appearances) as Miss Davenport before becoming a regular cast member in the 2003 Christmas special "A Short Blast of Fred Astaire". Guest appearance of Bernard Cribbins. Audience of 6.38m – 44th most watched programme of the week.
The Miraculous Curing of Old Goff Helliwell	9 February	Clegg, Truly and Billy need to put a spark back in the life of an old chum.	Guest appearance of Henry McGee from The Benny Hill Show as Goff Helliwell Audience of 6.10m – 37th most watched programme of the week.
The Frenchies are Coming	23 February	Billy assembles a band of archers to defend against French invaders, and Pearl finds a way to keep tabs on Howard's comings and goings.	Audience of 5.89m – 43rd most watched programme of the week.
The Man Who Invented Yorkshire Funny Stuff	2 March	The trio are on the hunt for a green-fingered man whose reputation as a ladies' man has bred contempt among his old flames.	Audience of 6.76m – 32nd most watched programme of the week.
The Second Husband and the Showgirls	9 March	Curiosity abounds when the new husband of the former Mrs. Truelove arrives in town.	Guest appearance of William Lucas as Norris Leland. Audience of 6.07m – 42nd most watched programme of the week. Tony Melody, who plays a landlord, had previously dubbed the voice of Sid in the 90 minute Christmas special, Getting Sam Home, after John Comer's voice was badly affected by cancer twenty years earlier.
All of a Florrie	16 March	Everyone lends a hand in helping Truly rid himself of an old next-door neighbour with misguided affections.	Final appearance of Edie. Thora Hird died the day before broadcast of this episode. Alvin Smedley (Brian Murphy) becomes a regular character. He would later join the trio in Series 26 in 2005, thus making it a quartet, and remain until the show's end in 2010. Guest appearance of Jeanne Mockford as Florrie.

DVD release

The box set for series twenty four was released by Universal Playback in September 2014, mislabelled as a box set for series 25 & 26.

The Complete Series 25 & 26

Set Details

22 episodes 4-disc set Language: English

Release Date

Region 2

29 September 2014