History Trivia / LastOfTheSummerWine

** According to Creator/PeterSallis, the series almost didn't get off the ground because of this. The original trio consisted of him, Creator/BillOwen, and Michael Bates. Prior to filming the cast went out for dinner and Bates and Owen got into a blazing row about politics (Bates being very Conservative, Owen being very left-wing). It got so bad that the producer had to come in and read them The Riot Act. For the sake of the series, they agreed to never talk about politics again.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Roy Clarke was initially 100% against having Creator/BillOwen as Compo. It was only when producer James Gilbert showed him a tape of Owen playing a Yorkshireman that Clarke changed his mind.

** According to Creator/PeterSallis, the series almost didn't get off the ground because of this. The original trio consisted of him, Creator/BillOwen and Michael Bates. Prior to filming the cast went out for dinner and Bates and Owen got into a blazing row about politics (Bates being very Conservative, Owen being very left-wing). It got so bad that the producer had to come in and read them The Riot Act. For the sake of the series, they agreed to never talk about politics again.

* RealitySubtext: As noted, most cast members' deaths were written into the series, and the more elderly actors increasingly appeared in only marginal roles toward the end. Creator/PeterSallis (Clegg) is the best example of this, although he still managed to be be the only member of the cast to appear in ''every single episode'' [[note]] and, by playing Clegg's dad in the prequel, Sallis also appeared in every episode of that as well[[/note]].

* CharacterOutlivesActor: There were occasional exceptions to the rule of killing off characters after their actors' deaths. Most notably, legendary battleaxe Nora Batty was said to have emigrated to Australia after a 35-year run following her actress Kathy Staff's death. Recurrent incidental character Eli was earlier left in limbo forever after actor Danny O'Dea died, even though he appeared in most episodes over 15 years; since he was rarely crucial to the plot and wasn't closely related to any other characters, his ultimate fate remained unmentioned.

** Tom Owen apparently had a very poor relationship with co-star Kathy Staff, claiming in a newspaper interview, that she constantly criticised and complained about him to other cast members behind his back.

* FakeNationality: Well, region, which in England is almost the same thing. The big examples are Creator/BillOwen (Compo) and Creator/PeterSallis (Clegg), who were in fact both from West London (respectively, Acton and Twickenham) as opposed to West Yorkshire. Sallis' Yorkshire accent was so convincing that ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'' creator Creator/NickPark, upon calling him to ask him to voice Wallace, refused to believe that his natural accent was his own. Creator/BurtKwouk, who is of Chinese parentage and grew up in Shanghai, appears as a Yorkshireman in the show but was actually born over the county border in Lancashire... which is a division of utmost seriousness OopNorth.

* CreatorsFavoriteEpisode: Peter Sallis' pesonal favourite episode was "Full Steam Behind".

* FakeNationality: Well, region, which in England is almost the same thing. The big examples are Bill Owen (Compo) and Peter Sallis (Clegg), who were in fact both from West London (respectively, Acton and Twickenham) as opposed to West Yorkshire. Sallis's Yorkshire accent was so convincing that ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'' creator Creator/NickPark, upon calling him to ask him to voice Wallace, refused to believe that his natural accent was his own. Burt Kwouk, who is of Chinese parentage and grew up in Shanghai, appears as a Yorkshireman in the show but was actually born over the county border in Lancashire... which is a division of utmost seriousness OopNorth.

** According to Peter Sallis, the series almost didn't get off the ground because of this. The original trio consisted of him, Creator/BillOwen and Michael Bates. Prior to filming the cast went out for dinner and Bates and Owen got into a blazing row about politics (Bates being very Conservative, Owen being very left-wing). It got so bad that the producer had to come in and read them The Riot Act. For the sake of the series, they agreed to never talk about politics again.

* RealitySubtext: As noted, most cast members' deaths were written into the series, and the more elderly actors increasingly appeared in only marginal roles toward the end. Peter Sallis (Clegg) is the best example of this, although he still managed to be be the only member of the cast to appear in ''every single episode'' [[note]] and, by playing Clegg's dad in the prequel, Sallis also appeared in every episode of that as well[[/note]].

* TouristBump: Holmfirth, the West Yorkshire town where the show was filmed, has befitted a lot from this. The building used for Sid and Ivy's Cafe is now an actual cafe that looks just like the one in the show (sometimes, there's a life-size model of Compo outside so fans can have their photo taken with 'him'). 28 Huddersfield Road, better known as Nora Batty's house, is now a ''Summer Wine'' themed holiday cottage.

* FakeNationality: Well, region, which in England is almost the same thing. The big examples are Bill Owen (Compo) and Peter Sallis (Clegg), who were in fact both from West London (respectively, Acton and Twickenham) as opposed to West Yorkshire. Sallis's Yorkshire accent was so convincing that ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'' creator Creator/NickPark, upon calling him to ask him to voice Wallace, refused to believe that Sallis' natural accent was his own. Burt Kwouk, who is of Chinese parentage and grew up in Shanghai, appears as a Yorkshireman in the show but was actually born over the county border in Lancashire... which is a division of utmost seriousness OopNorth.

* FakeNationality: Well, region, which in England is almost the same thing. Peter Sallis, a southerner, as Norman Clegg used a Yorkshire accent convincing enough that ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'' creator Creator/NickPark, upon calling him to ask him to voice Wallace, refused to believe that Sallis' natural accent was his own. The trope fits Sallis' fellow Londoner Creator/BillOwen as well. Burt Kwouk, who is of Chinese parentage and grew up in Shanghai, appears as a Yorkshireman in the show but was actually born over the county border in Lancashire... which is a division of utmost seriousness OopNorth.

* RealitySubtext: As noted, most cast deaths were written into the series, and the more elderly actors increasingly appeared in only marginal roles toward the end. Peter Sallis (Clegg) is the best example of this, although he still managed to be be the only member of the cast to appear in ''every single episode'' [[note]] and, by playing Clegg's dad in the prequel, Sallis also appeared in every episode of that as well[[/note]].

* TouristBump: Holmfirth, the West Yorkshire town where the show was filmed, has befitted a lot from this. The building used for Sid and Ivy's Cafe is now an actual cafe that looks just like the one in the show. 28 Huddersfield Road, better known as Nora Batty's house, is now a ''Summer Wine'' themed holiday cottage.

* TouristBump: Holmfirth, the West Yorkshire town where the show was filmed, has befitted a lot from this. The building used for Sid and Ivy's Cafe is now a cafe that looks just like the one in the show. Nora Batty's house is now a ''Summer Wine'' themed holiday cottage.

* TouristBump: Holmfirth, the West Yorkshire town where the show was filmed, has befitted a lot from this.

* TheCharacterDiedWithHim: The show generally wasn't shy about having characters die at the same time that their actors did, with the most memorable onscreen funeral being that of Compo, who had been a central character from the beginning. His actor, Bill Owen, who had died the year before, was even buried in the town of Holmfirth where the series was filmed, even though he was actually from London. Prior to that, Sid (Ivy's husband) and Wally (Nora's husband) both died when their actors did.

* TheDanza: Tom Simmonite (Tom Owen), following in the footsteps of his dad William "Compo" Simmonite" (Bill Owen).
* FakeNationality: Well, region, which in England is almost the same thing. Peter Sallis, a southerner, as Norman Clegg used a Yorkshire accent convincing enough that ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'' creator Creator/NickPark, upon calling him to ask him to voice Wallace, refused to believe that Sallis' natural accent was his own. The trope fits Sallis' fellow Londoner Bill Owen as well. Burt Kwouk, who is of Chinese parentage and grew up in Shanghai, appears as a Yorkshireman in the show but was actually born over the county border in Lancashire... which is a division of utmost seriousness OopNorth.

** According to Peter Sallis, the series almost didn't get off the ground because of this. The original trio consisted of him, Bill Owen and Michael Bates. Prior to filming the cast went out for dinner and Bates and Owen got into a blazing row about politics (Bates being very Conservative, Owen being very left-wing). It got so bad that the producer had to come in and read them The Riot Act. For the sake of the series, they agreed to never talk about politics again.

* RealLifeRelative: Tom Owen as the son of his late father's character Compo.

* TheCharacterDiedWithHim: The show generally wasn't shy about having (the mostly elderly) characters die at the same time that their actors did, with the most memorable onscreen funeral being that of Compo, who had been a central character for 26 years. His actor, Bill Owen, who died the year before, was even buried in the town of Holmfirth where the series was filmed.
* CharacterOutlivesActor: There were occasional exceptions to the rule of killing off characters after their actors' deaths. Most notably, legendary battleaxe Nora Batty was left alive "in Australia" after a 35-year run following her actress Kathy Staff's death. Recurrent incidental character Eli was earlier left in limbo forever after actor Danny O'Dea died, even though he appeared in most episodes over 15 years; since he was rarely crucial to the plot and wasn't closely related to any other characters, his ultimate fate remained unmentioned.

* RealitySubtext: As noted, most cast deaths were written into the series, and the most elderly actors increasingly appeared in only marginal roles toward the end. Peter Sallis as Clegg also only appeared in fewer scenes during the later series due to his macular degeneration.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: When actor Johnathan Linsley said he was going on a diet (because his doctor told him to), he was dismissed from the show, and his character, Crusher, never replaced. From then on, Ivy ran the cafe solo, with assistance only once in a while from Nora.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: When actor Johnathan Linsley said he was going on a diet (because his doctor told him to), he was dismissed from the show, and his character never replaced. From then on, Ivy ran the cafe solo, with assistance only once in a while from Nora.

* HostilityOnTheSet: According to Peter Sallis, the series almost didn't get off the ground because of this. The original trio consisted of him, Bill Owen and Michael Bates. Prior to filming the cast went out for dinner and Bates and Owen got into a blazing row about politics (Bates being very Conservative, Owen being very left-wing). It got so bad that the producer had to come in and read them The Riot Act. For the sake of the series, they agreed to never talk about politics again.

* RealitySubtext: As noted, most cast deaths were written into the series, and the most elderly actors increasingly appeared in only marginal roles toward the end. Peter Sallis as Clegg also only appeared in fewer scenes during the later series due to his macular degeneration.

* FakeNationality: Well, region, which in England is almost the same thing. Peter Sallis, a southerner, as Norman Clegg used a Yorkshire accent convincing enough that ''WallaceAndGromit'' creator Nick Park, upon calling him to ask him to voice Wallace, refused to believe that Sallis' natural accent was his own. The trope fits Sallis' fellow Londoner Bill Owen as well. Burt Kwouk, who is of Chinese parentage and grew up in Shanghai, appears as a Yorkshireman in the show but was actually born over the county border in Lancashire... which is a division of utmost seriousness OopNorth.

* HeyItsThatGuy: As the show entered its later years in particular, it became a sort of retirement home for British thespians of a certain vintage, particularly those known from other comedic roles. A good example is Frank Thornton (Truly Truelove), a.k.a. [[Series/AreYouBeingServed Captain Peacock]]. To a lesser extent, Brian Wilde (Foggy Dewhirst) a.k.a. [[Series/{{Porridge}} Mr Barrowclough]], Stephen Lewis (Smiler), Blakey from ''Series/OnTheBuses'' and Brian Murphy, the titular George from ''George and Mildred'' and its parent series ''Man About the House''. Veteran actress Thora Hird (Edie) was also recognisable as herself from ''Songs of Praise''. Possibly less known is Michael Bates (Blamire), who played Rangi Ram in ''Series/ItAintHalfHotMum''. Auntie Wainwright was played by Jean Alexander, who was soap LongRunner ''Series/CoronationStreet'''s Hilda Ogden for 13 years before appearing throughout the last two decades of ''Last of the Summer Wine'', joined by the last few of those by June Whitfield of ''Terry & June'' and ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous'' fame. Russ Abbot (Hobbo in the show's last series) was well-known for his own comedy shows and music from earlier years, while Burt Kwouk (Entwistle) had spent decades representing all manner of InterchangeableAsianCultures as one of Britain's few well-known oriental actors, in everything from ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'' films as Cato to three ''Franchise/JamesBond'' films.
* HeyItsThatVoice: Peter Sallis, the actor who plays Cleggy, is more known to many non-British as the voice of Wallace in ''Franchise/WallaceAndGromit''. Wallace's accent is the same as Clegg's even though this is not Sallis' own: see FakeNationality above.

* HeyItsThatGuy: As the show entered its later years in particular, it became a sort of retirement home for British thespians of a certain vintage, particularly those known from other comedic roles. A good example is Frank Thornton (Truly Truelove), a.k.a. [[Series/AreYouBeingServed Captain Peacock]]. To a lesser extent, Brian Wilde (Foggy Dewhirst) a.k.a. [[Series/{{Porridge}} Mr Barrowclough]] and Stephen Lewis (Smiler), Blakey from ''Series/OnTheBuses''. Veteran actress Thora Hird (Edie) was also recognisable as herself from ''Songs of Praise''. Possibly less known is Michael Bates (Blamire), who played Rangi Ram in ''Series/ItAintHalfHotMum''. Auntie Wainwright was played by Jean Alexander, who was soap LongRunner ''Series/CoronationStreet'''s Hilda Ogden for 13 years before appearing throughout the last two decades of ''Last of the Summer Wine'', joined by the last few of those by June Whitfield of ''Terry & June'' and ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous'' fame. Russ Abbot (Hobbo in the show's last series) was well-known for his own comedy shows and music from earlier years, while Burt Kwouk (Entwistle) had spent decades representing all manner of InterchangeableAsianCultures as one of Britain's few well-known oriental actors, in everything from ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'' films as Cato to three ''Franchise/JamesBond'' films.