First of the Summer Wine

Production

With the success of Last of the Summer Wine, the BBC approved a new series by which Roy Clarke would carry over characters of the original show. With the new series, Clarke hoped to show the lives of his characters as they were in the "first summer" of their lives, as opposed to the "last summer" depicted in Last of the Summer Wine. While there would still be the "shadow of the Grim Reaper" hanging over them, this time it would be because of World War II, not due to their old age.

For the new series, Clarke used mostly young, inexperienced actors to fill the roles of the characters carried over from the original series. The actors were required to mimic the vocal characteristics and mannerisms already established in Last of the Summer Wine to create a continuity between the two series.

The show features much 1920s and 1930s music, which adds to the nostalgic feel of the show. The theme tune is "Sweet and Lovely", sung by Al Bowlly, accompanied by Roy Fox and his Band. The recording was made in London on 18 September 1931.

Characters

Main article: List of Last of the Summer Wine characters

First of the Summer Wine followed a group of young men and women, some of whom were adapted from Last of the Summer Wine, with others being specifically created for the new show. The men consisted of Paul Wyett as the scruffy and immature Compo Simmonite; David Fenwick as meek and deep-thinking Norman Clegg; Paul McLain as snobbish ladder-climber Seymour Utterthwaite; Richard Lumsden as the eager soldier Foggy Dewhurst; Gary Whitaker as the love-smitten Wally Batty; and Paul Oldham as their friend, Sherbet. The women consisted of Helen Patrick as the object of Wally's affections, Nora Renshaw; Sarah Dangerfield as Ivy; Joanne Heywood as Dilys, Judy Flynn as Lena, and Linda Davidson as Anita Pillsworth.

The adults around the young people act as supporting characters. Peter Sallis and Maggie Ollerenshaw play David and Violet Clegg, Norman's parents. Sallis had played the role of Norman in Last of the Summer Wine and Ollerenshaw had appeared in 3 episodes. Derek Benfield portrays Mr Scrimshaw, the manager of the shop where Ivy, Dilys, Sherbert, Norman and Seymour work.

Scenario

First of the Summer Wine takes place between May and September 1939, in the months leading up to World War II. The series revolves around the diary entries of the young Norman Clegg. Each episode begins with him resting on his bedroom windowsill and greeting the day; the words "the diary of Norman Clegg, aged 18 years" introduce the theme of each episode.

Episodes revolve around the antics of the young men of a small Yorkshire village and their usually level-headed female counterparts, all of whom are grappling with the world around them, their youth, and their experiences with the opposite sex. With rumblings of war on the European continent as Hitler's Nazi Germany and the United Kingdom become increasingly poised for war, the lives of the young men and women will be changed forever.

The scenario uses retroactive continuity. In Last of the Summer Wine, Seymour is introduced in later series, and is initially unknown to the other central characters.

Episodes

Series 1 (1988)

Seymour calls on Miss Deborah Norbury to take her for a "spin" in his car. She gets oil on her dress and storms back into her house after a few minutes. On Sunday, after church and tea, the lads go for a walk in the hills and encounter Foggy on guard duty. After work the next day, the gang visit the local cinema before congregating at the Hygienic Fisheries. While Seymour is away, Clegg has to measure a man for a new suit. He makes a complete mess of things. When the customer returns for a final fitting, the suit is two sizes too small.

Series 2 (1989)

Home video releases

Notes

References

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References

1. "First of the Summer Wine – Special Article". Summer Wine Online.
2. "First of the Summer Wine – Uncovered!". Summer Wine Online.
3. Bright and Ross (2000), p. 28
4. "First of the Summer Wine". BBC Guide to Comedy.
5. "First of the Summer Wine, Uncovered".
6. Bright and Ross (2000), p. 160
7. Bright and Ross (2000), p. 161
8. Bright and Ross (2000), pp. 161–162
9. Bright and Ross (2000), p. 162
10. Bright and Ross (2000), pp. 162–163
11. Bright and Ross (2000), p. 163
12. ["The First of the Summer Wine – Series One DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: David Fenwick, Paul Wyett, Peter Sallis, Paul McLain, Maggie Ollerenshaw, Derek Benfield, Sarah Dangerfield, Joanne Heywood, Richard Lumsden, Gary Whitaker, Mike Stephens: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk.
13. "First Of The Summer Wine – Series 1". DVD Warehouse.
14. ["First of the Summer Wine – Series Two DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Sallis: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk.
15. "First Of The Summer Wine : Series 2". DVD Warehouse.
16. "First Of The Summer Wine - Complete Collection DVD".
17. "First Of The Summer Wine Series Collection".