Of Funerals and Fish

"Of Funerals and Fish"
Last of the Summer Wine episode
Episode no.Episode 1
Directed byJames Gilbert
Written byRoy Clarke
Featured musicRonnie Hazlehurst
Original air date4 January 1973 (1973-01-04)
Running time30 minutes
Guest appearances
  • Blake Butler as Mr Wainwright
  • Rosemary Martin as Mrs Partridge
  • Michael Stainton as Vicar
  • John Barratt as Kid
  • Pat Bonna as First Woman
  • Derek Etchells as Van Driver
  • Jean McLaren as Second Woman
Episode chronology
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Last of the Summer Wine (series 1)
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"Of Funerals and Fish" is the pilot episode of the world's longest-running television sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010), written by Roy Clarke.[1] It was first broadcast on 4 January 1973 and became the first of 295 episodes.[2][3] It was aired as the first episode of the thirteenth series of Comedy Playhouse, a comedy anthology series running from 1961–1975. The plot involved the trio going around discussing life and death.

It starred Bill Owen, Peter Sallis and Michael Bates. This also was the first appearance of Kathy Staff, although her character is at this point only known as Mrs Batty rather than Nora. Her husband, unseen in this first episode, is referred to as Harold; when the character went on to appear in the series, he would be called Wally.

  1. ^ Langley, William (5 June 2010). "Last of the Summer Wine: the ageless appeal of three old men in a bath". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  2. ^ Vine, Andrew (2010). Last of the summer wine : the inside story of the world's longest-running comedy programme. London: Aurum. p. 3. ISBN 9781845135959.
  3. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Last of the Summer Wine (1973-2010)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2018.