As of September 23, 2007, 267 episodes of Last of the Summer Wine have aired. This includes twenty-three Christmas Specials, two New Year Specials, and a Millennium Special. Some of these have been regular episodes (often held over from the previous series, or taken from the forth-coming series), others have been dedicated festive stories. Some of these specials have also been feature-length. All episodes are 30 minutes long, unless otherwise stated.
The list is by episodes' original air dates.
Series
The following is an overview of all series of Last of the Summer Wine. This overview does not include the pilot episode or Christmas and New Years specials.
Notes
¹ Series 16 and 17 were originally considered one series in Britain, but were broken up into two series for purposes of international distribution subsequent to airing.
Nora's brother, who lives in Australia, is unlikely to see another British Christmas. Foggy decides to film an old fashioned Christmas to send to him, unfortunately where do you find holly in the middle of a summer heatwave.
Foggy decides to start his Christmas shopping early, but is surprised that the shops aren't selling Christmas cards in the summer. He then takes up an offer of buying some Christmas trees.
The lads visit Sam in hospital, and agree to his request that he wants to spend one last night with his 'other woman', Lilly Bless'er. Unfortunately, while at Lily's, Sam passes away. It's up to Foggy, Compo and Clegg to get him back home without his wife Sybil finding out.
This was a 90 minute special, a film made for television.
This episode made television comedy history due to being the first comedy show on British tv to be longer that 30 mins, shows such as Only Fools and Horses followed in after years.
Based upon Roy Clarke's Last of the Summer Wine Novel.
The title 'Getting Sam Home' is not given onscreen, but is used in all reference books and television listings.
This was the final appearance of Sid. John Comer's voice was affected by illness, and so his lines were dubbed over by another actor, Tony Melody. Comer died 6 weeks after the broadcast.
This is the second occasion when the title music, with added lyrics, was sung by a choir.
Barry wants to buy Glenda a water bed, the trio dress up as Father Christmas to collect for charity, and Howard asks for help guarding his Auntie Wainwright's shop.
The lads are at the golden wedding anniversary of an old friend, and decide that it's time for him to sample some of the other pleasures of life, away from his wife.
After meeting Captain Zero, the human cannonball, the trio take him to the pub while his van is fixed. Unfortunately when he gets arrested for being drunk, it's up to Compo to take his place.
Compo is depressed because he's too short to help Nora hang her washing line, but Foggy suggests that she'd be impressed if he could vault up onto the wall.
Ivy and Nora are looking for volunteers for the church concert, and, suspicious about the truthfulness of Foggy's war stories, Compo and Clegg use an old school challenge to root out liars on him.
Foggy buys a camcorder from Auntie Wainwright, and practices filming in the hills. He wants to watch it back, but doesn't have a video player. Luckily Pearl steps in and offers the use of her TV and video, but will it be lucky for Howard? Has Foggy captured more than just the countryside on tape?
A foolish visit to Auntie Wainwrights leaves Clegg being 'sold' a barbecue which unfortunately is rather more powerful than it needs to be - perhaps Wesley can help?
Following a funeral tea, Compo and Foggy are feeling rather the worse for wear. Clegg meanwhile has been kidnapped by a widow looking for companionship.
Howard enlists Clegg's help in purchasing a statuette as a gift for Marina. Meanwhile Auntie Wainwright is doing a special offer in Security Lights that aren't quite up to the job.
Howard has bought a gift for Marina and needs the trio's help in delivering it. Unfortunately it involves a visit to Auntie Wainwright to collect it beforehand.
Whilst walking in the wood Foggy is convinced he has heard a Giant Woodpecker enlisting Clegg and Compo's help in putting on a tour for the ladies. Meanwhile Howard and Marina are building a tree house so they can enjoy a private meeting in the woods.
The trio meet Billy Ingleton, who has lost confidence in playing the piano. Foggy organises a concert to help him get it back, but Billy soon confesses that he could never play the piano anyway.
This was a 1 hour special.
Norman Wisdom makes his first of many guest appearances as Billy Ingleton
While out in the hills one day, Foggy sees a hole in the road that reminds him of a WWII slit trench. Compo swaps his portable air raid siren for a flag pole from Auntie Wainwright.
The trio meet Mr Broadbent, who is giving up everything to find the wilderness. He gives the trio his van, but they don't expect Mrs Broadbent to come with it.
Compo tries to find one of his old girlfriends, Audrey Duffield (nee Motashore) but after hearing she moved to Canada, he decides to stay with Nora Batty.
Foggy decides to train Smiler to help him become more confident and lose his deepest fears. Is the world ready though for Smiler as "Captain Catastrophe"?
Barry is best man at a friend's wedding, but the groom doesn't want to get married. Truly, Compo & Clegg try to convince him of the advantages of a good married life.
he trio ends up rolling down a hill, instead of walking down it, as they did when they were children, but their age proves to speak louder than their will for adventure.
Truly becomes jealous of people who get their picture in the paper for performing selfless acts of bravery. He sets out to prove he's up to the task of rescuing others, even if he has to orchestrate a disaster himself.
Wesley's new creation meets with great success -- particularly with Compo -- who wants to be the first one to try it. Has he finally found the the perfect way to get close to Nora?
Glenda gives one of Barry's old suits to the jumble sale, because she thinks it attracts blondes. Compo ends up buying the suit, with money from Truly and Clegg.
Barry buys a new saxophone from auntie Wainright. Glenda doesn't let him play indoors, so he has to find a spot outside to practice. the problem starts when Barry discovers in what type of case the saxophone comes in.
When the local ladies start to gain some interest for a man nameed Walter Ridley, it's up for the trio to try and find out why he's so highly regarded by all the local women.
Howard buys a new van, as part of his new scheme to be left in peace with Marina. He even buys some furniture to put on the back of the van, to make it "a little more comfortable".
Compo decides to take up horseriding to impress Nora Batty, and it's up to Clegg and Truly to help him thanks to some of Auntie Wainright's merchandise.
How Errol Flynn Discovered the Secret Scar of Nora Batty
Marina finally gets fed up with Howard and swears off men entirely. Truly thinks he can change her mind if only they can make Howard appear more desirable.
Compo tries to revive interest in the childhood game of "thumpy-dub", Truly tries to sell his useless lawn-mower, and Marina generates gossip with her pastry purchase.
Howard seethes with jealousy when he becomes positive that Pearl is having an affair. Eager to show off his detective skills, Truly volunteers to shadow her and find out what she's up to.
Compo is selected to travel to France with a group of local WWII veterans, only to have the offer withdrawn when the organisers realize how scruffy he looks. The local ladies take pity on him and collect enough money for him to go, and Truly and Clegg join him for the trip.
Meanwhile, Edie's long-estranged sister Ros shows up in town, ready to make amends with Edie and possibly settle down again. Edie, angry at her for leaving her husband and devastating their mother, isn't interested in reconnecting.
In France, the trio has two goals: to release Billy Hardcastle's homing pigeon and to revisit a spot Compo and some of his fellow soldiers camped overnight after a grueling escape from the Germans. There's just one snag: Compo doesn't remember where it is.
This was the last ever episode to be filmed with Bill Owen as Compo and finished filming days before he died. The BBC & crew agreed not to be credited at the end & closing credits and be moved to the opening credits instead, allowing for the moving final image of Compo. However, the first three episodes of Series 21 had already been filmed, thus Compo appears in them.
When Glenda finds Barry covered in lipstick he needs assistance from the trio to explain it away. Truly comes up with the notion of a sponsored kiss which only leaves one problem, making it look like they've each been kissed.
The first three episodes of Series 21 had already been partly filmed before Bill Owen's death. To make them complete for broadcast, scripts were re-worked, camera tricks and stock shots were used, and a body double was used for far off shots.
Clegg finds himself having to model Howard's new wig after Pearl becomes suspicious. With Howard reluctant to take the wig they concoct a plan to show him attractive it makes the wearer to the ladies; roping in Smiler and Marina to help.
The trio finds a married couple stranded in a field trying to contact ancient civilizations with a Morris Minor hubcap. Meanwhile, Howard tries to carry on his relationship with Marina over two-way radio, and Barry tries to prove he's "one of the boys".
Nora, in "sexy" costume for a church pageant, takes a dare from Ivy to call Compo's bluff and present herself on his doorstep. The unexpected result is that he collapses and has to be rushed to the hospital. Although Clegg and Truly expect the best, Compo dies as the doctors try to save him.
Cleggy and Truly, as well as Nora and Ivy, spend the night remembering him and trying to figure out how to give him a proper send-off.
This, and the following 2 episodes were hastily written to deal with the death of Compo.
As the funeral approaches, Howard struggles with having two dates for the occasion, Barry tries to conceal his engine noises from Wesley, and Compo's lady friend Regina is in desperate need of an appropriate dress.
A choir sings the theme tune for only the third time, this time with lyrics rewritten to reflect Compo's death.
Nora intercepts a letter from Compo's son, Tom, who Compo didn't know about until shortly before he died. They learn that Tom doesn't know about his father's death and is coming to town for a visit.
Howard gets into a panic when he cannot find his shorts and is questioned about them by Pearl. Howard enlists Billy's help to provide him with some spare shorts, though perhaps he has failed to appreciate the height difference between them.
Wesley's latest invention should prove a big hit at the jumble sale, if only the rude noises it makes could be quietened down! Meanwhile, Clegg, Truly and Billy seek to help Barry improve his standing at the local golf club.
Howard recruits Truly and Clegg to hide his latest gift for Marina until he can give it to her. The coffee circle becomes suspicious and attempts to uncover the truth behind the mysteriously shrouded object.
Norman Wisdom makes his third guest appearance as Billy Ingleton
When Pearl finds a single blonde hair on one of Howard's shirts he need some assistance to get himself out of trouble enlisting Clegg, Truly and Billy to try to find him a plausible excuse.
As Barry and Howard indulge their latest respective passions, a solicitor's letter arrives, addressed to Compo. Truly, Clegg and a nervous Tom venture out to determine whether it's good Yorkshire fortune or a bad bookie debt.
Barry has the undesirable task of collecting on a customer's late payment, and the quartet have a little fun at his expense; meanwhile, Howard and Marina find themselves in a stickier-than-normal situation.
When Howard leaves some picnic items at Clegg's for safekeeping he fails to mention that it includes Marina. Truly and Billy work to help Clegg get Marina out whilst Howard is next door at the ladies coffee morning - refusing to leave!
Wesley brings culinary ingenuity to the Yorkshire wilderness as Howard decides to surveil Pearl and Ros during their day out.
Nora Batty's absence is explained by her leaving to visit relatives in Australia; the episode opens with a faraway shot of her departing for the airport.
In Search of Childlike Joy and the Farthest Reaches of the Lotus Position
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, despite him appearing in the previous Christmas special.
When he sees Marina wearing a wedding dress and being driven through town, Howard becomes distraught, putting a damper on Billy's plans to celebrate Robin Hood's birthday.
Who's That With Barry and Glenda - It's Not Barry and Glenda
Clegg, Truly, Alvin and Billy unite to help end a long running feud between Nora Batty and Audrey Craig, which began when Audrey laughed at one of Nora's hats.
Clegg, Alvin, Billy and Entwistle play a trick on Truly to make him think his ex-wife the "former Mrs Truelove" is keen to get in touch with him and visit.
After Clegg, Truly, Billy and Alvin encounter a stranger planning to float to Ilkley using an inflatable swan, it's up to Entwistle to ensure the man completes his journey.
Clegg climbs an old tree to prove that the town clock from a nearby village can be seen from its height, and a delivery to the church hall gets a bit out of control.
Auntie Wainwright acquires a mystery parcel at an auction and sends Tom and Smiler to pick it up; when the items in question turn out to be caskets, the men try to think of other marketable uses for them.
While Alvin endeavors to become the world's greatest kite flyer, Howard falls into a depression after Clegg devilishly convinces him that he's an orphan.
Billy's expertise in all things outdoors is called into question, and Barry acquires the services of Tom and Smiler in an attempt to impress the Captain.
When Ivy and Nora see Alvin strolling with a strange woman, Alvin devises a scheme to spark Nora's jealousy; meanwhile, Barry's trip to the library might end up put him off reading entirely.
Billy is excited after learning he has recruited a new member for his Merry Men; unfortunately, the individual in question is not quite what he expected, forcing him to seek assistance from Clegg, Truly and Alvin.
When Smiler and Tom go to collect Auntie Wainright's new company vehicle, they find it certainly has "plenty of room in the back". But is it really up to the job?
