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It is the Sunday before Christmas and millions, yes I do mean millions, of UK television viewers are tuned in to watch the Christmas 2005 episode of Last Of The Summer Wine entitled “ MERRY ENTWISTLE AND JACKSON DAY”. Indeed the media paper Radio Times actually chose it as one of their “choice viewing” recommendations for the evening.

THE NEW SERIES BEGINS ...

 

In this sparkling episode our usual impressive cast are joined by the excellent June Whitfield, now a mere 80 years of age, who plays Nelly – a former school friend of Nora and Ivy. Nelly is clearly a busybody and seems to have a husband called Travis; mind you he did not appear so I am wondering if he is to be one of life’s mysteries and whether we shall ever see him rather like others mentioned but never seen!

Howard naturally comes up with another Pearl-avoidance scheme involving Clegg and Truly and some empty snooker (pool) cue containers. Aunty Wainwright decides to dress Tom and Smiler as Father Christmases although Tom later changes into an elf. Because of the cold sitting in the back of Entwistle’s truck Smiler seeks some warming alcoholic drinks to “kill the pain” and he later becomes very much under the influence much to the curiosity of the two local policemen.

The episode romps along with all the usual pranks, thrills and spills but all served up with a crisp freshness thanks to Roy Clarke’s brilliant writing and Alan J W Bell’s superb direction. It is worth recalling that this first of the new 2005/2006 episodes is the 26th new series since 1973 making LOSW the longest-running comedy in the ENTIRE WORLD. And what’s more, another series is already commissioned for next winter also!

There are some memorable quotes in this episode as always as follows: (talking about Billy) “a macho primrose who stares fearlessly at pimples”. (Nora) “women have to be hard round here because the men are such big tulips”. (Barry looking outside his house with Glenda) “out?…. look how much OUT there is!”. (about Smiler) “of course he used to know some Christmas Carols….well he was engaged to a Carol and she had a wooden leg”.

This is a great start to the Summer Wine season and our annual tv pilgrimage to Holmfirth and I know that we can look forward to the other episodes with anticipation. Oh and if you see this in time, watch out for Alvin (Brian Murphy) starring in “The Booze Cruise 2” on Christmas Day ITV1 in the UK at 9pm – these talented actors of ours get everywhere don’t they but is that hardly surprising.

Happy New Year to all our readers – well maybe things will be even better for us all than 2005 – at least we have some superb comedy tv to look forward to…….

Gerald