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A Day in the Life of a Summer Wine Extra   

Many thanks to Lesley for her really interesting report, and photos, which will be of interest to many fans worldwide. 
 


This is the account of our days as an extra in Last Of The Summer Wine. 

All the scenes were filmed in the “Monkey Inn” which is in Thurgoland. Our first day on set was Thursday 12 September 2002, the previous night we spent at the Wortley Hall Hotel with various members of the cast who stay there whilst filming.

Thursday morning on set 7:30am, tea and bacon sandwiches (or full English breakfast or whatever you want to eat) all from the on site Catering van. The food van, dining bus, make-up, wardrobe, production team, actor’s caravans, and the whole team were set up in a farmer’s field opposite the Monkey Inn.

Approx 8:30am filming starts so everyone inside the pub awaiting instructions. We sat chatting with Tom Owen, Bernard Cribbins, Frank Thornton, William Lucas, Josephine Tewson and Keith Clifford. (Tea, Coffee and Juices on site all day)

Myself, husband Andy and daughter Lucy were called on set about 10:30am, our part was a family out for the evening in our local having a drink. Andy had to pay for the drinks and then bring them to our table, the scenes inside being filmed were B.Cribbins entering the Inn dishevelled. Norris and Truly brought him into the Inn. Clegg was waiting for them. It took several minutes to get things right and then a few rehearsals and about 4 takes to get it just right.

AJW is very precise in how things are set out and done even to the degree of the extras (us) getting it perfect.

The next scene was Miss. Davenport drunk at the bar. We are in the background shots having a chat and a drink (real beer was used but wine was blackcurrant juice). Miss. Davenports drink was brandy i.e. weak shandy. Off camera and in between takes the banter with the cast was going on all the time. It was very amusing and fascinating. Also some do crosswords and puzzles when waiting for the next takes.

Break for dinner at 1pm. The food was very top standard i.e. London qualities with starters, main courses and deserts. We all at on the Dining Bus and had a laugh over lunch with Tom Owen.

After lunch back on set with a surprise for me. AJW said me and Julie (another extra) were to be glam girls in fitting with the story, Tom and Smiler meeting 2 showgirls on a blind date. AJW sent me to wardrobe didn’t have much in the way of glam clothes. Eventually I was kitted out with a short skirt etc, make-up was buffer hair and bright make-up.

During this time Andy and Lucy were on set filming with Tony Melody who was the landlord of the Monkey Inn. He was discussing with Norris, Clegg and Truly wives and ex-wives.

When I came back on set AJW said I was needed to film a scene with Barry. Barry walked into the Inn he hesitates at the doorway when he sees the 2 “show girls” blocking his way and fumbles between us to get past upon which I said “that’s ok”. It took me several takes to get it right (not easy to say “that’s ok” Ha Ha) the way AJ wants it.

This was an important part, which links the storyline together as I will explain later. We met Rosy and Lynne who were the real showgirls who are featured in episode 10. After I had finished my scene, Andy and Lucy were still needed for the pub scenes so I waited with Barry. We had tea and cakes.

We stopped filming about 6pm back to wardrobe so Andy and me got changed. I had to be on set at 7:25am the next day for wardrobe and make-up.

We had dinner that evening with Rosy and Lynne, which was very pleasant, Rosy has been in quite a lot of films and just finished filming “League Of Gentlemen”.

Lynne has just finished writing a play with “Shelly” off “Coronation Street”. She has also been in many TV films.

In bed and lights out at 10:30pm ready for the next days filming.

Day 2 started at 7:15am in make-up to be made up as Glam 1 again. Straight into wardrobe for costume which pressed and ready for today. Andy got changed as well. Then in to the breakfast van for 8am. Whatever you want but me, Andy and Lucy all had Bacon and Fried Egg butties the best we’ve had!

On set at the Monkey Inn for 8:30am sharp. Filmed various shots in the morning mainly Andy and Lucy in the pub scenes where Clegg, Truly, Barry, Billy and Norris were discussing terms of a contract. It was amazing watching them together, the same banter when the cameras cut and when we were sitting (off scene) having a cup of tea and the lads doing crosswords and puzzles.

They were seated in the lower bar area. Andy and Lucy were seated above and the camera paused from them to the actors on the “action” shout. Andy had to take drinks from the landlord Tony Melody, put them on the table and look down towards the lively discussion going on down below. We broke for dinner at about 12:30pm, back onto the field for dinner, we sat with Tom Owen and at dinner we talked about various things, it was as if we had known him for years as with all the cast he was truly genuine.

After lunch Jean Alexander, Jean Ferguson and Burt Kwok were filming scenes outside the Monkey Inn, we sat off camera again with Tom Owen, Stephen Lewis, Robert Fyre and Mike Grady etc, watching them do there bit. Then finally it was back in the Monkey Inn to film the conclusion of the episode. Myself, Andy and Lucy were all heavily involved in what turns out to be the punch line of the episode (wont spoil it by telling you, you’ll just have to watch!). Filming finished at 6:00pm with fond farewells to everyone and exchanged a few phone numbers. We drove away after a great 2 days on the set of Last Of The Summer Wine”. Looking forward to our return in the next series!!!!!                        

MY PART IN "LAIR OF THE CAT CREATURE"
Many thanks to Steve for this fascinating contribution. 

IN JULY 2002 I FILMED MY PART IN LASW, LAIR OF THE CAT CREATURE...ODDLY NAMED I KNOW BUT MY DAY ON SET WAS BRILLIANT....

I HAD BEEN OFFERED THE PART THROUGH MY FRIENDSHIP WITH SIR NORMAN WISDOM, I`VE KNOWN NORMAN FOR EIGHT YEARS AND I USED TO DRIVE HIM, CHAFFEUR AND ARRANGE FAN GATHERING.. I STILL SPEAK TO NORMAN REGULARLY AND HE`S GREAT, 88 AND HEALTHY..

ANYWAY I WAS OFFERED A WALK ON PART AND GLADLY EXCEPTED..

IT WAS QUITE NERVE RACKING BUT AT THAT TIME THE "LAIR OF THE CAT CREATURE" WAS TO BE THE XMAS SPECIAL BECAUSE NORMAN HADN`T CONFIRMED ANYTHING DEFINITE WITH AJWB. AS IT HAPPENS NORMAN DID FILM AND AS HE`S A BIGGER NAME THAN ME (HA HA) HE GOT THE XMAS BILLING AND MY BIT WAS PUSHED INTO JANUARY..HE`S FORGIVEN..

I WAS THRILLED TO SEE BRIAN MURPHY ON SET, I SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR TALKING TO HIM AT LUNCH AND HE WAS LOVELY, REALLY FRIENDLY AND CHATTY, HE HAD TOOTH ACHE SO I GAVE HIM SOME PARACETAMOL.

KEITH CLIFFORD WAS BACK FROM SET FIRST, BEFORE LUNCH AND HE SPENT A GOOD HOUR TALKING TO ME, WE TALKED ABOUT LASW AND BARNSLEY, I USED TO LIVE THERE.. AND HE RANG MY PARTNER'S MOTHER ON MY MOBILE AND THEY HAD A CHAT WHICH THRILLED HER, AND ME.

I THEN SPENT THE AFTERNOON WATCHING THEM FILMING, THE PAINSTAKING SHOOTS WHERE BRILLIANT, IT TOOK ALL AFTERNOON FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES OF FILM.. THOSE WHO REMEMBER WILL KNOW BRIAN MURPHY WAS "ALVIN" AND HE POTTED A BALL WHICH SHOT OFF THE TABLE, THE STUNTMAN WHO I HAD JUST SERVED AT THE BAR, THEN FELL WITH A TRAY OF DRINKS...THEN I HAD TO SPIN ROUND LOOKING SHOCKED, I DID IT ABOUT TEN TIMES AND GOT IT RIGHT, FINALLY...I GOT PAID TOO..A BONUS I WOULD HAVE HAVE DONE IT FREE.