THURS AM: BBC hits back in Last Of The Summer Wine row

Dec 18 2008 By Andrew Jackson

THE BBC has denied reports that the Holmfirth-based sitcom The Last Of The Summer Wine is to end.

The move followed comments made by Alan JW Bell, the producer of the world’s long-running sitcom, to the Examiner.

Mr Bell says TV bosses told him they were not commissioning another series of the comedy, filmed in and around the Yorkshire town.

Mr Bell, who has worked on the show for 27 years, told the Examiner: "Russ Abbott has just joined us and would have become the main character. When I broke the news to him he said: ’I’m gutted’. Millions still enjoy the series and the actors love being involved."

But a BBC spokeswoman said: "Last Of The Summer Wine has not been decommissioned.

"There is a Christmas special about to go out followed by a new series in the autumn. The series after that will be commissioned once the new series is on air."