Clegg: Peter Sallis

Jan 1 2000

Norman Clegg (Scowling) 158

Persuasive sales patter from Auntie Wainwright, an icy stare from Pearl and the prospect of a hug from the glamorous femme fatale Marina are equally unnerving for the usually quick-witted Norman Clegg.

When he is with Compo and Foggy, he comes across as an easy-going chap with a wry sense of humour who enjoys a quiet, philosophical approach to life. For Clegg, life's greatest pleasures are a gentle stroll, a quiet pint and the company of one or two close companions.

But while the fearless Compo has followed a lifelong quest to win the heart of Nora Batty, Clegg shows a more timid side to his nature whenever he encounters a member of the opposite sex.

The character's shyness was also apparent in the First of the Summer Wine series which showed the familiar characters as they were in their youth. After more than 20 years in the role, actor Peter Sallis feels that, on the whole, the character has changed very little with the passage of time.

In the early days, with a smaller cast, he had "much more to do", but admits he is happier with the way things are now. Although there are now several other characters in each episode, and more scene changes, Clegg is still very much a central character, alongside Compo, the loveable layabout and Foggy the bungling old soldier whose ideas usually backfire.

And, if the most recent series is anything to go by, we are just as likely to see him bumping into Pearl in the supermarket, being teased by Marina or having a re-assuring neighbourly chat with the long-suffering Howard.

Peter has witnessed a number of changes in the Holme Valley since the first series was shown in 1973 - so how does he see the area now?

"I am not by nature a lover of hills and high winds, but I don't think you could fail to become fond of the place in some way," he said. "When we first came to Holmfirth, I must admit I thought it was really dead.

"There didn't seem much here at all. There was the inevitable collection of pubs and I believe there was just one cafe, opposite what I call the Obelisk, the memorial that marks the Holmfirth Flood."

He recalled that, in the early days, there was very little time to get to know the area in between filming."We didn't actually stay round here - we were over in Marsden, at the Coach And Horses I think it was, so, with most of our days taken up with filming we didn't see that much of Holmfirth."

By the time Summer Wine was celebrating its tenth year in production, Holmfirth was buzzing with activity, attracting increasing numbers of visitors. It was around this time that Peter took the opportunity to spend a little more time in the area.

"I took a cottage in Holmfirth which I quite enjoyed for a season or two and I then felt as though I was more a part of the town than I had been previously. By then, the town had broadened out considerably. There were boutiques opening left right and centre and the inevitable wine bars."

Peter's distinctive tones have been heard many times on radio and television, one of the more unusual roles being the voice of Rat in the animated TV films of The Wind In The Willows. His professional career dates back to 1946 when he made his first appearance at the Arts Theatre, London, in The Scheming Lieutenant, which followed RAF service during the Second World War and RADA training for the theatre.

Repertory experience eventaully led to the West End, where he has appeared in many successful plays. Stage appearances in recent years have included the role of Dogberry in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing On Broadway, Peter played Dr Watson in the musical Baker Street, while his many films include Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and Wuthering Heights.