Nora may hang up her baggy stockings

Apr 19 2000

NORA BATTY, television's most unlikely sex symbol, is thinking of hanging up her baggy stockings for good, it emerged today.

Actress Kathy Staff has revealed that she is torn about continuing in the long-running comedy Last of the Summer Wine, which is filmed around Holmfirth, following the death of Bill Owen, who played the loveable rogue Compo.

For 26 years, woolly hatted Compo courted Nora in his own inimitable way until Owen's death last July brought their popular partnership to an end.

Now the 71-year-old actress is considering ditching the wrinkled brown stockings for good.

"It's all in the air as far as I'm concerned." said the actress.

"My first was not to do it when Bill left us. The BBC have spent a long time persuading me to go on. I don't really think I'm going to enjoy it any more.

"I automatically feel that, once Compo's gone, there's no future for Nora and no point in going on alone. I have great faith in Roy Clarke, who writes the series, but personally I cannot see how it's going to evolve."

She went on: "I've not signed any contract for the next series but I have told them I will do it. I will see how it goes when we start filming next month, but until then I wouldn't like to say."

On Sunday, viewers will see Nora lose her trademark stockings in favour of sheer black nylons when she dresses up as a Twenties flapper for a village concert - a sight that prompts the heart attack which kills off Compo.

Created by Roy Clarke, who has scripted every episode since the pilot was transmitted by the BBC in 1973, Last of the Summer Wine is the longest running comedy series on British television.