Taste of glory for Summer Wine

Oct 9 2001 By Neil Atkinson, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Compo, Foggy & Clegg (Hiding) 118

HIT comedy Last Of The Summer Wine is in line for a top award.

The long-running BBC series which marks its 30th year in 2002, has been shortlisted for the National TV Awards.

And it has been bracketed with Friends, The Royle Family and One Foot In The Grave in the comedy section.

It is a terrific honour for the programme which has been based in the Holme Valley since 1972 and has attracted tens of thousands of tourists to the area.

Filming for the next series has finished on location and the cast are now hard at work at Shepperton Studios.

A Christmas special of the programme, which began with a pilot show in January 1972, is also being completed.

Producer Alan J W Bell, who was delighted with the awards nomination, said: "Summer Wine is very hard work but it is so rewarding.

"And when we are nominated for awards alongside the likes of The Royle Family, One Foot In The Grave and Friends, it is all worthwhile."

The stars in the show include Peter Sallis, Frank Thornton, Dame Thora Hird, Jean Alexander and Tom Owen - the son of the late Bill Owen, who played Compo.

Comic Michael Barrymore's personal troubles have not dented his popularity with viewers as he made the short-list for top entertainer.

Barrymore, who has this year been treated for drink problems and is still facing a police investigation, is up against Ant and Dec, Chris Tarrant and Jim Davidson.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is up against The Weakest Link for the title of top quiz show at the awards on October 23.