Battleaxe on the box is a real charmer off screen

Oct 23 2001 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SHE's the tyrant with the teapot.

The woman who believes all men have a place - as long as they know it, stick to it and do not answer back.

Cafe owner Ivy is a true Last Of The Summer Wine battleaxe, ruling with an iron rod over the scones and toasted teacakes.

But off screen, actress Jane Freeman is a real charmer.

And, along with Peter Sallis, she is well qualified to talk about the endearing quality of the hit comedy series.

She and Peter, who plays Norman Clegg, are the last two survivors from the original series almost 30 years ago.

She took part in the pilot show back in 1972 with filming completed just before her honeymoon.

"I thought that if I went off to Corfu as Ivy, they may not want me back.

"But I did go on holiday, the show went out and they wanted me back. The rest is history.

"What makes Summer Wine so successful? I think the main reason is Roy Clarke's wonderful perception of men as little boys.

"He has created characters of old men who act out fantasies as little boys, enjoying escapades they may have wanted to do years earlier.

"And there are some lovely people to work with. I enjoy every minute, whether we are on location or in the studio.

"They have made my part a little easier nowadays and it is certainly not as hard as it is for the likes of Peter Sallis or Frank Thornton.

"It is also a quality show, very expensive to make. Every piece of the series is filmed and much of that is done on location, as you cannot recreate that marvellous Holme Valley setting in a film studio.

"The show demonstrates just how wonderful it is in this part of Yorkshire; we were the first, and were followed by the likes of Heartbeat and Where The Heart Is."