Women are far from the weakest link

Oct 23 2001 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

ROLE reversal is a key feature of Last Of The Summer Wine.

Many of the male characters are weak, simple souls - but the women are a different matter.

They put the world to rights over a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit - and tolerate their menfolk at a price.

Just ask Glenda.

Actress Sarah Thomas has played Glenda for 16 years - more than half the life of the hugely successful programme.

And she happily admits she would carry on for just as long if the show continues.

"I have no regrets at all about coming into the show. It has been fantastic.

"Everything about the programme works. There is wonderful casting, great directing, some tremendous writing from Roy Clarke, wonderful music and - perhaps best of all - some beautiful countryside.

"But the thing that makes it for me is that it is a show that never offends.

"You know with classic shows like Summer Wine or Only Fools And Horses that there are great characters who are never going to upset anyone along the way."

In her role as Glenda, Sarah gets to play some hilarious scenes with the likes of Dame Thora Hird, now 90, and Jane Freeman, a regular in the show since the first programme.

And she admits that they have a tremendous amount of fun while putting together each series, despite the fact that it is hard work.

"The people who have come in over the years have done a great job," added Sarah.