I'm a Wine fan, says Prince

Feb 28 2002 By Neil Atkinson, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Hooked: Prince Charles

THE Queen Mother got the Prince of Wales hooked on the TV sitcom Last Of The Summer Wine, it has been revealed.

Writer Roy Clarke found out about his royal fan base when he received his OBE at Buckingham Palace for services to comedy broadcasting.

After collecting the honour from Prince Charles, Mr Clarke said: "He told me he liked the programme and his grandmother had introduced him to it.

"He was very kind and gracious and said he enjoyed it."

Mr Clarke, 72, has written every episode of Last Of The Summer Wine, Britain's longest running sitcom, which is set in Holmfirth.

It is about a group of ageing villagers who engage in adolescent pranks.

Working from his home in the village of Sykehouse, near Doncaster, Mr Clarke is also responsible for creating and writing other successful sitcoms, including Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances.

He said of his OBE: "I'm very pleased. I was surprised to get it and it really came out of the blue, but it's great to have - it's a piece of history."

Mr Clarke is still writing more episodes of the series, now in its 30th year.