Prince backs the Summer Wine stars

Nov 21 2002 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Prince Charles: Big fan of the show

TELEVISION comedy series Last of the Summer Wine has won the royal seal of approval.

Prince Charles revealed he loves to watch the antics of the crazy characters.

He spoke of his love of the programme at a reception for the Actors' Benevolent Fund in London.

Kathy Staff, who plays Nora Batty in the series, which is filmed in Holmfirth, said afterwards: "I told him we were doing another series and he said: `Oh, good; it's my favourite programme. It was my grandmother's favourite programme'."

Kathy added: "He was lovely. He came to life. He got so animated about it. He said: `It's so funny. It makes me laugh all the time. I'm so glad you're doing some more'."

A new series is due on BBC1 next year.

More than 100 figures from the world of stage and TV attended the event at St James's Palace, to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Actors' Benevolent Fund.

The charity exists to supports actors who are no longer able to work through old age, accident or illness.

Other guests at the reception included Charles Dance, Sir Michael Gambon, Alan Bates and Penelope Keith, the benevolent fund's president.