Axe Summer Wine says shock magazine survey

Sep 23 2003 By Ed Reed, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LAST Of The Summer Wine today tops a shock poll of TV programmes viewers want AXED!

The longest-running comedy TV series in the world was given the thumbs down by 12,000 television buffs in a Radio Times survey.

The show has followed the antics of a gang of elderly delinquents for more than 30 years despite the loss of leading actors including Bill Owen and Dame Thora Hird.

But it takes nearly one-third of the votes in a wide-ranging survey for the listings magazine, out today.

It pulled in more than twice as many calls to be scrapped as runner-up Heartbeat.

The magazine drew up the poll to mark its 80th birthday.

Although more than six million viewers regularly tune in to follow the fortunes of characters, including Cleggy and Nora Batty, others clearly felt it was time to bring the show to a close.

Cast and crew are busily recording a new season of episodes around Holmfirth.

Learning about the Radio Times survey, writer Roy Clarke hit back: "I don't see why it should finish. If people don't like it they shouldn't switch it on! What's the matter? Are they too idle to turn it off?"

Breaking off from filming, producer Alan J W Bell commented: "Radio Times has always been anti-Last Of The Summer Wine."

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