Axe Summer Wine says shock magazine survey

Sep 23 2003 By Ed Reed, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Elderly viewers, he said, adored the show. "As long as we satisfy a large audience, that's all it needs."

If the unthinkable did happen and the BBC decided to pull the plug, he promised the programme would continue.

"Certainly we have got plans to carry on if the BBC do try and cut it."

Veteran comedy writer Vince Powell, creator of Bless This House and a string of TV mega-hits over the past 30 years, argued that Summer Wine could carry on indefinitely.

"I think it's a bit like Coronation Street," said Vince from his Surrey home. "It will never reach the end of its life. If the BBC want to continue doing it, they'll do it.

"It has become an institution and I don't think they dare take it off."

He believed Summer Wine survived because of its superb cast.

Andrew Bray, of the Holme Valley Business Association, foresaw life after the TV series.

"There will be a time after Last Of The Summer Wine, but we have got 34 years of repeats! It's not going to go away for a long time. It's a part of Holmfirth's history."

The results of the questionnaire, he argued, depended entirely on the age of the respondents.

Christopher Gardner is the owner of the Wrinkled Stocking tea rooms.

"It's one of the few programmes on TV that has no sex and no swearing," he said. "It's just clean fun."

The Radio Times survey found Doctor Who was the show which most people wanted to see revived, pulling in 31% of the votes.