Last of the Summer Wine series 21 explained

Bgcolour:	DEDDE2
Network:	BBC One
Num Episodes:	10
Film Start:	Millennium Special: 1999 Series 21: 1999
Prev Season:	20

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-first series aired on BBC One. Most of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell.

Outline

The trio in this series consisted of:

Actor	Role
Bill Owen
Peter Sallis	Clegg
Frank Thornton	Truly
Tom Owen

First appearances

Ros Utterthwaite (2000–2005)
Tom Simmonite (2000–2010)
Mrs Avery (2000–2001)
Babs Avery (2000)

Last appearances

Compo Simmonite (1973–2000)
Babs Avery (2000)

List of Episodes

Millennium Special (2000)

Regular series

Title	Airdate	Description	Notes
Lipstick and Other Problems	2 April	When Glenda finds Barry covered in lipstick he needs assistance from the trio to explain it away. Truly comes up with the notion of a sponsored kiss which only leaves one problem, making it look like they've each been kissed.	The first three episodes of Series 21 had already been partly filmed before Bill Owen's death. To make them complete for broadcast, scripts were reworked, camera tricks and stock shots were used, and a body double was used for far off shots. Compo is in fewer scenes, but plays a full part in those he is in. Audience of 7.91m - 35th most watched programme of the week.
Under the Rug	9 April	Clegg finds himself having to model Howard's new wig after Pearl becomes suspicious. With Howard reluctant to take the wig they concoct a plan to show him attractive it makes the wearer to the ladies; roping in Smiler and Marina to help.	Audience of 7.28m - 36th most watched programme of the week.
Magic and the Morris Minor	16 April	The trio finds a married couple stranded in a field trying to contact ancient civilizations with a Morris Minor hubcap. Meanwhile, Howard tries to carry on his relationship with Marina over two-way radio, and Barry tries to prove he's "one of the boys".	This was Bill Owen's last episode as Compo (Owen died around 9 months before this episode was aired). Audience of 7.96m - 32nd most watched programme of the week.
Elegy for Fallen Wellies	23 April	Nora, in "sexy" costume for a church pageant, takes a dare from Ivy to call Compo's bluff and present herself on his doorstep. The unexpected result is that he collapses and has to be rushed to the hospital. Although Clegg and Truly expect the best, Compo dies as the doctors try to save him.Cleggy and Truly, as well as Nora and Ivy, spend the night remembering him and trying to figure out how to give him a proper send-off.	This was the first episode not to feature Bill Owen as he had died before filming for the rest of this regular series would resume. This, and the following 2 episodes were hastily written to deal with the death of Bill Owen. The end theme is slightly different to give it a more sombre tone. This and "Just a Small Funeral" are the only two episodes to use the sombre end theme. The first of the Compo's passing trilogy. The first of only two instances of Truly's house appearing, named as The Nick, its other appearance being in the later episode "Waggoner's Roll". Audience of 6.45m - 46th most watched programme of the week.
Surprise at Throstlenest	30 April	Clegg and Truly find out a few unexpected things about Compo as they take his ferrets to their new home.	Guest star Liz Fraser as Reggie Unsworth The second of the Compo's passing trilogy. Audience of 7.23m - 31st most watched programme of the week.
Just a Small Funeral	7 May	As the funeral approaches, Howard struggles with having two dates for the occasion, Barry tries to conceal his engine noises from Wesley, and Compo's lady friend Regina is in desperate need of an appropriate dress.	The Val Stokes Singers sing the theme tune for its third and final time, this time with lyrics rewritten to reflect Compo's death. The end theme is again given a more sombre tone. The third and final of the Compo's passing trilogy. Guest star Liz Fraser as Reggie Unsworth Audience of 7.86m - 25th most watched programme of the week.
From Here to Paternity	14 May	Nora intercepts a letter from Compo's son, Tom, who Compo didn't know about until shortly before he died. They learn that Tom doesn't know about his father's death and is coming to town for a visit.	This marks the first appearance of Tom along with that of Mrs Avery and Babs. Audience of 6.81m - 33rd most watched programme of the week.
Some Vans Can Make you Deaf	21 May	While others unite in the effort to repair his tatty van, Tom does his best to avoid lifting a finger to help.	Ros becomes a regular character from this episode onwards. Audience of 7.54m - 29th most watched programme of the week.
Waggoner's Roll	28 May	Tom decides Babs is destined for showbiz, even though Babs herself wants nothing to do with it. Barry quickly becomes another unwilling participant in the act.	Audience of 7.13m - 33rd most watched programme of the week. Second and final appearance of Truly's house, 'The Nick'.
I Didn't Know Barry Could Play	4 June	Picking up "music" for Babs turns out to be a deceptively simple-sounding task for Clegg, Truly and Barry.	3rd & final appearance of Babs. Audience of 6.97m - 36th most watched programme of the week.

DVD release

The box set for series twenty one was released by Universal Playback in March 2012, mislabelled as a box set for series 21 & 22.

The Complete Series 21 & 22
Set Details^[1]
21 episodes 4-disc set Language: English
Release Date
Region 2
26 March 2012

Notes and References

Web site: Last of the Summer Wine Series 21 & 22 [DVD]]. 20 August 2016 . Amazon .