Last of the Summer Wine series 26 explained

Bgcolour:	DEDDE2
Network:	BBC One
Num Episodes:	11
Film Start:	Christmas Special: 2004 Series 26: 2004
Prev Season:	25

Last of the Summer Wines twenty-sixth series aired on BBC One from December 2004 through May 2005. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell.

Outline

The quartet in this series consisted of:

Actor	Role
Peter Sallis	Clegg
Frank Thornton	Truly
Keith Clifford	Billy
Brian Murphy	Alvin

Returning this series

PC Walsh (1988–1989, 2004–2010)

Last appearances

Ros Utterthwaite (2000–2005)

List of episodes

Christmas Special (2004)

Regular series

Title	Airdate	Description	Notes
The Swan Man of Ilkley	13 March	After Clegg, Truly, Billy and Alvin encounter a stranger planning to float to Ilkley using an inflatable swan, it's up to Entwistle to ensure the man completes his journey.	Guest appearances (for the first time) of Bobby Ball and Tommy Cannon. The trio becomes a quartet from this episode till the next series. Audience of 5.65m – 38th most watched programme of the week.
Watching the Clock	20 March	Clegg climbs an old tree to prove that the town clock from a nearby village can be seen from its height, and a delivery to the church hall gets a bit out of control.	Audience of 4.55m – 54th most watched programme of the week.
Has Anyone Seen a Peruvian Wart?	27 March	Nora Batty finds herself the target of a notorious womaniser after she garners his attention with her baked goods.	Guest appearance of Roy Barraclough. Second appearance of Billy's house and second time Billy's wife is heard talking Audience of 4.53m – 52nd most watched programme of the week.
Hermione (The Short Course)	10 April	A "Do Not Disturb" sign on Clegg's door rouses curiosity and worry among his friends; Smiler finds himself yearning for a lost love.	Audience unknown. Tony Capstick's character, 2nd policeman, is referred to as having been transferred to Huddersfield.
Who's That Mouse in the Poetry Group?	17 April	In an attempt to improve his appeal, Smiler transforms himself into an "intellectual" to both Marina's delight and Howard's chagrin.	Audience of 5m – 38th most watched programme of the week. Jess Conrad makes an appearance as a walker.
Available for Weddings	24 April	After Clegg breaks his leg attempting a steep hill, the Yorkshire countryside becomes a test track for Truly's experimental studded bicycle tyres.	Audience of 4.73m – 39th most watched programme of the week.
The McDonaghs of Jamieson Street	1 May	When Smiler tells the boys about the "girl who got away", they venture out to track her down and play Cupid.	Audience of 3.9m – 59th most watched programme of the week. Dora Bryan is billed in the opening credits but does not appear.
The Afterthoughts of a Co-op Manager	8 May	Truly heads a search for a manager Clegg worked under in his youth, finding that even the tyrannous can harbour virtue.	Audience of 4.93m – 34th most watched programme of the week.
Lot No. 8	15 May	Auntie Wainwright acquires a mystery parcel at an auction and sends Tom and Smiler to pick it up; when the items in question turn out to be coffins, the men try to think of other marketable uses for them.	Audience Unknown
Little Orphan Howard	29 May	While Alvin endeavours to become the world's greatest kite flyer, Howard falls into a depression after Clegg devilishly convinces him that he's an orphan.	Final appearance of Ros Utterthwaite. Audience of 3.67m – 59th most watched programme of the week.

DVD release

The box set for series twenty-six was released by Universal Playback in October 2015, mislabelled as a box set for series 27 & 28.

The Complete Series 27 & 28
Set Details^[1]
21 episodes 4-disc set Language: English
Release Date
Region 2
5 October 2015

Notes and References

Web site: Last of the Summer Wine Series 27 & 28 [DVD]]. 5 October 2015 . 20 August 2016 . Amazon .