First of the Summer Wine

infobox television
show_name = First of the Summer Wine


caption = "First of the Summer Wine" intertitle
format = Comedy
runtime = 30 minutes per episode
creator = Roy Clarke
writer = Roy Clarke
director = Gareth Gwenlan (Pilot)
Mike Stephens (Series)
producer = Gareth Gwenlan (Pilot)
Mike Stephens (Series)
theme_music_composer = Al Bowlly
opentheme = "Sweet and Lovely"
starring = Derek Benfield
Sarah Dangerfield
Linda Davidson
David Fenwick
Joanne Heywood
Richard Lumsden
Paul McLain
Paul Oldham
Maggie Ollerenshaw
Helen Patrick
Peter Sallis
Gary Whitaker
Paul Wyett
country = UK
picture_format = PAL (576i)
language = English
network = BBC One
first_aired = 3 January 1988
last_aired = 8 October 1989
num_series = 2
num_episodes = 13
related = "Last of the Summer Wine"
list_episodes = List of First of the Summer Wine episodes
imdb_id = 0069602
tv_com_id = 74818|

"First of the Summer Wine" was a sitcom written by Roy Clarke that aired on BBC One. The pilot originally aired on 3 January 1988, and the first series of episodes followed on 4 September 1988. The show ran for two series of six episodes each, with the final episode airing on 8 October 1989. The pilot episode was produced and directed by Gareth Gwenlan. Both series of episodes were produced and directed by Mike Stephens. The BBC has never shown repeats of the show, although repeats do occasionally appear in the UK on satellite station UKTV Gold.cite news | first= | last=| coauthors= | title=First of the Summer Wine - Special Article | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.summer-wine.com/fosw/index.htm | work =Summer Wine Online| pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-28 | language = ] The show was broadcast in Australia on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation network in the early 1990s.cite news | first= | last=| coauthors= | title=First of the Summer Wine - Uncovered! | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.summer-wine.com/fosw/ozfan.htm | work =Summer Wine Online| pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-28 | language = ]

"First of the Summer Wine" was a prequel to Clarke's long running show, "Last of the Summer Wine", portraying the youth of the principle characters from the mother show in the months leading up to World War II. With the possibility of war hanging over them, the young men and women enjoy their youth while trying to find a place for themselves in the world. The show used young, mostly unknown actors to play the characters, with only two actors from the original series making an appearance in the prequel.Bright and Ross (2000), p. 28]

Production

With the success of "Last of the Summer Wine", the BBC approved a new series which Roy Clarke would carry over characters of the original show. With the new series, Clarke hoped to show the lives of his characters as they were in the "first summer" of their lives, as opposed to the second summer depicted in "Last of the Summer Wine". While there would still be the "shadow of the Grim Reaper" hanging over them, this time it would be because of World War II, not due to their old age.cite news | first= | last=| coauthors= | title=First of the Summer Wine | date= | publisher= | url =http://web.archive.org/web/20031003100438/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/f/firstofthesummer_7772635.shtml | work =BBC Guide to Comedy| pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-28 | language = ]

For the new series, Clarke used mostly young, inexperienced actors to fill the roles of the characters carried over from the original series. The actors were required to mimic the vocal characteristics and mannerisms already established in "Last of the Summer Wine" to create a continuity between the two series.cite news | first= | last=| coauthors= | title=First of the Summer Wine | date= | publisher= | url =http://web.archive.org/web/20031003100438/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/f/firstofthesummer_7772635.shtml | work =BBC Guide to Comedy| pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-28 | language = ]

The show features much 1920s and 1930s music which adds to the nostalgic feel of the show. The theme tune is "Sweet and Lovely", sung by Al Bowlly, accompanied by Roy Fox and his Band. The recording was made in London on 18 September 1931.

Characters

"First of the Summer Wine" followed a group of young men and women, some of whom were adapted from "Last of the Summer Wine", with others being specifically created for the new show. The men consisted of Paul Wyett as the scruffy and immature Compo Simmonite; David Fenwick as meek and deep-thinking Norman Clegg; Paul McLain as snobbish ladder-climber Seymour Utterthwaite; Richard Lumsden as the eager soldier Foggy Dewhurst; Gary Whitaker as the love-smitten Wally Batty; and Paul Oldham as their friend, Sherbert. The women consisted of Helen Patrick as the object of Wally's affections, Nora Renshaw; Sarah Dangerfield as the cook, Ivy; Joanne Heywood as Dilys; and Linda Davidson as Anita Pillsworth.Bright and Ross (2000), p. 160]

The adults around the young people act as supporting characters. Peter Sallis and Maggie Ollerenshaw play Mr. and Mrs. Clegg, Norman's parents. Derek Benfield portrays Mr. Scrimshaw, the owner of the shop where Ivy, Dilys, and Seymour work.

cenario

"First of the Summer Wine" takes place between May and September 1939, in the months leading up to World War II. The series revolves around the diary entries of the young Norman Clegg. Each episode begins with him resting on his bedroom windowsill and greeting the day; the words "the diary of Norman Clegg, aged 18 years" introduce the theme of each episode.

Episodes revolve around the antics of the young men of a small Yorkshire village and their usually level-headed female counterparts, all of whom are grappling with the world around them, their youth, and their experiences with the opposite sex. With rumblings of war on the European continent as Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Great Britain become increasingly poised for war, the lives of the young men and women will be changed forever.

Episodes

"First of the Summer Wine" ran for two series, each of which contained six episodes. The pilot episode aired on 3 January, 1988, and was produced and directed by Gareth Gwenlan. The first series of episodes aired between 4 September 1988 and 9 October 1988.Bright and Ross (2000), p. 162] A second series was produced and aired the following year between 3 September 1989 and 8 October 1989.Bright and Ross (2000), p. 163] All episodes from both series were produced and directed by Mike Stephens. Including the pilot, thirteen entries were produced and aired. [Bright and Ross (2000), pp. 160-163] All episodes of the show were written by Roy Clarke.

ee also

*Yorkshire dialect and accent

Notes

Reference

cite book
last = Bright
first = Morris
authorlink =
coauthors = Ross, Robert
title = Last of the Summer Wine: The Finest Vintage
publisher = BBC Worldwide
date = 2000-04-06
location = London
pages =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 0563551518

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20031003100438/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/f/firstofthesummer_7772635.shtml "First of the Summer Wine"] at the BBC Guide to Comedy, archived through [http://www.archive.org Internet Archive] 's Wayback Machine.
*imdb title|id=0094465|title=First of the Summer Wine
* [http://www.tv.com/first-of-the-summer-wine/show/74818/summary.html "First of the Summer Wine"] at TV.com.
* [http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/fosw/index.html "First Of The Summer Wine"] at phill.co.uk.
* [http://www.summer-wine.com/summer-wine/fosw/index.htm "First of the Summer Wine"] from the [http://www.summer-wine.com Summer Wine Appreciation Society] .