Brian Conley is set to front a upcoming TV special paying tribute to the longest-running sitcom in the world, Last of the Summer Wine. Titled The Last Drop of Summer Wine, the special is currently in production and will air on UKTV.
Last of the Summer Wine ran on the BBC from 1973 to 2010, airing 295 episodes. Conley himself appeared in an episode in 2008.
The series was created by Roy Clarke who wrote all 295 episodes. Clarke has created a selection of brand‑new written reflections inspired by the series exclusively for the special.
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In a statement Clarke, who is 96, said: "It’s been a pleasure to work on this one. We've squeezed all the juice that we can with love and affection. I've enjoyed this wander down Memory Lane as I hope the viewers will."
Conley added: "I am delighted to be hosting this look back at the longest running TV sitcom in the world. Getting the chance to share all the amazing stories, the fun, the laughter, and above all the love, was a real honour."
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Last of the Summer Wine was set in Yorkshire and the special will see Conley take "viewers on a jaunt to Holmfirth and the heart of Summer Wine country to revisit the locations that became a worldwide tourist attraction, and meet the families of cast members, local residents and friends of the show".
The special will also feature unseen photos, scripts and scrapbooks from the personal archives of Clarke, along with photos from the families of original actors Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Kathy Staff, as well as the show’s long-term producer and director, Alan JW Bell.
Jason Dawson, UKTV's commissioning executive, added: "Six decades since it began, our viewers are still utterly devoted to Last of the Summer Wine, and we're honoured to have Sir Roy Clarke, Brian Conley and the brilliant producers at Phil McIntyre working with us to celebrate and reward that devotion with this wonderful film.
"Besides, any excuse to visit Holmfirth right?"
The Last Drop of Summer Wine will air on U&GOLD in 2027.
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After graduating with a degree in history from Queen Mary University, London, she studied journalism at Birkbeck University.
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