Hey, Foggy! All is revealed about ‘Winos’ in new book
Following the success of their blog their 2018 Edinburgh Fringe show and their national theatre tour, writers Bob Fischer and Andrew T Smith have released the first book of a multi volume series, examining the finer details of legendary BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.
When two friends decided to watch all 295 episodes of legendary sitcom Last of the Summer Wine in order, they got more than they bargained for.
Not just plenty of laughs, but also a fascinating look at 20th century British history through the eyes of Compo, Clegg, Blamire, Foggy and friends.
The expanded version of their Summer Winos blog sees Andrew and Bob reviewing the first five years of the show in depth, episode by episode.
Expect giant carrots, mysterious matchboxes, wayward ferrets, catastrophic canoeing expeditions ... and a little too much detail about the prices in Sid’s Cafe!
With extensive thoughts on each episode, contemporary reviews, 1970s audience feedback, newly-unearthed trivia and a foreword by Last of the Summer Wine’s own Crusher, Jonathan Linsley, this is the ultimate unofficial companion to the formative years of Roy Clarke’s classic BBC sitcom.
“Last of the Summer
Wine is obviously a show that Bob and I adore,” said Andrew. “I hope this comes across in the book and that like-minded fans can join us on our journey through the series. A journey that nobody asked us to make, but that we’re nonetheless incredibly glad to have embarked upon.”
“It’s us overthinking everything, as usual!” said Bob.
“We’ve watched every episode from scratch, and have gone overboard looking into the tiniest details.
“From the strange careers of walk-on actors to the wrestling matches advertised on the posters in the cafe.
“We tried to treat every episode as a little time capsule of 1970s social history, and it’s been a fascinating journey.”
Facts and figures
Last of the Summer Wine ran between 1973 and 2010, with a total of 295 episodes broadcast. The series was written and created by Roy Clarke.
It starred the late Bill Owen as Compo, Michael Gates as Cyril Blamire and Peter Sallis as Norman Clegg.
Brian Wilde joined the cast as Foggy. Other actors who have appeared include Michael Aldridge, Frank Thornton and Russ Abbot.
The late Thora Hird, Kathy Staff and Jean Alexander were regulars.
Andrew T Smith is a Gateshead-born writer and filmmaker whose previously published works include Marx and Re-Marx: Creating and Re-Creating the Lost Marx Brothers Radio Series.
He has worked in numerous capacities on such film and television projects as Filmed in Supermarionation, Thunderbirds: The
Anniversary Episodes and Nebula-75. He unironically wears a flat cap.
Bob Fischer is a writer and radio broadcaster from Teesside. He reports regularly on strange phenomena for Fortean Times magazine and strange music for Electronic Sound magazine, and his previous book Wiffle Lever to Full! was an acclaimed travelogue of science fiction conventions. He knowingly wears a woolly green hat.
Prices in Sid’s Cafe: Steak Pie 12p, Fish and Chips 25p, Tea 4p, Coffee 7p.
Summer Winos – Volume 1: 1973-1978 offers the first indepth analysis of the formative years of one of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms, Last of the Summer Wine.
The book is available in paperback via the Summer Winos website or via https:// bobfischer.bigcartel.com/ product/summer-winos-volume-1-1973-1978 site.