Summertime is such a delightful time of year with all its friendly casualness, good cheer, and laughter. In light of this, it is a good time to remember the fabulous BBC comedy sitcom, The Last of the Summer Wine created and written by Roy Clarke. It is the longest running comedy program in Britain and the longest running sitcom in the world with more than 30 series.

The Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on January 4, 1973, and the first of the series of 30 minute episodes followed on November 12, 1973. The opening theme for each episode is “The Last of the Summer Wine” composed by Ronnie Hazlehurst with Nigel Hess and Jim Parker.   It is an affectionate comedy about people in the autumn of their years with a penchant for light philosophy and full-on slapstick. The first run followed the misadventures of three elderly friends tramping around the Yorkshire countryside (the town of Holmfirth and its surroundings).

“And so it keeps going. Cut to some years in the future, when this website has rotted down to its very pixels. Somewhere in the Yorkshire Pennines, there’ll still be an old man hurtling down a hill in a tin bath.” Thank you PBS for continuing to provide laughter to so many and keeping light-hearted Summertime available. We salute you.