'Last Of The Summer Wine' Faces Axe

08 May 2009

0Comments | Comment on this Article

'Last Of The Summer Wine' could be axed.

The long running classic comedy could become the latest victim of cutbacks as the BBC has announced it will not be filming a new series this summer.

Series creator Roy Clarke told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "We don't get enormous ratings these days. No one would be surprised if it goes."

We don't get enormous ratings these days. No one would be surprised if it goes.

The most recent series of the show - its 30th - won around three million viewers, a fraction of its mid 80s heyday when the show would regularly get an audience of up to 18 million.

June Whitfield, who plays the character Nelly in the show, said: "We've been told 'Summer Wine' is on hold for a year, but that normally means goodbye."

Many of the show's favourite characters have passed on in recent years. Both Kathy Staff, who played Nora Batty, and Brian Wilde who portrayed Foggy died last year. Bill Owen, who played Compo died in 1999.

Other series to be axed by the BBC include 'Only Fools and Horses' spin off series 'The Green, Green Grass', 'After You've Gone' and 'Not Going Out'.

0Comments | Be the first to comment!