Last of the Summer Wine to return to TV after 16 years

Last of the Summer Wine, written by Sir Roy Clarke, ran for 31 series from 1973 to 2010, with 295 episodes.

The original cast comprised the likes of Bill Owen, Peter Sallis and Michael Bates, alongside John Coman and Jane Freeman.

Over the years, the series welcomed other members, including Russ Abbot, Jean Alexander, Trevor Bannister, Dame Thora Hird, Burt Kwouk, and Brian Murphy.

The show has been described as a “British institution” by fans and boasts a 7.1-star rating on IMDb.

One viewer commented: “There are very few TV shows that could justifiably claim to be a British institution, but Last of the Summer Wine is certainly one of them.

“Watching Compo and friends on a Sunday evening was a staple of my childhood and I will always remember this show with great fondness.

“Bill Owen and Brian Wilde remain two of my favourite comic actors and few people have ever made me laugh as much as Danny O’Dea did as the hilarious Eli.

“The show never pretended to be anything other than gentle slapstick and needn’t be held to high standards.

“Yes the gags are repetitive and yes the storylines are predictable but this isn’t a problem.

“Last of The Summer Wine is the TV equivalent of comfort food; simple, wholesome and always enjoyable.”

Last of the Summer Wine to return to TV after 16 years

Now, after a 16-year hiatus, the popular sitcom is set to make a return in 2027 as part of a new special on U&GOLD.

The Last Drop of Summer Wine will take viewers back to Yorkshire and explore Sir Roy Clarke’s series, which is the longest-running sitcom in the world.

Director of programming at UKTV, Emma Tibbetts, said: “Last of the Summer Wine is one of the absolute jewels in the crown of U&Gold’s programming, and we want to do tribute to it as best we possibly can with this new retrospective special.

“Viewers are sure to fall in love with this wonderfully funny series and its richly drawn characters all over again.”

In the new special, actor and comedian Brian Conley, who appeared on Last of the Summer Wine in a guest role, will revisit the locations used in the series.

While there, he will meet the families of cast members, residents, and friends of the show.

The film will also feature unseen photos, scripts, and scrapbooks from the personal archives of Sir Roy, along with family photos from the families of Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Kathy Staff, and the show’s long-term producer and director, Alan JW Bell.

The U&GOLD special, The Last Drop of Summer Wine, will air in 2027. (Image: PA)

Commissioning executive at UKTV, Jason Dawson, said: “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?”

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.”

Sir Roy also said it had “been a pleasure to work on this one”.

He continued: “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.”

The Last Drop of Summer Wine is in production now and will air on U&GOLD in 2027.

Hit TV series to return to BBC this summer after 35 years

Another hit TV series is set to return to the BBC this summer after 35 years.

Bergerac was a police drama series set in Jersey, starring John Nettles as DS Jim Bergerac, which ran for nine series on the BBC from 1981 to 1991.

The series returned in 2025 on UKTV with a new reboot series featuring Damien Molony in the lead role.

The reboot also stars Zoë Wanamaker (as Charlie Hungerford), Robert Gilbert (Barney Crozier), Chloé Sweetlove (Kim Bergerac), and Pippa Haywood (Margaret Heaton).

The Bergerac reboot returned for a second series in April 2026.

But after 35 years, Bergerac is set to return to the BBC this summer.

BBC Drama confirmed series one of Bergerac would be “available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two this summer”.

Episodes from the original Bergerac series air occasionally on U&Drama and can be found on the U streaming service.

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