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From Scotsman.com
ROY Clarke has been responsible for some sublime moments of television comedy, and Last of the Summer Wine is top of that list. As with all long-running shows, the moments of inspiration grew fewer as the run grew longer, and much the same can be said for this latest episode, in the shape of a stage farce rather than a television sitcom.
Clarke conjures up some good one-liners alongside some fairly laboured action as the familiar characters – Foggy (John Pennington), Norman (Timothy Kightley) and Compo (Harry Dickman) – find themselves embroiled in a two-stranded plot revolving around Foggy’s attempted romantic enticement of Samantha (Gillian Axtell) and the efforts of the caricature incompetent policeman, Gifford (Steven Pinder), to catch a supposed streaker (Tony Adams), who turns out not to be what he seems.
Nora Batty (Estelle Collins) has a small role, and there’s an even briefer cameo for the lovelorn Howard and Marina.
It is no easy task for anyone to take on characters so firmly associated with specific actors, and it is hard not to keep mentally comparing their performances with Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, et al.
They just about cope with the challenge, and Ruth Madoc’s feisty presence as Samantha’s domineering sister, Meg, is a bonus. They keep the silly action moving along at a nice pace and don’t overstay their welcome – the whole show is over in well under two hours, including the interval.
SCARBOROUGH has welcomed another famous summer visitor – but this one is staying beyond the summer.Actor Ken Kitson, currently on the nation’s screens as PC Cooper in the long-running BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine, moved to the town a fortnight ago and says it has fulfilled a dream.
Mr Kitson, whose acting career spans 37 years and includes appearances in Heartbeat and Emmerdale, said: “I was brought up in Bradford and lived with my mother, Bertha, who sadly died last year.
“I’ve always wanted to live by the sea and thought to myself if I didn’t do it now, I never would.
“I love it in Scarborough and I’ve enjoyed some early morning walks up to the castle. Despite the fact I’ve only been here a short time, it has been great.
“I’ve settled in well and my friend John Duttine, who plays Sgt George Miller in Heartbeat, came to visit the other day too.
“I’ve also had a walk around the town centre but I must try to stop my current diet of fish and chips and rock, even though it is wonderful.”
Mr Kitson, who has moved to the Old Town, is the third-longest-serving cast member in Last of the Summer Wine, having first appeared in 1983.
His move to Scarborough came about after current co-star Louis Emerick performed in a production in the town.
He said: “Louis was working at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the production of Sizwe Banzi is Dead.
“He knew I was looking for a place and spoke to someone at the theatre who was looking to rent the property out and now here I am, just three minutes from the sea. It’s great.”
Despite his move, Mr Kitson said he was still being kept busy by various projects, including raising money for a film project.
He added: “I’ve just finished six more episodes of Last of the Summer Wine and I’m working on my own poetry collection called Moods, Moments and Memories, as well as working more on my project, Fistful of Dreams, which is a Western romantic comedy. I also do a show called An Evening with Cooper and Walsh with Louis Emerick, which is an improvised evening. Obviously, we don’t know what is going to happening and love the adrenalin and the challenge it brings, even if some of the items suggested are ridiculous.”
The actor, has also played four different characters in Coronation Street – his last appearance coming three years ago as restaurant owner Frank Walker – added: “I’ve been in lots of the soaps and have had offers for more work, but I’m not ready for that yet.
“I’m enjoying what I’m doing at the moment and to go back to the soaps would be like going back to an office job.”
I was browsing the internet, and what do I come upon but our very own favorite cafe with its very own site! Complete with menus, history and even a couple of galleries from past filming of LOTSW done there. I don’t know how I ever missed this, but better late then never! Check it out!
