Last of the Summer Wine (series 8)

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Last of the Summer Wine
Series 8
LOTSWs7.jpg
Last of the Summer Wine Series 7 & 8 DVD
No. of episodes7
Release
Original network BBC1
Original release30 December 1984 (1984-12-30) 
17 March 1985 (1985-03-17)
Additional information
Filming dates
  • Seasonal Special: 1984
  • Series 8: 1984
Series chronology
 Previous
7
Next 
9
List of episodes

Last of the Summer Wine's eighth series originally aired on BBC1 between 30 December 1984 and 17 March 1985. [1] All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. [2]

Contents

The eighth series was released on DVD in region 2 as a combined box set with series 7 on 3 March 2008.

Outline

The trio in this series consisted of:

ActorRole
Bill Owen Compo
Peter Sallis Clegg
Brian Wilde Foggy

First appearances

Returning this series

Last appearances

List of episodes

Seasonal Special (1984)

TitleAirdateDescriptionNotes
The Loxely Lozenge30 DecemberWesley needs some help. He's found an old, but extremely valuable racing car, and wants the lads to help him get it home.
  • This episode marks the first appearance of Crusher, however his introduction generally now appears in the 2nd episode of the 8th series. For continuity reasons, in most repeat airings of this episode (as well as the DVD releases), Jonathan Linsley's appearance as Crusher has been edited out. As The Loxley Lozenge was moved to the front of this series to become a seasonal special, it ultimately caused continuity problems with the character of Crusher.
  • This episode also marked the 2nd (due to popularity) guest appearance of Wesley Pegden (who became a full regular from the next series onward until 2002).
  • Also guest-starring appearance of Ashley Jackson as a painter.
  • Included on the Series 7 & 8 boxset.
  • The general consensus is the chassis of an Austin Sheerline was used as a prop for the titular fictional vehicle. [3]
  • The original scripted ending involved the settee (on which the three men sat) sliding around the chassis, making it difficult for Clegg to steer; the settee tips over backwards, causing the men to fall out. This was altered due to safety and logistical concerns.
  • The scene in which the Loxely Lozenge detaches from Wesley's Land Rover and rolls back toward the wall was unplanned. Unlike as depicted in the final scene, the actors were safely stopped before crashing,

Regular series

TitleAirdateDescriptionNotes
The Mysterious Feet of Nora Batty10 FebruaryFoggy and Compo have a disagreement about the size of Nora's feet, so they set out to find out the truth.
  • As originally scripted, Compo was to pour liquid onto a piece of hardboard with the idea that Nora Batty would step onto it, leaving an imprint of her feet to be measured. It would result in the board being stuck to Compo's wellies and the scene would have ended with him escaping down her steps, the hardboard still attached to his feet. Safety concerns necessitated alterations.
Keeping Britain Tidy17 FebruaryFoggy decides to embark upon a campaign to clean up the countryside, starting with an old mattress.
  • The official introduction of Crusher occurs in this episode as his appearance has been edited out of the previous Christmas Special in most repeats and the DVD release. He becomes a regular character from this episode until the 1987 Christmas Special
  • This episode features Brian Glover as a guest star. Ten years earlier Glover and Brian Wilde had appeared together in series one of Porridge.
Enter The Phantom24 FebruaryCompo transforms himself into 'The Phantom', a daredevil motorcyclist. Will this impress Nora?
Catching Digby's Donkey3 MarchFoggy offers to help Digby catch his donkey.
  • This episode marks the first appearances of Howard, Pearl and Marina who become full regulars from this episode onward.
  • Guest starring John Evitts as Digby
The Woollenmills of your Mind10 MarchCompo comes up with yet another plan to impress Nora – entering a marathon.
Who's Looking After The Cafe, Then?17 MarchFoggy volunteers to look after Ivy's Cafe while she goes out.
  • This episode sees the last appearance of Foggy (as Wilde left to star in Wyatt's Watchdogs). He would return in Series 12 five years later.
  • Third guest appearance of Wesley Pegden before becoming a regular character in the following episode, Uncle of the Bride.
  • David Williams makes his second of three appearances as Norris Fairburn.

DVD release

The box set for series 7 and 8 was released by Universal Playback in March 2008.

The Complete Series 7 & 8
Set Details [4]
  • 15 episodes
  • 3-disc set
  • Language: English
Release Date
Region 2
3 March 2008

The region 2 DVD contains edited episodes for The Loxley Lozenge and Catching Digby's Donkey. Both episodes are unedited on the region 1 DVD release.

Notes

  1. Bright and Ross (2000), pp. 181182
  2. Bright and Ross (2000), p. 164
  3. DigitalCavalry (17 July 2015). "Christmas Special 1984: The Loxley Lozenge". Summer Winos. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  4. "Last of the Summer Wine Series 7 & 8". Amazon. Retrieved 21 August 2016.

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<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 1) Season of television series

Last of the Summer Wine's first series originally aired on BBC1 between 4 January 1973 and 17 December 1973. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by James Gilbert.

<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 2) Season of television series

Last of the Summer Wine'ssecond series originally aired on BBC1 between 5 March and 16 April 1975. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Bernard Thompson.

<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 3) Season of television series

Last of the Summer Wine'sthird series originally aired on BBC1 between 27 October 1976 and 24 December 1976. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced by Sydney Lotterby Five episodes were directed by Sydney Lotterby but two: the two-parter, "The Great Boarding House Bathroom Caper" and "Cheering Up Gordon", were directed by Ray Butt.

<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 4) Season of television series

Last of the Summer Wine'sfourth series originally aired on BBC1 between 9 November 1977 and 4 January 1978. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby.

<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 5) Season of television series

Last of the Summer Wine'sfifth series originally aired on BBC1 between 18 September and 30 October 1979. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby.

<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 6) Season of television series

Last of the Summer Wine'ssixth series originally aired on BBC1 between 4 January and 15 February 1982. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell.

<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 7) Season of television series

Last of the Summer Wine'sseventh series originally aired on BBC1 between 25 December 1982 and 27 December 1983. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby, except for "Getting Sam Home", which is produced and directed by Alan J.W. Bell.

<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 9) Season of television series

Last of the Summer Wine'sninth series originally aired on BBC1 between 1 January 1986 and 27 December 1987. All episodes from this series were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell.

The tenth series of Last of the Summer Wine aired on BBC1 in 1988. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell.

Last of the Summer Wine's eighteenth series aired on BBC1. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell.

Last of the Summer Wine's twenty-first series aired on BBC One. Most of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell.

<i>Last of the Summer Wine</i> (series 30) Season of television series

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References

Bright, Morris; Robert Ross (2000). Last of the Summer Wine: The Finest Vintage . London: BBC Worldwide Ltd. ISBN   0-563-55151-8.