Last of the Summer Wine

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,361]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/11857115/last-of-the-summer-wine-star-jean-fergusson-left-1m-in-her-will/

 

Jean Fergusson left around one million pounds in her will to her sister according to press reports. 

[Ulitzer95 12,844]

For completeness, going to also drop here that Robert Fyfe has died.

Some additional coverage: Mirror. Express. Metro. Scottish Sun.

One more LOTSW death to mention, who appears to have passed away with little notice, is Ron Backhouse who played the barman. He was born in 1941 and died on 1st November 2018, aged 77. He pretty much played himself as he was the real life barman at the White Horse Inn, which was featured in the show. Death notice here.

An updated list of credited cast who appeared in 10 or more episodes (ordered by # of appearances):

Peter Sallis (1921–2017; 96)
Jane Freeman (1935–2017; 81)
Kathy Staff (1928–2008; 80)
Robert Fyfe (1930–2021; 90)
Juliette Kaplan (1939–2019; 80)
Jean Fergusson (1944–2019; 74)
Sarah Thomas (b. 1952)
Bill Owen (1914–1999; 85)
Jean Alexander (1926–2016; 90)
Mike Grady (b. 1946)
Dame Thora Hird (1911–2003; 91)
Gordon Wharmby (1933–2002; 68)
Frank Thornton (1921–2013; 92)
Stephen Lewis (1926–2015; 88)
Brian Wilde (1927–2008; 80)
Tom Owen (1949–2022; 73)
Danny O'Dea (1911–2003; 91)
Ken Kitson (b. 1946)
Burt Kwouk (1930–2016; 85)
Brian Murphy (b. 1932)
Keith Clifford (b. 1938)
Josephine Tewson (1931–2022; 91)
Louis Emerick (b. 1960)
Dora Bryan (1923–2014; 91)
John Comer (1924–1984; 59)
Joe Gladwin (1906–1987; 81)
Dame June Whitfield (1925–2018; 93)
Tony Capstick (1944–2003; 59)
Michael Aldridge (1920–1994; 73)
Christopher Beeny (1941–2020; 78)
Trevor Bannister (1934–2011; 76)
Jonathan Linsley (b. 1956)
Barbara Young (b. 1931)
Russ Abbot (b. 1947)
Michael Bates (1920–1978; 57)
Julie T. Wallace (b. 1961)
Ron Backhouse (1941–2018; 77)

[Octopus of Odstock 2,215]

I think it's worth mentioning to add to the list that Roy Clarke, the show's writer, is still alive, aged 91.

[The Daredevil 1,193]

1 hour ago, Octopus of Odstock said:

I think it's worth mentioning to add to the list that Roy Clarke, the show's writer, is still alive, aged 91.

Absolutely. It’s also worth mentioning that the show’s producer, Alan J.W. Bell, is still alive, aged 83. 

[Ulitzer95 12,844]

Full Telegraph obituary for Robert Fyfe.

Born 25 September 1930 in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

Studied at Edinburgh Uni, then a stage school in Bradford (spent years living in Yorkshire as a matter of fact). Married stage director Diana Rush in 1957.

Died 22 September 2021, aged 90 (doesn't say where though).

Edit: Telegraph have embedded this really good clip of him from Cloud Atlas (2012). Never seen it actually. Looks interesting though...
 

 

[gcreptile 11,061]

 

 

[Ulitzer95 12,844]

Guardian obit for Robert Fyfe surfaces with some new info.

Died on 15th September, not the 22nd. Cause of death given as kidney disease.

[Lord Fellatio Nelson 6,223]

3 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Guardian obit for Robert Fyfe surfaces with some new info.

Died on 15th September, not the 22nd. Cause of death given as kidney disease.

 

[Grimgrass 515]

On 22/09/2021 at 22:24, Ulitzer95 said:

Barbara Young (b. 1936)

 

New picture of Young posted in her daughter's Twitter earlier this month:

Spoiler

 

It also appears she was born in 1931 rather than 1936.

[Grimgrass 515]

17 minutes ago, Grimgrass said:

Tewson's agency confirms she's dead:

https://mobile.twitter.com/diamond_mgmnt/status/1560631805740322818

 

Sun obit: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/19560787/josephine-tewson-dies-keeping-up-appearances/

Crossposting the news of Josephine Tewson's death here.

 

11 regular cast members remain.

[The Watcher 320]

1 hour ago, Grimgrass said:

 

Crossposting the news of Josephine Tewson's death here.

 

11 regular cast members remain.

Presumably the oldest now must be Brian Murphy who played Alvin. I expect being married to one of the Yellowcoats keeps him sprightly. Spike's loss is Alvin's gain!

[Grimgrass 515]

5 minutes ago, The Watcher said:

Presumably the oldest now must be Brian Murphy who played Alvin. I expect being married to one of the Yellowcoats keeps him sprightly. Spike's loss is Alvin's gain!

 

I believe he's the second oldest, after Barbara Young, who played Stella.

[Ulitzer95 12,844]

On 22/09/2021 at 20:24, Ulitzer95 said:

An updated list of credited cast who appeared in 10 or more episodes (ordered by # of appearances):

Peter Sallis (1921–2017; 96)
Jane Freeman (1935–2017; 81)
Kathy Staff (1928–2008; 80)
Robert Fyfe (1930–2021; 90)
Juliette Kaplan (1939–2019; 80)
Jean Fergusson (1944–2019; 74)
Sarah Thomas (b. 1952)
Bill Owen (1914–1999; 85)
Jean Alexander (1926–2016; 90)
Mike Grady (b. 1946)
Dame Thora Hird (1911–2003; 91)
Gordon Wharmby (1933–2002; 68)
Frank Thornton (1921–2013; 92)
Stephen Lewis (1926–2015; 88)
Brian Wilde (1927–2008; 80)
Tom Owen (b. 1949)
Danny O'Dea (1911–2003; 91)
Ken Kitson (b. 1946)
Burt Kwouk (1930–2016; 85)
Brian Murphy (b. 1932)
Keith Clifford (b. 1938)
Josephine Tewson (1931–2022; 91)
Louis Emerick (b. 1960)
Dora Bryan (1923–2014; 91)
John Comer (1924–1984; 59)
Joe Gladwin (1906–1987; 81)
Dame June Whitfield (1925–2018; 93)
Tony Capstick (1944–2003; 59)
Michael Aldridge (1920–1994; 73)
Christopher Beeny (1941–2020; 78)
Trevor Bannister (1934–2011; 76)
Jonathan Linsley (b. 1956)
Barbara Young (b. 1931)
Russ Abbot (b. 1947)
Michael Bates (1920–1978; 57)
Julie T. Wallace (b. 1961)
Ron Backhouse (1941–2018; 77)

Updated. 

Brian Murphy is not the oldest – Barbara Young is (and she was actually older than Tewson by a few weeks).

[Steve 640]

According to Wiki Barbara Young is 86 and Brian Murphy will be 90 in September

[RoverAndOut 4,755]

On 13/05/2022 at 19:23, Grimgrass said:

 

New picture of Young posted in her daughter's Twitter earlier this month:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

It also appears she was born in 1931 rather than 1936.

 

1 minute ago, Steve said:

According to Wiki Barbara Young is 86 and Brian Murphy will be 90 in September

 

According to her daughter Wiki's wrong. It's literally about 5 posts above yours...

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,361]

On 19/08/2022 at 15:38, Grimgrass said:

 

Crossposting the news of Josephine Tewson's death here.

 

11 regular cast members remain.

In terms of Keeping up appearances  I listened to a  podcast  last year I think or very early this year of an interview with Judy Cornwell  who played Daisy Hyacinths sister. She us 82 and was on sparkling form. I think she is a strong contender to outlive  Patricia Routledge.  Judy sounded younger than her 82 years and certainly didn't seem to be an old 82 if I can put it that way. Her life sounded very active. 

[gcreptile 11,061]

Tom Owen has died at 73:

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/last-summer-wine-star-tom-155601520.html

 

Also in The Bill, and such, crossposts galore.

 

Edit: I wonder how this news made it first on that site, article written by "PA reporters".. I see, some kind of AP like service, just with the letters switched.

[msc 18,536]

1 minute ago, gcreptile said:

Tom Owen has died at 73:

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/last-summer-wine-star-tom-155601520.html

 

Also in The Bill, and such, crossposts galore.

 

Hmm, cancer ran in the family. They brought in for LOTSW to try and replace his dad, but Bill Owen was pretty much irreplaceable for that show, and it was never the same.

[Grimgrass 515]

24 minutes ago, tracy said:

 

Barbara Young dead at 92.

Crossposting the news of Barbara Young's death here. Brian Murphy is now the oldest living regular cast member.

[YoungWillz 21,185]

Guardian Obituary for Alan JW Bell, TV producer and director for Last Of The Summer Wine: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/oct/31/alan-jw-bell-obituary

 

Also Call My Bluff, Ripping Yarns and Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

 

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0068007/

[YoungWillz 21,185]

7 minutes ago, YoungWillz said:

Guardian Obituary for Alan JW Bell, TV producer and director for Last Of The Summer Wine: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/oct/31/alan-jw-bell-obituary

 

Also Call My Bluff, Ripping Yarns and Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

 

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0068007/

I note he is survived by his wife Constance Carling, an uncredited role in Spearhead From Space for Doctor Who but played a lot of WPCs especially in Z Cars.