Last of the Summer Wine: Series 5

Season overview

The fifth series of Last of the Summer Wine, which originally aired on BBC1 between 18 September and 30 October 1979, represents a notable shift in the production and narrative style of the long-running British sitcom. Written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby, this season introduced several structural and creative changes to the series. Most significantly, the fifth series marked the first time the program featured two-part episodes. Additionally, the season saw the introduction of new characters, including the previously mentioned but never before seen nephew of the character Compo. The series is also recognized for a distinct increase in physical comedy, a stylistic choice that would become increasingly characteristic of the show in its later years. The episodes from this season were later made available to audiences through a region 2 DVD release on 5 March 2007, which packaged the fifth series alongside the sixth series in a combined box set. These developments helped define the ongoing legacy of the show as it continued its run as a staple of British television comedy.