Last of the Summer Wine is a National Television Award winning British sitcom which airs on BBC One and is written by Roy Clarke and produced and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. Last of the Summer Wine originally premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973, with the first series of episodes following on 12 November 1973. The 28th series, which aired on Sunday nights at 6:20 p.m., concluded on 23 September 2007. As of November 2007, a 29th series is in production to premiere in 2008. Reruns of the show currently air in the UK on satellite stations UKTV Gold and UKTV Drama and in over twenty-five countries, including various PBS stations in the United States. Last of the Summer Wine is the longest running comedy programme in Britain and the longest running sitcom in the world.

Set and filmed in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England, the plot centres around a trio of older men, the lineup of whom has changed over the years, but originally consisted of the scruffy and child-like Compo, deep-thinking and meek Clegg, and authoritarian and snobbish Blamire, who was replaced by the quirky war veteran Foggy after two series in 1976. The three never seem to grow up, revelling in youthful stunts, and always finding a unique perspective on their equally eccentric fellow townspeople. Although the cast was originally centred around a handful of people, it has, since the 1980s, grown to include an ensemble of supporting characters, each of whom bring their own unique sub-plots to the show and often become unwillingly involved in the increasingly complex plots of the trio, who seldom tire of trying to meddle in their affairs and "help" them.

Although reception of the series is generally mixed, with some feeling the show has long since run its course, Last of the Summer Wine continues to bring in a large audience for the BBC and has been praised for its positive portrayal of older people, its family-friendly humour, and by members of the British Royal Family, many of whom have admitted to enjoying the show. Last of the Summer Wine has subsequently inspired other adaptations including a novel, a prequel, First of the Summer Wine, also written by Roy Clarke, which ran for two series for a total of thirteen episodes between 1988 and 1989, and a stage adaptation, which ran for three years both on tour in Britain and as two summer seasons in Bournemouth.

Officially announced by Buckingham Palace in 1996 as being Her Majesty the Queen's favourite television series. Currently in its 30th year, recognized as "the longest-running comedy series in the world".

By 1976, it was clear that Michael Bates (I) was ill. The cancer which was to eventually kill him, meant the strenuous walking through the hills became impossible. He was written out of the series and his noticeable gap was filled by Brian Wilde, who had already become known as Mr. Barrowclough in "Porridge" (1974). Michael Bates did continue to appear in his other success, "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" (1974), but died soon after.

Holmfirth was chosen as the setting for Last of the Summer Wine after Barry Took made a programme about Working Men's Clubs at nearby Burnlee WMC. When producer Jimmy Gilbert was looking for a location for an episode of "Comedy Playhouse" (1961), Barry Took recommended Holmfirth. That episode was developed into the series "Last of the Summer Wine".