Last of the Summer Wine The Lost Key (1973–2010) Online

After the pilot episode this would had been the first episode of the series proper. It far from the cuddly family show of the later years. Not only is their swearing but a nude calendar at the barber's as well as Compo going through a mucky magazine while Blamire is having his hair cut.

The set up features the library and Sid's cafe prominently. Wainwright is passionate about his assistant Mrs Partridge. She in turn likes the thrill despite being married.

Compo loses his keys when the others turn him upside down and then try to to retrieve them from the library which is closed by trying to get hold of Wainwright. This includes a trip to the police station where Compo and his family is known and where Compo is encouraged tip fag ash into the Superintendent's hat.

In search of Wainwright the trio stumble on to a black tie dance and buffet function where they find that they do not meet the dress code.

The best scenes are at the hairdresser's with Frank Middlemass playing Judd the barber, he knows everyone who has recently dropped dead and is the only one who still cuts hair short.

A few months after its amusing pilot episode, the show returns in an episode which sees the trio seek out Compo's missing key. The show started off in very different style, how many shows can say they soften to teatime viewing? Last of the Summer Wine certainly did. It always surprised me as to why this show aired much later then the usual tea time slot we all associate it with, but when you watch this, you see a much more adult tone, language, implied smut etc, it really was different. The librarian and his colleague are a real joy.