Last of the Summer Wine - A Pick-Up of the Later Ming Dynasty

Peter Sallis (Actor) .. Clegg

Born: February 01, 1921 in Twickenham, Middlesex

Best Known For: Playing Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine and providing the voice of Wallace in Wallace & Gromit.

Early-life: Peter Sallis was born on February 1, 1921, in Twickenham, Middlesex. His first job was as a bank clerk and he held no desire to be an actor until he became an RAF instructor during the Second World War. One of his pupils, Peter Bridge, asked him to play the leading part in Noel Coward's Hay Fever at the YMCA. Peter never looked back and eventually maked his TV debut in a 1947 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Career: Roles in films such as Doctor in Love, The Mouse on the Moon, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and Charlie Bubbles followed. BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine made him a household name. He featured in all 295 episodes as Norman Clegg between 1973 and 2010. He also played his character's father in short-lived prequel First of the Summer Wine. He was also the voice of Wallace of Wallace & Gromit fame in the acclaimed A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and A Matter of Loaf and Death. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for services to drama. He died on June 2, 2017 at the age of 96.

Quote: 'I don't eat it, because of the cholesterol effect. I've never eaten much in the way of cheese ever. However, I don't mind pretending that I like it.'

Trivia: When Sallis was first asked by Nick Park to voice Wallace for a student film, he donatated his £50 fee to charity.

Frank Thornton (Actor) .. Truly

Born: January 15, 1921 in London

Best Known For: Are You Being Served? and Last of the Summer Wine.

Early-life: Frank Thornton Ball was born in London on January 15, 1921 to Rosina and William. Frank wanted to act from an early age but his father encouraged him to have a more stable job, so he began working in insurance after leaving school. He took evening classes at the London School of Dramatic Art and after two years, he was invited to become a day student. During the Second World War, Frank was evacuated with the drama school and his first job was touring with four plays in Ireland. He joined the RAF as an airman and ended the war as an officer. After leaving the RAF in 1947, Frank joined a repertory company. He made his film debut in Radio Cab Murder (1954).

Career: Thornton went on to become a familiar face on TV, specialising in comedy. He made guest appearances in Hancock, Sykes, The Goodies, Love Thy Neighbour and Steptoe and Son. He is best known for playing Captain Peacock in the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served? He reprised his role for the spin-off series Grace & Favour. In 1997, he joined the cast of Last of the Summer Wine as Herbert 'Truly' Truelove, a role he played until 2010. He also appeared in Robert Altman's Gosford Park (2001). Thornton died peacefully in his sleep on March 16, 2013. He was 92.

Quote: From Are You Being Served?: 'Mr Humphries, are you free?'

Trivia: Thornton was nominated of an Olivier Award for his performance in the musical Me and My Girl.

Keith Clifford (Actor) .. Billy

Burt Kwouk (Actor) .. Entwistle

Mike Grady (Actor) .. Barry

Jean Alexander (Actor) .. Auntie Wainwright

Jean Fergusson (Actor) .. Marina

Juliette Kaplan (Actor) .. Pearl

Dora Bryan (Actor) .. Roz

Tom Owen (Actor) .. Tom

Stephen Lewis (Actor) .. Smiler

Robert Fyfe (Actor) .. Howard

Sarah Thomas (Actor) .. Glenda

Christopher Beeny (Actor) .. Repo Man

Ken Kitson (Actor) .. Policeman

Tony Capstick (Actor) .. Policeman

Roy Clarke (Writer)

Alan JW Bell (Producer)

Last of the Summer Wine: A Pick-Up of the Later Ming Dynasty

6:00 pm - 6:40 pm, Monday, June 29 on U&Drama (20)

About this Broadcast

A Pick-Up of the Later Ming Dynasty
Season 24, Episode 3

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