Last of the Summer Wine (TV Series) From Here to Paternity (2000) User Reviews

Unfortunate turn of events

[keysam-02610 · 6/10 · 29 March 2022]

I can completely see why the programme makers thought introducing a character related to Compo played by Bill Owen's real life son was a cracking idea.

Unfortunately the character isn't terribly likeable or well drawn and the son isn't the actor his father was. The additional characters that come with him aren't all that great either, though once Mrs Avery moves into Compo's old house, her sparring with Nora is rather fun. (Frankly, Julie T Wallace IS an excellent actor and can make better use of the material)

This episode marks the start of a rather poor run of LotSW episodes, until the writer finds a proper way to fit Tom into the ensemble, basically by relegating him to a more minor role. It's all a bit sad really. You write someone a role playing the bereaved son of his own actual father & it turns out to be a bit of a disaster.

That said, Tom's still a better character than bloomin' Howard!

Chip off the old block

[ygwerin1 · 8/10 · 28 September 2020]

Compo has passed away and Holmfirth doesn't seem, quite the same without his abiding presence.

In sifting through his effects Norman Clegg, happened upon a letter from a long lost relative.

The Holmfirth grapevine works as effectively as ever, with the word spreading like the proverbial wildfire.

No one especially the towns old biddies can possibly believe a word of it, and their curiosity got the better of them.

Considering what little time any of them had for him whilst he was alive, they were all over him like a rash when he actually appeared.

The prodigal relative doesn't exactly travel light, but exactly how does Mrs Avery fit into his story? And Babs who the heck is she?

The long lost son

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 1 October 2018]

Roy Clarke needed to fill a hole left behind with the death of Bill Owen which meant the death of Compo in the series.

Clarke turned to Bill's real life son, Tom Owen who appears as his long lost son also called Tom.

As Clegg discovers there were a few things about Compo he did not know. Although Compo was briefly married, it seems he might had spread his oats here and there leading to correspondence with someone who thought Compo might be his dad.

It is left to Clegg to tell this newcomer Tom that he will never get to meet his real dad. As the crowd gather in the pub they recognise straight away that Tom looks like his dad.

I guess some people never realised that Compo was short for compensation, something the character made money out of claiming. Tom in his first appearance claims to get whiplash for some sudden braking he did as Howard gets in his way. Tom later tries to scam Howard again for some damage to a coach.

There is a melancholy edge to these episodes as the characters still try to get to terms over the death of Compo.

However Tom is a down on his luck scammer and I guess it is a reason why his character never took off. Tom was later relegated to doing errands with Smiler for Auntie Wainwright.

From Here to Paternity

[studioAT · 3/10 · 31 August 2023]

Viewers who had been surprised by the news in the previous episodes that Compo had a secret woman tucked away somewhere would have been positively shocked to learn here that he had a secret son too.

I can see why Roy Clarke wanted to use Bill Owen's real life son to bridge the gap left by Compo's death, but unfortunately the character (Tom) isn't very good, and the less said about Mrs Avery and Babs the better. They are very un 'Summer Wine' characters indeed.

If I recall correctly, Tom didn't last very long as a potential third in the trio, and got relegated being a bit part player quickly.

Seeing as the other characters seemed quite glad to be shot of him half way through this episode, I'm not surprised.