Last of the Summer Wine (TV Series) Compo's Suit (1973) User Reviews

Birth to one of TVs favourite Battle-axes.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 24 January 2019]

What should be remembered for being the episode where the infamous Nora Batty arrives, is perhaps overshadowed by the magical Liz Smith, and her zany, mushy pie munching character.

The dialogue and one liners are hilarious, Bill Owen is physically very funny, Nora Batty's arrival is legendary, her character would become somewhat of a national institution, which of us hasn't known a Mrs Batty in our time. All that plus Liz Smith, make for an absolute classic, so different to the episodes that came in future.

A gem in a very funny first series, 9/10

Spring Fever

[keysam-02610 · 7/10 · 16 June 2022]

An unusual episode in that the three men are a bit divided as Compo has started behaving oddly. He's cleaning his house & smartening himself up. Ivy & Sid are frankly gobsmacked and Clegg & Blamire are scathing but also curious.

Turns out Compo is feeling the lack of female companionship and as Mrs Batty won't play ball, he's advertised for a "housekeeper" which seems to be a euphemism because it's clear both parties are expecting something rather more...intimate.

It's not the greatest episode IMO, though there is certainly some amusement to be had from Compo dressing up, but it's a bit on the sordid side to modern eyes.

Interestingly, at the end when (having been ditched & apparently robbed - "She went off with all me new things" - by his housekeeper candidate) Compo meets up with the other two on the lake (pond?) it looks very much as though it really is the actors on the raft. Also the studio audience dies away - no final laughs or applause - just the music. Which is a definite improvement!

Compo's Suit

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 1 December 2017]

Compo is spring cleaning his house. That is certainly not like him. He even changes his clothes and gets spruced up with his winnings from the bookies. The reason? He is waiting to meet a woman on a bus from Bradford and he wants to impress her.

Blamire and Clegg are a little bit bemused. Blamire has a landlady who meets his catering needs.

The lady turns out to be Liz Smith, the veteran character and comedy actress. She has seen off three husbands who have always left something behind for her. She has little luck with Compo, he has no life insurance, his idea of a slap up dinner is mushy peas in Sid's cafe and she insists on a good night out.

A wryly amusing episode, I think Compo had a narrow escape. I think that tartan hat did not suit him.