Last of the Summer Wine (TV Series) The Man from Oswestry (1976) User Reviews

Enter the warrior

[ShadeGrenade · 9/10 · 23 December 2013]

It is hard to credit now but 'Last Of The Summer Wine' originally went out in a post-watershed slot on week-nights. It was only when it was moved to Sunday evenings that it took off in the ratings. 'The Man From Oswestry' opened Season 3. 'Cyril Blamire' ( Michael Bates ) has moved to Oswestry to court a widow, leaving his friends 'Compo' ( Bill Owen ) and 'Clegg' ( Peter Sallis ) to mourn his absence. The former, in particular, no longer has anyone to boss him about. Just as life begins to become really dull, salvation comes in the form of 'Foggy Dewhurst' ( Brian Wilde ), an eccentric ex-military officer who thinks the world would be a far better place if everyone stood to attention on hearing the sound of a bugle. He also has a penchant for 'mind fogs' - often losing concentration in the middle of sentences. Compo and Clegg take to him immediately. But Foggy's first outing to the pub is a disaster - he is confronted by the bullying 'Big Malcolm' ( Paul Luty )...

If ever there was a golden age for 'Last', this is where it started. The character of 'Foggy' gelled perfectly with the others, indeed many plots revolved around his idiotic schemes to make the world a better place. Michael Bates left the show to concentrate on 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', a sitcom that made better use of his talents. 'Blamire' was never mentioned in the show again. Whenb Roy Clarke came to write 'First Of The Summer Wine' in 1988, he ignored the character completely. Paul Luty had been 'Nobby' the barman in I.T.V.'s 'Love Thy Neighbour'.

Funniest moment - Foggy, Compo and Clegg pushing his trunk uphill on a cart, only for Foggy's scarf to become wrapped around one of the wheels. When they stop, the cart rolls backwards, pulling him along with it.

The new third man

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 21 June 2016]

The third season saw some changes and is the start of the golden age of the programme.

Sydney Lotterby took over as director and producer and Brian Wilde was introduced as Foggy Dewhurst after Micheal Bates left the programme because of ill health and his character was sent to Oswestry to court a widow. While there he met up with an old friend, retired from the army and coming back home to Yorkshire. He has written to Clegg requesting that he and Compo meet him at the bus station.

We have our first glimpse of Foggy getting into an argument with the bus conductor over the amount of luggage he has brought, talking up his army days and military prowess. He nearly gets beaten up in the pub by one of Compo's relatives and is prone to moments of going blank which he puts down to going into deep concentration.

The episode is topped off as the luggage that Foggy pushes up the hill rolls down taking him with it.

The series still has the gritty atmosphere of the early years, there is still talk about politics, lazy workers, equal opportunities legislation. The women are still painted as dragons but we are now there with the characters coming together as well as the comedy. The going down a hill and pratfalls are going to become more frequent but at the moment it is Foggy and not Compo who is suffering.

Enter the legend that is 'Foggy.'

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 21 February 2016]

Cyril Blamire has gone, Compo is missing him, nobody to give him a right rollocking. Blamire has given Compo and Cleggy a letter, asking that they meet someone on the bus from Oswestry, Foggy Dewhurst, blue uniform, white face, looked like a pencil with a rubber on the end. Foggy soon makes his mark, slipping into vacant dazes and giving orders.

Foggy running down the street attached to the truck by his scarf, just brilliant.

I would have to agree with the other reviewer, I look at this as one of the golden eras of Last of the Summer Wine, the other being the return of Foggy. The trio of Compo, Cleggy and Foggy was for me Last of the Summer Wine, this is where the show began in my humble opinion, the three were like a well oiled engine, Cyril never seemed to fit as well.

Brian Wilde was just an absolutely lovely performer, such a sweet, sympathetic character here and in Porridge, he was a joy to watch. He added a magical sparkle and a wonderful softness to Summer Wine. Visually and physically funny.

There was something engaging about the episodes in the next few series, the production values were great, each episode was unique and well put together.

A cracking episode, one I love re-watching. 9/10 (it deserves extra points for giving us Foggy.)

What an entrance!

[keysam-02610 · 9/10 · 1 July 2022]

This episode opens with a visibly melancholy Compo making his way, alone, to the still-closed cafe. Grump Sid (not a morning person?) lets him in and we discover that Blamire has gone to Wales with a view to marriage (in reality poor Michael Bates was ill) and Compo is feeling bereft. Not least on the cigarette front, though he claims to also miss being shouted at.

When Clegg turns up though, he has a letter from Blamire asking that they look after his old friend Foggy Dewhurst - a fine Corporal Signwriter, previously from Holmfirth but latterly also living in Wales. Compo & Clegg do remember him, but only from childhood.

When they do collect Foggy from the bus, Clegg immediately & gleefully spots that he's a "genuine 14-carat, gilt-edged bampot" and shows every likelihood of being great entertainment.

Foggy's main saving grace, to go along with all the bluster & inflated accounts of his military prowess, is that he's not unwilling to buy a round. Even if he does keep his money in a purse.

It's a brilliant introduction of a new character. Foggy turns up pretty much fully formed, with numerous hilarious character traits, including the moments when he freezes, staring into the middle distance, whenever he's trying to remember something.

Much of the amusement also comes from the reactions of the other two, especially Clegg who has spotted that Foggy is probably "potty on a full time basis" and is loving every second.

Big Little Malcolm, having trounced Foggy in the pub, speaks nothing but the truth when he says to Clegg: "If you can keep him alive you might get some mileage out of him!"

And they did.