Post Christmas things quieten down a little, but there’s still several programmes of interest. Pride of place on BBC1 is Last of the Summer Wine – Getting Sam Home.

This was the first in a series of extended all film, no laugh track Christmas sitcom specials (the likes of Only Fools and Horses and Just Good Friends would follow in LOTWS‘s footsteps). The humour is blacker than usual – the trio agree to take the ailing Sam (Peter Russell) on a final jaunt to his mistress, Lily Bless Her (Lynda Baron). The problem is that Sam enjoys himself just a little too much and dies. Which leaves Compo, Clegg and Foggy with a substantial problem – how to get Sam’s body back home to his wife in double quick time ….

Getting Sam Home was published as a novel in 1974. Clarke’s 1983 adaptation of his 1974 book seems to stick pretty close the original (apart from, obviously, replacing Blamire with Foggy). This helps to explain why tonally it has more in common with the bleaker early years of the series than the broader slapstick antics of the 1980’s and beyond. It won’t be to everyone’s taste (there are a couple of remarkably sniffy reviews on IMDb) but I’ve always loved it even though it’s sad to see an ailing John Comer (who, suffering from throat cancer, had to be dubbed by Tony Melody). Comer passed away, aged just 59, in early 1984.

Top top – the BBC4 broadcast on the 24th of December has been remastered, so that should be the version to watch.

Over on BBC2 there’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona. It’s hardly top tier Shakespeare, but this is an enjoyable production peopled with plenty of familiar faces.

ITV’s afternoon treat is The Wind in the Willows. Adapted by Rosemary Anne Sisson, this Cosgrove/Hall production features the vocal talents of David Jason, Ian Carmichael, Richard Pearson and Michael Hordern in the main roles.