Cast Remembered

[Cloggy]

How come some cast members who had left or died,
were never mentioned again, it's as though they had just vanished into fresh air.

 

[Adanor]

Well, it's possible that it is tradition to not write stories about the demise of cast members. So if Roy were to write such a script what would he write? He did write about the passing of Compo. And then there were the departures: Nora suddenly going to Australia, Foggy going to paint, Seymour going off to teach. But aside from those, what would he write? A long illness? More departures? Sadly, some actors suddenly became ill and did not look well, so they could not even appear on screen at all. So they were quietly written out. Later on, Sid and Wally were occasionally remembered and Edie's photo was on Glenda's fireplace mantle.

 

[Glenda]

It's not meant to be a soap opera, there's no continuation of a storyline. Each episode is a seperate story, with a few exceptions like Compo's passing, but it's rare for anything that happened in a previous episode to be mentioned again. One example is in 'Who Made a bit of a splash in Wales then', Foggy and Gwen were obviously in a relationship but she was never mentioned in any other episodes, we never knew how the relationship started or why it ended.

 

[RickAns]

I had forgotten about Gwen, Glenda. Rather did like her character. Would have been nice to of seen her again for a few more episodes. Maybe if she had moved in with Foggy for a little while until she had to go back to Wales for some reason. Could have added some spice to Foggy's life, a bit like they did with Cleggy's cousin(?) moving in for a few days or the live-in-maid for Compo.

I agree, Cloggy. Some kind of passing mention as to why they are not there would have been nice. Nothing as big as what was done for Compo. Just a 'Sorry to hear about what happened to..." I found it very nice when Sid and Wally got remembered later on. That's all I would have asked for.

 

[MoodyBlue]

I always think to myself..."what happened to Crusher ?"....
Maybe he and Fran tied the knot..raised a brood of children with rainbow colored hair and set up a centre for white water rafting,with a cafe that specialises in steak and kidney pudding....because as we know,his Aunty Ivy taught him well in the steak and kidney pudding department !!!.
X!

 

[imitation700mb]

Well, it's possible that it is tradition to not write stories about the demise of cast members. So if Roy were to write such a script what would he write? He did write about the passing of Compo. And then there were the departures: Nora suddenly going to Australia, Foggy going to paint, Seymour going off to teach. But aside from those, what would he write? A long illness? More departures? Sadly, some actors suddenly became ill and did not look well, so they could not even appear on screen at all. So they were quietly written out. Later on, Sid and Wally were occasionally remembered and Edie's photo was on Glenda's fireplace mantle.

Sid was remembered very late on in the series, as Ivy found a photo of him when she was getting ready for Compo's funeral.

 

[Adanor]

It's not meant to be a soap opera, there's no continuation of a storyline. Each episode is a seperate story, with a few exceptions like Compo's passing, but it's rare for anything that happened in a previous episode to be mentioned again. One example is in 'Who Made a bit of a splash in Wales then', Foggy and Gwen were obviously in a relationship but she was never mentioned in any other episodes, we never knew how the relationship started or why it ended.

This was in one of the earlier episodes with Tom. He was standing with Truly and Cleggy at a spot overlooking the reservoir, and they were reminiscing about the time Compo tried to waterski.. And this was actually in an episode. It was pretty funny. Compo ended up surprising some picnickers.

 

[RickAns]

I like that idea, MoodyBlue. I liked Fran and how she held her own with the ladies in the shop. Would have been nice to see her and Crusher together as a couple in the story line. Maybe they could have hung out a little with Barry and Glenda.

 

[imitation700mb]

This was in one of the earlier episodes with Tom. He was standing with Truly and Cleggy at a spot overlooking the reservoir, and they were reminiscing about the time Compo tried to waterski.. And this was actually in an episode. It was pretty funny. Compo ended up surprising some picnickers.

Wellies to Wet Suit, if I'm not mistaken. One of the best episodes in my opinion. But did they reminisce at the same reservoir that Compo actually water-skied at?

 

[Barrychuckle]

This subject has been discussed before, I agree that the episodes were supposed to stories in isolation, but there are other similar comedies where absences are dealt with. I've heard Jo Tewson mention this before about Roy's writing that he doesn't believe in fleshing out characters back stories. For example I only realised Howards surname was Sibshaw a few months ago when I saw Gwenda mention it in passing in an episode!

 

[Adanor]

Wellies to Wet Suit, if I'm not mistaken. One of the best episodes in my opinion. But did they reminisce at the same reservoir that Compo actually water-skied at?

I could be wrong, but I think that the answer is yes. So how many reservoirs are there in that general area? Isn't the one they always used was sort of a rectangle shape? It had to have a gentle slope so Compo could come out of the water, be catapulted over the hill and shock the picnickers.

 

[imitation700mb]

I could be wrong, but I think that the answer is yes. So how many reservoirs are there in that general area? Isn't the one they always used was sort of a rectangle shape? It had to have a gentle slope so Compo could come out of the water, be catapulted over the hill and shock the picnickers.

After a quick search for "Holme Valley reservoirs" Google maps showed quite a few.

 

[wstol]

How come some cast members who had left or died,
were never mentioned again, it's as though they had just vanished into fresh air.

Well, some WERE mentioned again, sometimes many years later.

I think Sid was mentioned by Ivy in Uncle of the Bride, then again in a mid 90s episode. And of course his picture was seen in the Compo trilogy.

Wally was mentioned by Nora quite a lot in later years.

But Seymour and Blamire were never mentioned again after they were written out.

And when Foggy was written out twice, he wasn't mentioned again, EXCEPT for the dramatic sequence at the end of the Xmas 1989 show.

It seemed odd not to mention Crusher leaving, though it seems when he was absent for Crums, Fran was brought in to fill the gap, which was still a bit odd.

Compo was often referred to following his death.

I think Edie was referred to later, not sure about Wesley - you may have to help me out here.

Nora's absence on both occasions was explained in the shows.

When Barry was absent for about 5 or 6 years, I'm sure he was referred to.

I'm told Smiler's departure was mentioned in the programme, though I don't know - you'll have to help me out here.

Billy Hardcastle left the show - I don't think his departure was explained, and he was never mentioned again - somehow he never got the recognition he deserved.

I think the above may apply to Roz.

And probably for Eli?

It's true Roy Clarke doesn't make a big deal about characters leaving the show, unless it's a big character. He doesn't wallow in nostalgia as often as he could - yet when he does, such as the Compo trilogy, his writing becomes so emotional, dramatic and quite brilliant.

His brief lines about Sid and Wally after their deaths could have been lengthier, yet the few words he chose to wrote said it all.

 

[BruceC]

Not mentioned really ,but when Ivy pulls Sids photo out of her purse for Compos funeral always brings a smile to my face and sad feeling all at once.. Just thinking how much more happened to the Winers over the years since he died..

 

[WellyMan]

For a bit of fun, how would you like characters to have been written out?

I would have liked to see Sid or Wally either leave their dragon, er wife, or have been sent packing. Billy could have got a new mania by now believing he was descended from someone less adventurous.

 

[wstol]

I wouldn't have liked Sid or Wally to have been written out simply by leaving their wives - doesn't fit in with the spirit of this show. There would also be the temptation to bring the character back a few years later with a different actor - NO WAY would that have worked.

I think if a much loved actor dies, his much loved character has to die too - it's respectful.

Billy could have easily been written out, possibly discovering some long lost family in Nottingham.

 

[WellyMan]

I wouldn't have liked Sid or Wally to have been written out simply by leaving their wives - doesn't fit in with the spirit of this show. There would also be the temptation to bring the character back a few years later with a different actor - NO WAY would that have worked.

I think if a much loved actor dies, his much loved character has to die too - it's respectful.

Billy could have easily been written out, possibly discovering some long lost family in Nottingham.

I like that idea for Billy.

 

[Adrian Morris]

Compo was mentioned quite a lot after Compo died though not in name as such. Every time either wellies or ferrets were mentioned I thought of Compo.

 

[Sarkus]

Ultimately, I think Clarke figured that in what was, more or less, primarily a comedy, you don't generally focus on the past or on those who've passed on. US comedy often follows the same rules, even when the departures are integrated as tragic events. Think of MASH, which had a major character (who's actor had departed) killed off screen. Everyone remembers that episode, but the character wasn't mentioned more than a few times after that. After all, its a comedy.

Billy Hardcastle is the big disappointment for me. All the members of the trio who departed got some sort of explanation send off. He was simply gone. It's a shame even if you didn't like the character. He was there longer then Seymour after all.

And I've always wondered if the reference to Smiler was actually written by Roy Clarke or a script change by Tom Owen with Bell's approval. We have to remember that what we see in episodes isn't always exactly what Clarke wrote.

 

[Sarkus]

But Seymour and Blamire were never mentioned again after they were written out.

There is an episode in the Seymour years where Compo says he dated a Cyril once. I like to think it was a reference to Blamire!

It seemed odd not to mention Crusher leaving, though it seems when he was absent for Crums, Fran was brought in to fill the gap, which was still a bit odd.

Crusher's last appearance was in "Big Day at Dream Acres" and he didn't appear in the following series, with "Crums" airing a year later. Based on Bell's book, my guess would be that maybe he and Clarke thought Jonathan Linsley might return at some point and were keeping their options open for that to happen.

I think Edie was referred to later, not sure about Wesley - you may have to help me out here.

Edie makes a reference to him in Series 24, which was Thora Hird's final series. She doesn't say his name, but makes a passing reference to him along the lines of "mine was like that" with a little smile.

On a related note, I've always wondered if any effort was made to get any of the past cast members still alive to make at least cameo appearances in "A Small Funeral." Imagine if they had simply panned the church and some of them had been present. It would have been a very powerful scene. But Bell never really talks about that so who knows.