Why were characters deaths not really mentioned

Amos Hames 2

Amos Hames 2

Dedicated Member
Apart from Compo who obviously was the main character and deserved his 3 episode send off when he died I wonder why others such as Edie and Wesley only got a brief mention or nothing at all in the case of Wesley. They were both big parts of the show and I personally think they should have had some sort of tribute episode. And I think Seymour never getting mentioned again was a bit strange too as he was in my opinion a good third man to Compo and Cleggy. Any views on this
 
In honesty the passing of key figures was only ever sporadically used and not dwelt on with the exception of Mr Simmonite Snr. Edie got alluded to and it raised the odd chuckle and Wes-lay got a past tension mention briefly. Sid and Wally got more frequent references but again fleetingly at best. I'm guessing it was because the show is after all a comedy and to keep referring back would mire things and bring down a feel good factor for which the it had in abundance. Compo's passing was a hole that not only couldn't be filled - and they tried - but had to be acknowledged given how strongly both his and Owen;s associations were. What's perhaps more perplexing is the haphazard writing out of those still availiable but chose to not take part further like Keith Clifford. Barry on the other hand was always seemingly present without being visible due to his frequent mentions and his return felt natural accordingly.
 
Bill Owen died mid season so they had to come up with a reason for Comp's disappearance, I wonder what they would have done if he'd died after filming the series. Would they have brought in another character and not given any explanation for Compo's departure.
 
Roger said:
Bill Owen died mid season so they had to come up with a reason for Comp's disappearance, I wonder what they would have done if he'd died after filming the series. Would they have brought in another character and not given any explanation for Compo's departure.
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Whether he is to believed or not, Roy Clarke has said in a couple of interviews that had Bill died between series then it would have probably ended then.
 
mashibinbin said:
In honesty the passing of key figures was only ever sporadically used and not dwelt on with the exception of Mr Simmonite Snr. Edie got alluded to and it raised the odd chuckle and Wes-lay got a past tension mention briefly. Sid and Wally got more frequent references but again fleetingly at best. I'm guessing it was because the show is after all a comedy and to keep referring back would mire things and bring down a feel good factor for which the it had in abundance. Compo's passing was a hole that not only couldn't be filled - and they tried - but had to be acknowledged given how strongly both his and Owen;s associations were. What's perhaps more perplexing is the haphazard writing out of those still available but chose to not take part further like Keith Clifford. Barry on the other hand was always seemingly present without being visible due to his frequent mentions and his return felt natural accordingly.
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When Kathy Staff had to leave due to health, they "sent" Nora to Australia. That was a most expedient way explaining the disappearance of a character.

It's possible that they were unable to have Wesley be sent off to parts unknown because Gordon Wharmly was under treatment, did not have the same appearance and therefore was unable to appear on camera.
 
It seems to be a Roy Clarke thing.
Departing characters not mentioned immediately, typically this would need to be at the beginning of a the new series not to mention them.
Sometimes the departed character would not be mentioned until a couple of years later - in the case of Sid and Wally.
Billy Hardcastle and other characters just never mentioned again - usually characters that although missed, were presumably not as well loved as others - again Sid and Wally being the most obvious.
When a third man departed, despite both the actor still being alive, NEVER mentioned again, unless, in Foggy's case, there was a plan to bring them back.
Seymour's departure - very well engineered. Michael Aldridge had given plenty of notice, so a mentioned of Foggy was mentioned in his last FULL episode, and Michael Aldridge appeared for five minutes in the first episode of a new series, in which Foggy re-appeared (though the characters don't meet), and Seymour is even mentioned by Edie towards the end of the episode.

Obviously a lot of effort put into Bill Owen's character.
Nora's two departures mentioned - had to mention her as a she was an important part of the show, though quite discreet mentions.

I think Wally was mentioned following his death the most. He was mentioned after a year or so it Crums - then I don't think he was mentioned again until the 90s. Sid was mentioned in Uncle of the Bride, not by name, and I don't think he was mentioned until the mid 90s, by name, and then we saw his photograph in the Compo trilogy.

Edie seen in pictures, can't recall if or how she was mentioned verbally.
Don't think Wesley was mentioned as such, though I'm certain others can help.

Usually if a minor character is 'replaced', such as Sid or Wesley, they tried to leave an episode without the replacement, then set about introducing the character, in these cases Milburn and Entwistle.
 
After Stephen Lewis left the show, Howard was looking for something at Aunties to make himself 'almost disappear', Tom said, 'We did it for Smiler, and you don’t disappear much further than him'.
When Tony Capstick (PC2) had died his absence was explained that he had transferred to Huddersfield.
When Mike Grady left Glenda still often referred to him, and of course Barry eventually returned.

It seems that in sitcoms in general, actors that are unlikely to return due to old age or known illness, are usually just not referred to again - I think Summer wine is unique in referencing some departed characters. As for making a reference back to a character like Billy Hardcastle, there would need to be a joke he could be mentioned in - like Smiler, above - otherwise just mentioning a character for no apparent reason feels odd and dry.
 
wstol said:
When a third man departed, despite both the actor still being alive, NEVER mentioned again, unless, in Foggy's case, there was a plan to bring them back.
Seymour's departure - very well engineered. [...]
Edie seen in pictures, can't recall if or how she was mentioned verbally.
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There is a photo of Seymour on Barry and Glenda’s mantlepiece from series 19.
There was often a photo of Edie on Barry and Glenda’s mantelpiece. After Thora Hird passed away there is a new photo of Edie, taken from the series 24 episode “The Secret Birthday of Norman Clegg”.
Twice in series 28 Barry talks about ghosts, Glenda asks if he had seen her mother. Barry’s said, no; he was scared of her enough while she was alive.
 
Barrychuckle said:
Whether he is to believed or not, Roy Clarke has said in a couple of interviews that had Bill died between series then it would have probably ended then.
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With Bill's determination and love of Holmfirth he ensured his contribution spanned 3 episodes and an hour long special with this possibility probably foremost in his mind. His stoicism ensured another 11 years of laughter for us, gainful employment for the ever burgeoning cast and crew and notoritey for the considerable future in the area.
 
I remember in one episode at the coffee morning the women discuss the contents of their husband's pockets. Nora mentions Wally used to usually have treats for his pigeons & Ivy reckoned Sid's pockets always seemed to contain two toffees covered in tobacco & fluff!
 
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