Of Funerals and Fish Of Funerals and Fish "Of Funerals and Fish" is the pilot episode of the world's longest running sitcom, "Last of the Summer Wine" (1973–2010), written by Roy Clarke. It was first aired on 4 January 1973 and became the first of 295 episodes. It was aired as a "Comedy Playhouse" episode. The plot involved the trio going around discussing life and death. It starred Bill Owen, Peter Sallis and Michael Bates. This also was the first appearance of Kathy Staff, although her character is at this point only known as Mrs Batty rather than Nora. Her husband, unseen in this
Comedy Playhouse (series 1) which was broadcast at 8:40pm. Comedy Playhouse (series 1) The first series of Comedy Playhouse, that continued to be a long-running BBC series, broadcast from 15 December 1961 to 16 February 1962. All the episodes were written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The first series, which was in black and white, consisted of ten episodes, each of which had a different cast and storyline. Only the fourth episode, "The Offer", made it to its own series becoming "Steptoe and Son"; all other episodes of this series of "Comedy Playhouse" are lost. The episodes were broadcast on Friday at 8:45pm,