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
The Weekenders (TV pilot) Big Night Out". Reeves co-wrote the show with Mortimer under his real name, Jim Moir, which is also the name given to his character. The show was produced as a pilot for Channel 4's "Bunch of Five" season - the network's own version of the BBC's "Comedy Playhouse", in which new sitcom ideas were tried out. Out of the five pilots that were broadcast, only one - a Frank Skinner sitcom entitled "Blue Heaven" - was made into a full series. The show co-starred several comedians and actors who were unknown at the time, but had worked with Reeves and