Ronnie Hazlehurst - King Of The Comedy Themes

This clip provides us with what is, in my opinion, the loveliest music from any British sit-com past or present. It is of course from the long running Last Of The Summer Wine. Any fan will know from the opening and closing credits that the composer was Ronnie Hazlehurst. But something not so well known is just how prolific he has been in providing us with sit-com theme tunes. Here a list of other Ronnie Hazlehurst compositions (first nine) and arrangements (remainder):

1. Are You Being Served

2. Sorry

3. Yes Minister

4. Wyatt's Watchdogs

5. Three Up, Two Down

6. The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin

7. The Two Ronnies

8. Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

9. To The Manor Born

10. Butterflies

11. Only Fools And Horses

12. Three Of A Kind

13. No Place Like Home

14. Just Good Friends

15. The Likely Lads

Ronnie Hazlehurst's other great claim to fame was as Musical Director of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, 1977 and 1982 (you remember, those days when we occasionally won it). He also conducted the British entry many times, memorably in 1977 when he used a rolled up umbrella as a baton for Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran's Rock Bottom.

Back to this clip, which is an excellent slide show portraying the regular characters from Last Of The Summer Wine. This particular sit-com relies almost entirely on depth of characterisation; many jokes are repetitive and unique to that particular person. Episodes are often a collage of cameo appearances woven between the main story line which always involves the three main characters. I am grateful to imitation700mb who put the slide show together splendidly and gave permission for it to be posted here. It has brought back some wonderful memories, especially of earlier cast members such as Blamire, Wally and Sid, who are, alas, no longer with us.