Even the deaths of principal actors Bill Owen, Kathy Staff and Thora Hird hasn’t stopped Roy Clarke from penning more episodes of this long-running paean to growing old.

At last count the sitcom set in the Yorkshire Dales around Holmfirth had notched up more than 30 series.

Roy’s stage play, The Moonbather, was based on a Summer Wine Chronicles novel he wrote in 1987. This brand new version, which opened at the Devonshire Park Theatre, in Eastbourne, stars Hi-De-Hi’s Ruth Madoc, Crossroads star Tony Adams and Steven Pinder of Brookside fame.

*Starts 7.30pm, with matinees at 2pm Weds and 2.30pm Sat, tickets from £13. Call 01903 206206.