Ep 1. Ferret Come Home

Last of the Summer Wine was a long-running British sitcom that followed the lives of a group of elderly men living in a small Yorkshire town. Season four, episode one was titled Ferret Come Home and originally aired in 1978.

The episode revolves around a lost ferret owned by eccentric inventor Howard (Robert Fyfe). When his ferret escapes his care, Howard enlists his friends Clegg (Peter Sallis) and Compo (Bill Owen) to help him find it. The trio searches all over town for the mischievous animal, including breaking into a local pet store in hopes of finding a mate to lure it back home. Along the way, they encounter a variety of quirky characters and get into sticky situations.

As the search for the ferret drags on, tensions rise between the three friends. Compo complains about the physical strain of their excursions, while Clegg bemoans Howard's general ineptitude. However, despite the bickering, the three remain committed to each other and the search for the lost ferret.

Meanwhile, Howard's wife Marina (Jean Fergusson) becomes increasingly fed up with her husband's obsession with the ferret and his neglect of her. She takes matters into her own hands, setting traps around the house to catch the errant animal. Her efforts prove fruitless, however, and she ultimately joins the search party.

The episode is filled with the gentle, homespun humor that became the show's trademark. From the trio's futile attempts to catch the ferret with a discarded flute to Howard's misguided attempts to impress Marina with his inventions, the episode is filled with delightful moments of absurdity. The show is often praised for its sweet, whimsical humor and its portrayal of a group of senior citizens who refuse to let age slow them down.

Overall, Ferret Come Home is a charming entry in the Last of the Summer Wine canon. It captures the show's unique blend of humor and heart while showcasing the fun chemistry between its core trio of characters. Fans of the series and newcomers alike will enjoy this episode's gentle humor and quaint charm.