Ep 5. Earnshaw Strikes Again

Earnshaw Strikes Again is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the beloved British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. Set in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales, the series follows the misadventures of a group of aging friends who refuse to let their advancing years slow them down.

In this episode, the trio of loveable troublemakers - Norman Clegg, Compo Simmonite, and Cyril Blamire - are joined by the cantankerous old pensioner Wally Batty, who has a bone to pick with the village shopkeeper, Mr. Earnshaw.

Wally believes that Earnshaw is overcharging him for his weekly groceries, and he's determined to take action. When the others suggest that he simply shop elsewhere, Wally insists that it's a matter of principle and sets out to confront the shopkeeper.

Meanwhile, the group is also preoccupied with the idea of building a chicken coop. They've come up with a plan to construct a makeshift coop using old bits of wood and wire mesh, but as usual, nothing goes quite as they intended.

As they work on their coop, they're interrupted by a group of local children who are eager to play a game of cricket. The friends decide to join in, turning their building site into a makeshift cricket pitch.

But when Wally finally confronts Mr. Earnshaw at the shop, things don't go according to plan. The two men end up getting into a heated argument, which escalates into a full-blown brawl.

As chaos ensues, the rest of the group rushes to intervene, but they only end up getting caught up in the fray. Eventually, the police are called to break up the fight, and the friends find themselves in hot water.

Despite the chaos, the group is undeterred in their mission to build the chicken coop. They resolve to finish the project, no matter what obstacles they face.

By the end of the episode, the coop is finally finished, and the group is pleased with their handiwork. However, their accomplishment is short-lived when they discover that their coop has been flattened by an unexpected visitor.

Earnshaw Strikes Again is a classic episode of Last of the Summer Wine, filled with the trademark humor, warmth, and charm that made the show a beloved British institution. From bickering pensioners to bumbling construction projects, the episode captures the irrepressible spirit of its aging protagonists as they continue to make the most of their golden years.