In 1972, Roy Clarke was commissioned to write a sitcom. The BBC worried the title was forgettable, and Clarke thought the plot might bore audiences. The show was shot in Holmfrith, Yorkshire, and the scenery was as popular as the show itself.
The pilot premiered in 1973 on the BBC's Comedy Playhouse. The first series had poor ratings--but a second series was picked up in 1975.
The original trio featured Bill Owen as Compo Simmonite, Peter Sallis as Norman Clegg and Michael Bates as Cyril Blamire. Blamire was replaced by Brian Wilde as Foggy Dewhurst. Foggy was replaced by Michael Aldridge as Seymour Utterthwaite, and later Frank Thornton as Truly Truelove.
Popular subplots were Nora Batty escaping Compo's amorous advances, Auntie Wainwright selling "antiques" to unsuspecting punters, and Howard's attempts to romance Marina under the sharp gaze of his wife, Pearl.
After Bill Owen's death, his son Tom appeared as Compo's son. Others included Brian Murphy as Alvin Smedley, Keith Clifford as Billy Hardcastle, Bert Kwouk as "Electrical" Entwistle and Russ Abbott as Luther "Hobbo" Hobdyke.
The show has spawned a stage play, a movie and a novel. It was canceled in December of 2008.