Actor and son of “Compo” Tom Owen bringing one-man show to Port Sunlight

Feb 3 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

TO television audiences across the world he was loveable rascal Compo – but to Tom Owen, he was simply “Dad”.

Bill Owen delighted fans of long-running comedy Last of the Summer Wine for 26 years, becoming a comedy icon in his character’s tatty jacket, woolly hat and wellies.

A week after his death in 1999, series producer and director Alan Bell offered Tom a remarkable challenge that would see his professional and personal worlds collide – the role of Compo’s long-lost son, Tom Simmonite.

Tom, who started acting aged 16, is bringing his one-man show to the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight, on Friday, February 12.

Last of the Summer Wine – Treading the Boards is the story of both Tom and Bill, from the start of their careers in the theatre to Yorkshire and the madcap antics of Last of the Summer Wine.

Tom, 60, said: “The show is basically the story of two actors in showbusiness who happen to be father and son.

“It developed from the tributes to my dad after his death. He had two services – one in London and one in Holmfirth, where he filmed Last of the Summer Wine.

“I wanted to do my own personal tribute to him and I thought I’d write something for the theatre, so it’s evolved over the years into what it is now.”

Few know that, before his days chasing Nora Batty, Bill wrote songs for artists like Cliff Richard and Matt Monro.