 A live production of Last of the Summer Wine , known informally as the " summer season " , was produced in Bournemouth in 1984 . While Bill Owen and Peter Sallis reprised their roles as Compo and Clegg , Brian Wilde chose not to take part because of personal differences with Owen . The show focused on the men 's interaction with Clegg 's new neighbour , Howard ( Kenneth Waller ) , and his wife , Pearl , played by a local actress . The first act built up to the appearance of Marina ( Jean Fergusson ) , who was in correspondence with Howard . At the end of the first act , Marina was revealed to be a blonde sexpot . Howard and Marina 's story line was partly based on an early subplot of the television show . In the first series , the librarian , Mr. Wainwright , was having a love affair with his married assistant , Mrs. Partridge . Despite their efforts to keep the plot a secret , especially from Mrs. Partridge 's husband , the trio of old men were well aware of the affair . The summer season reversed the roles : Howard became the married partner , and the challenge was to keep the affair secret from his wife . 
