 Although many feel the show 's quality declined over the years , Last of the Summer Wine continued to receive large audiences for the BBC and was praised for its positive portrayal of older people and family @-@ friendly humour . Many members of the Royal Family enjoyed the show . The programme was nominated for numerous awards and won the National Television Award for Most Popular Comedy Programme in 1999 . There were twenty @-@ one Christmas specials , three television films and a documentary film about the series . Last of the Summer Wine inspired other adaptations , including a television prequel , several novelisations , and stage adaptations . 
