 When Alan J. W. Bell took over as producer , the plots of Last of the Summer Wine moved away from the original dialogue @-@ packed scenes in the pub and the library ; guest actors were brought in to interact with the trio in new situations . Although many of these guest appearances would last for only one episode , some led to a permanent role on the show , as in the cases of Gordon Wharmby , Thora Hird , Jean Alexander , Stephen Lewis , Dora Bryan , Keith Clifford , Brian Murphy , Josephine Tewson , June Whitfield , Barbara Young , and Trevor Bannister . Other noted guests on the programme included John Cleese , Ron Moody , Sir Norman Wisdom , Eric Sykes , Liz Fraser , Stanley Lebor , and Philip Jackson . 
