With Compo missing from a portion of the previous episode, writer Roy Clarke had to address the death of Bill Owen and kill off the character from the show. No easy task when in previous years, if any of the regular actors died the show carried on without mentioning what happened to Sid or Wally for example, until some time later their widows would make some wistful remark.
The ladies are rehearsing for a show dressed as old time showgirls. Howard remarks that it is a peculiar thing when your wife looks sexier than your girlfriend (Howard clearly needs to go to Specsavers!)
Ivy persuades Nora Batty to give Compo a thrill which she does off screen and the shock sends him to hospital. Compo does not recover. Clegg takes the news worse, he did not get the chance to say goodbye to him and remarks that Compo may had known his time was up, hence why he did not want to go to the pub with them. Truly takes him to the Dales where they both shout their farewells at the top of their lungs.
Obviously this is a melancholic episode, although Clarke adds a few laughs. We only get a glimpse of a double of Compo as he is carried on a stretcher to hospital. It really is a case of the regulars coming together for Clegg.
Nora makes sure Compo's clothes are cleaned and ironed for his final journey and Barry takes care of his ferrets. There is a final goodbye from the people of Holmfirth from the hills.