Of Funerals and Fish

{{more citations needed|date=April 2018}}{{use British English|date=April 2018}}{{use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Infobox television episode

| series = Last of the Summer Wine

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| series_no =

| episode = 1

| director = James Gilbert

| writer = Roy Clarke

| based_on =

| music = Ronnie Hazlehurst

| editor =

| production =

| airdate = {{Start date|1973|01|04|df=y}}

| length = 30 minutes

| guests = {{Plainlist|

• Blake Butler as Mr Wainwright
• Rosemary Martin as Mrs Partridge
• Michael Stainton as Vicar
• John Barratt as Kid
• Pat Bonna as First Woman
• Derek Etchells as Van Driver
• Jean McLaren as Second Woman

}}

| prev =

| next = Short Back and Palais Glide

| season_article = Last of the Summer Wine (series 1)

| episode_list = List of Last of the Summer Wine episodes

}}

"Of Funerals and Fish" is the pilot episode of the world's longest-running television sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010), written by Roy Clarke.{{cite news|last1=Langley|first1=William|title=Last of the Summer Wine: the ageless appeal of three old men in a bath|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/7806003/Last-of-the-Summer-Wine-the-ageless-appeal-of-three-old-men-in-a-bath.html|access-date=23 April 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=5 June 2010}} It was first broadcast on 4 January 1973 and became the first of 295 episodes.{{cite book|last1=Vine|first1=Andrew|title=Last of the summer wine : the inside story of the world's longest-running comedy programme|date=2010|publisher=Aurum|location=London|isbn=9781845135959|page=3}}{{cite web|title=BFI Screenonline: Last of the Summer Wine (1973-2010)|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1382871/index.html|website=www.screenonline.org.uk|access-date=23 April 2018}} It was aired as the first episode of the thirteenth series of Comedy Playhouse, a comedy anthology series running from 1961–1975. The plot involved the trio going around discussing life and death.

It starred Bill Owen, Peter Sallis and Michael Bates. This also was the first appearance of Kathy Staff, although her character is at this point only known as Mrs Batty rather than Nora. Her husband, unseen in this first episode, is referred to as Harold; when the character went on to appear in the series, he would be called Wally.