From 1997 Truly arrived to Holmfirth. Truly is more of a relaxed and fun-loving than his other predecessors as "third man". Divorced, he frequently makes unfavourable comments about "the former Mrs Truelove" and, because of his previous connection with the police, he calls himself "Truly of the Yard".

After the death of actor Bill Owen, the classic group “trio” of Compo, Clegg and their leader went. Instead of concentrating the story line on the three characters they started to have their own story lines. New characters have been introduced, and the previous guest stars have now become regulars. New characters have included Tom Simmonite, the long lost son of Compo.. It had been reported in the media that Tom was a replacement for Compo. The nearest to Compo was Billy Hardcastle, who is often shown walking with Truly and Clegg. With the introduction of Alvin Smedley, it went back to the usual scrapes that they had with Compo. In 2006 the show had an audience of 5 million viewers per episode.

The regular story lines include the so-called secret love affair between Howard and Marina that is known by Pearl - Howard’s wife. The other story lines includes the women's coffee mornings which inculde Nora, Ivy, Pearl, Edie and Glenda with thir fight to get the cream cake. It also centres on Compo's pursuit of Nora Batty’s love and attention. There was Aunty Wainwright's many devious ways to get customers buy goods from her shop whether they want them or no. Then there is Eli and his short sightedness where he mistakes every day objects likea bin that Howard was carrying for Marina. The many hobbies of Barry in an attempt to better himself and make his life less boring, and Tom's constant struggle to stay one step ahead of the repossession man. Then there are the head of the trio and his various attempts at inventions and there consequent failure.

Cast- Bill Owen- Compo Simonite,
Peter Sallis - Norman Clegg,
Michael Bates - Cyril Blamire,
Brian Wilde - Foggy Dewhurst,
Michael Aldridge - Seymour Utterthwaite,
Frank Thorton- Truly Truelove,
Tom Owen - Tom Simonite who is also Bill Owens son,
Kathy Staff - Nora Batty,
Joe Gladwin - Wally Batty,
Gordon Wharmby - Wesley Pegden,
Jonathan Linsley - Crusher (Milburn),
John Comer - Sid,
Jane Freeman -Ivy,
Thora Hird Edie Pegden,
Mike Grady - Barry,
Sarah Thomas - Glenda,
Robert Fyfe – Howard,
Juliette Kaplan -Pearl
Jean Fergusson- Marina,
Danny O'Dea - Eli,
Stephen Lewis - Smiler,
Jean Alexander - Auntie Wainwright,
Dora Bryan - Roz,
Keith Clifford - Billy Hardcastle,
Julie T Wallace - Mrs Avery,
Norman Wisdom -Billy Ingleton