First of the Summer Wine was a prequel to Last of the Summer Wine written by Roy Clarke. Different actors were used to follow portray of the main characters from Last of the Summer Wine in their youth.

Set in 1939, First of the Summer Wine is based on the diary entries of the young Norman Clegg. Each episode begins with him resting on his bedroom windowsill and greeting the day with the words "the diary of Norman Clegg, aged 18 years" and then introduce the theme of each episode. Each episode involved the antics of Norman and his friends Bill 'Compo', Foggy, Seymour), Sherbet and Wally all of whom are come to grips with with the world around them, their youth, and their experiences with the lasses.

The show has much of the 1920s and 1930s music. The theme tune is the "Sweet and Lovely", sung by Al Bowlly, and accompanied by Roy Fox and his Band.

The series portrayed the adventures of these young lads as they sought after jobs, chased the lassies and made they mapped out their future plans, all influenced with their ideas on life. The coming of the outbreak of the Second World War was the only thing that darkened their lives.

Cast -Norman Clegg - David Fenwick,
Compo Simmonite - Paul Wyett,
Foggy Dewhurst - Richard Lumsden,
Seymour Utterthwaite - Paul McLain
Mr. Clegg (Norman's Father) - Peter Sallis ,
Anita Pillsworth - Linda Davidson,
Wally Batty - Gary Whitaker,
Nora Renshaw - Helen Patrick,
Sherbet - Paul Oldham,
Dilys - Joanne Heywood,
Ivy - Sarah Dangerfield,
Mrs. Clegg (Norman's Mother) - Maggie Ollerenshaw,
Mr. Scrimshaw - Derek Benfield ,
Chunky Livesey (Series 1) - Anthony Keetch,
Chunky Livesey (Series 2) - Jonathan Linsley,
Brad – Adrian Lochhead,
Deborah's Mother -- Patricia England,
Deborah -- Barbara Durkin,
Rags -- Annie Raitt,
Pub Landlady -- Gillian Goodman,
Usherette -- Joanne Rudling ,
Vicar -- Geoffrey Hodson
Mexican Admiral -- Joe Belcher,
Policeman -- Alan Starkey