Last of the Summer Wine’s thirtieth series originally aired 19 April 2009. All eleven episodes in series thirty were thirty minutes in length. A New Years Special aired on 31 December 2008. All of the episodes were written by Roy Clarke and directed by Alan J. W. Bell. This series is notable for forming a new trio composed of Alvin, Entwistle and Hobbo, who was introduced in the New Years Special. Peter Sallis and Frank Thornton are now demoted to secondary characters, filmed only in studio scenes due to the cost of insurance for the actors at their age on location.