LAST of The Summer Wine star Tom Owen has died aged 73.

The actor was best-known for playing Tom Simmonite in the long-running BBC show.

A statement from his family said: "He passed away peacefully and is survived by his two children, James and William, and ex-wife, Mary.”

As well as Last of The Summer Wine, Owen also had roles in The Bill, The Onedin Line and Upstairs Downstairs.

His acting career began with a job as an assistant stage manager at Leatherhead Theatre in Surrey.

Owen then landed a role in the sitcom as Tom Owen, the long-lost son of Compo Simmonite – played by his real dad Bill Owen – in 2000.

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It came just days after the death of his father from cancer.

Speaking of the role previously, Owen said: "It was two or three days after Dad had died.

"Obviously my mind was on other things, like organising the funeral, and it hadn't occurred to me at all that I would be approached to play Compo's long-lost son.

"Alan suggested the idea to me and I thought about it for two seconds before saying yes."

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Talking about taking on the role, he said: "At first when I arrived on set it was very odd.

"It was emotional, but very early on I decided the only way I could tackle it was by being a professional.

"I was very aware of how wary the other cast members might be of me. They had all been through a traumatic shock when Dad died. They had known him for all those years as well.

"Dad loved the show and I think he would be very proud that it is going to continue, and in a way it's continuing in his memory. I think he would be very happy that I've taken his place."

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