ACTOR Tom Owen has only one regret – he never had the chance to work with his father Bill, known to millions as frisky pensioner Compo in the long-running BBC comedy Last Of The Summer Wine.

But he had the satisfaction of following Dad into the TV series appropriately playing Compo’s long-lost son.

And now he’s paying a theatrical tribute to Bill with a one-man show, which visits Maidenhead’s Norden Farm arts centre this weekend.

He reminisces about Bill, who played Compo for more than a quarter of a century, and shows clips of his work.

He said: “He regarded Compo as a gift for an actor in the autumn of his career.”

And he recalled: “Bill wasn’t keen for me to go into the business but once I had made that decision he couldn’t have been more supportive.”

Tom pointed out that his father had already had a solid career as a stalwart of British cinema before he became a household name on TV.

One of his favourite movies was the wartime classic The Way To The Stars.

And on TV he is also remembered for the series Taxi in which he and Sid James played partners in a cab business.

Tom, who has a physical and vocal resemblance to Bill, said: “We were great friends as well as being father and son.”

Tom’s own career includes a regular role as a teenage crimebuster in the children’s series Freewheelers.

His show has a one-off performance at Norden Farm on Saturday – for tickets call 01628 788997.