<P> (1987--2002) An extremely long - sighted bumbler, Eli maintained a highly cheerful, friendly attitude despite not having a clue what was going on around him . He generally made only brief cameo appearances, walking into a scene and commenting on his long - sighted misinterpretation of the action, and then walking off again . He was occasionally seen on a bicycle . </P> <P> On occasion, his long - sightedness caused him to walk into slapstick (and carefully choreographed) mishaps such as walking into the back of a lorry and over the tops of cars, or falling into a skip . For much of his time in the series, Eli also had a Jack Russell dog (which once went missing, leading Eli to mistake a sheep for the dog). Despite his long - sightedness, Eli is eternally cheerful and optimistic, and glad to see anyone who stops to talk to him . In one episode, a passing comment by Compo seemed to suggest that Eli was a sniper during the Second World War . </P> <P> In the 1995 New Year Special episode featuring Sir Norman Wisdom,' The Man Who Nearly Knew Pavarotti', Eli is the conductor of the Holme Silver Band . Originally brought in as a friend of Wally Batty, the character was so popular that Eli remained on the show after the death of actor Joe Gladwin . Eli and Wally appeared together in the series 9 episode, "Jaws", in 1987 . </P> <P> Eli never appeared again following the death of O'Dea, though the character was not explicitly killed off . He was replaced by two drunks (who were also in earlier episodes of the series, sometimes credited as Villagers), but appeared in only a few episodes . </P>

Thora hird daughter in last of the summer wine