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{{short description|British sitcom}}
{{short description|British sitcom}}
{{For|the album by The Hamsters|w:Open All Hours (album)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| image                = Open All Hours title card.jpg
| image                = Open All Hours title card.jpg
| alt                  = 1976 title card. The series title appears over an aerial shot of the corner shop.
| alt                  = 1976 title card. The series title appears over an aerial shot of the corner shop.
| genre                = [[Sitcom]]
| genre                = [[w:Sitcom|Sitcom]]
| creator              = [[Roy Clarke]]
| creator              = [[w:Roy Clarke|Roy Clarke]]
| developer            =
| developer            =
| writer              = Roy Clarke
| writer              = Roy Clarke
| director            = [[Sydney Lotterby]]
| director            = [[w:Sydney Lotterby|Sydney Lotterby]]
| starring            = {{Plainlist|
| starring            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ronnie Barker]]
* [[Ronnie Barker]]
* [[David Jason]]
* [[David Jason]]
* [[Lynda Baron]]
* [[Lynda Baron]]
* [[Stephanie Cole]]
* [[w:Stephanie Cole|Stephanie Cole]]
* [[Barbara Flynn]]
* [[w:Barbara Flynn|Barbara Flynn]]
* [[Maggie Ollerenshaw]]
* [[w:Maggie Ollerenshaw|Maggie Ollerenshaw]]
* [[Kathy Staff]]}}
* [[Kathy Staff]]}}
| theme_music_composer = Joseph Ascher
| theme_music_composer = Joseph Ascher
| opentheme            = "[[Alice, Where Art Thou?]]"
| opentheme            = "[[w:Alice, Where Art Thou?|Alice]]"
| endtheme            = "Alice, Where Art Thou?"
| endtheme            = "Alice, Where Art Thou?"
| composer            = [[Max Harris (composer)|Max Harris]]
| composer            = [[w:Max Harris (composer)|Max Harris]]
| country              = United Kingdom
| country              = United Kingdom
| language            = English
| language            = English
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| num_episodes        = 26
| num_episodes        = 26
| list_episodes        = List of Open All Hours episodes
| list_episodes        = List of Open All Hours episodes
| executive_producer  = [[James Gilbert (producer)|James Gilbert]] <small><br />(pilot episode)</small>
| executive_producer  = [[w:James Gilbert (producer)|James Gilbert]] <small><br />(pilot episode)</small>
| producer            = Sydney Lotterby <small><br />(1973–1985)</small>
| producer            = Sydney Lotterby <small><br />(1973–1985)</small>
| editor              =  
| editor              =  
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| camera              =  
| camera              =  
| runtime              = 30 minutes
| runtime              = 30 minutes
| company              = [[BBC]]
| company              = [[w:BBC|BBC]]
| distributor          = [[BBC Worldwide]] <br /> [[2entertain]] <br />[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] (Australia, home video)<br />[[Warner Home Video]] (US, home video)
| distributor          = [[w:BBC Worldwide|BBC Worldwide]] <br /> [[w:2entertain|2entertain]] <br />[[w:Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] (Australia, home video)<br />[[w:Warner Home Video|Warner Home Video]] (US, home video)
| channel              = {{Plainlist|
| channel              = {{Plainlist|
* [[BBC Two|BBC2]] <small>(1973–1976)</small>
* [[w:BBC Two|BBC2]] <small>(1973–1976)</small>
* [[BBC One|BBC1]] <small>(1981–1985)</small>}}
* [[w:BBC One|BBC1]] <small>(1981–1985)</small>}}
| picture_format      = [[PAL]]
| picture_format      = [[w:PAL|PAL]]
| audio_format        = [[Monaural|Mono]]
| audio_format        = [[w:Monaural|Mono]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1973|3|23|df=y}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1973|3|23|df=y}}
| last_aired          = {{End date|1985|10|06|df=y}}
| last_aired          = {{End date|1985|10|06|df=y}}
Line 47: Line 45:
}}
}}


'''''Open All Hours''''' is a [[British television]] [[British sitcom|sitcom]] created and written by [[Roy Clarke]] for the BBC. It ran for 26 episodes in four series, which aired in 1976, 1981, 1982 and 1985. The programme developed from a [[television pilot]] broadcast in [[Ronnie Barker]]'s comedy [[anthology series]], ''[[Seven of One]]'' (1973). ''Open All Hours'' ranked eighth in the 2004 [[Britain's Best Sitcom]] poll.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/winner.shtml Britain's Best Sitcom:Top Ten], URL accessed 2 December 2006.</ref> A sequel, entitled ''[[Still Open All Hours]]'', began airing in 2013.
'''''Open All Hours''''' is a [[w:British television|British television]] [[w:British sitcom|sitcom]] created and written by [[w:Roy Clarke|Roy Clarke]] for the BBC. It ran for 26 episodes in four series, which aired in 1976, 1981, 1982 and 1985. The programme developed from a [[w:television pilot|television pilot]] broadcast in [[Ronnie Barker]]'s comedy [[w:anthology series|anthology series]], ''[[Seven of One]]'' (1973). ''Open All Hours'' ranked eighth in the 2004 [[w:Britain's Best Sitcom|Britain's Best Sitcom]] poll.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/winner.shtml Britain's Best Sitcom:Top Ten], URL accessed 2 December 2006.</ref> A sequel, entitled ''[[Still Open All Hours]]'', began airing in 2013.


==Premise ==
==Premises==
The setting is a small grocer's shop in [[Balby]], a suburb of [[Doncaster]] in [[South Yorkshire]]. The owner, [[Arkwright (Open All Hours)|Arkwright]] ([[Ronnie Barker]]), is a middle-aged miser with a stammer and a knack for selling. His nephew [[Granville (Open All Hours)|Granville]] ([[David Jason]]) is his put-upon errand boy, who blames his work schedule for his lacklustre social life.
The setting is a small grocer's shop in [[w:Balby|Balby]], a suburb of [[w:Doncaster|Doncaster]] in [[w:South Yorkshire|South Yorkshire]]. The owner, [[Arkwright (Open All Hours)|Arkwright]] ([[Ronnie Barker]]), is a middle-aged miser with a stammer and a knack for selling. His nephew [[Granville (Open All Hours)|Granville]] ([[David Jason]]) is his put-upon errand boy, who blames his work schedule for his lacklustre social life.


Across the road lives Nurse Gladys Emmanuel ([[Lynda Baron]]), largely occupied by her professional rounds, and her elderly mother. Arkwright longs to marry Gladys, but she resists his persistent pressures. In later episodes it is explained that the two have been engaged for many years but have been unable to go through with a wedding due to the advanced age of her mother, for whom she cares at home, as well as the mutual loathing between her mother and Arkwright. Though short-tempered with her fiancé, she is concerned for his and Granville's welfare.
Across the road lives Nurse Gladys Emmanuel ([[Lynda Baron]]), largely occupied by her professional rounds, and her elderly mother. Arkwright longs to marry Gladys, but she resists his persistent pressures. In later episodes it is explained that the two have been engaged for many years but have been unable to go through with a wedding due to the advanced age of her mother, for whom she cares at home, as well as the mutual loathing between her mother and Arkwright. Though short-tempered with her fiancé, she is concerned for his and Granville's welfare.
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==Episodes==
==Episodes==
{{Main article|List of Open All Hours episodes}}
{{Main article|List of Open All Hours episodes}}
Twenty-six episodes of ''Open All Hours'', all written by [[Roy Clarke]], were produced for the BBC. The show began airing in 1973 with the pilot episode and ended in 1985 after the fourth series. All episodes have a running time of 30 minutes.
Twenty-six episodes of ''Open All Hours'', all written by [[w:Roy Clarke|Roy Clarke]], were produced for the BBC. The show began airing in 1973 with the pilot episode and ended in 1985 after the fourth series. All episodes have a running time of 30 minutes.


===''Still Open All Hours''===
===''Still Open All Hours''===
{{main|Still Open All Hours}}
{{main|Still Open All Hours}}
A sequel, entitled ''[[Still Open All Hours]]'', was created in 2013 by original writer Roy Clarke and featuring several original cast members, including [[David Jason]], [[Lynda Baron]], [[Stephanie Cole]] and [[Maggie Ollerenshaw]]. On 30 January 2014, the BBC commissioned ''Still Open All Hours'' for six new episodes beginning on 26 December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25963719|title=Still Open All Hours commissioned for full series|work=BBC News|date=30 January 2014|access-date=31 January 2014}}</ref> and has so far{{when|date=October 2021}} run for six series.
A sequel, entitled ''[[w:Still Open All Hours|Still Open All Hours]]'', was created in 2013 by original writer Roy Clarke and featuring several original cast members, including [[David Jason]], [[Lynda Baron]], [[w:Stephanie Cole|Stephanie Cole]] and [[w:Maggie Ollerenshaw|Maggie Ollerenshaw]]. On 30 January 2014, the BBC commissioned ''Still Open All Hours'' for six new episodes beginning on 26 December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25963719|title=Still Open All Hours commissioned for full series|work=BBC News|date=30 January 2014|access-date=31 January 2014}}</ref> and, as of 2019, has run for six series.


''Open All Hours'' and ''Still Open All Hours'', has run for a total of 67 episodes across ten series.
''Open All Hours'' and ''Still Open All Hours'', has run for a total of 67 episodes across ten series.
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Granville is shy and awkward, but kind. His priorities differ from those of his uncle. He always feels that life is passing him by. Occasionally, people from Granville's past come into the shop. To Granville, who is ever saddled with his shop duties and bearing his uncle's belittling, their lives seem richer and more fulfilling.
Granville is shy and awkward, but kind. His priorities differ from those of his uncle. He always feels that life is passing him by. Occasionally, people from Granville's past come into the shop. To Granville, who is ever saddled with his shop duties and bearing his uncle's belittling, their lives seem richer and more fulfilling.


When Granville has a fling with the milkwoman (played by [[Barbara Flynn]]), his uncle is unsupportive.
When Granville has a fling with the milkwoman (played by [[w:Barbara Flynn|Barbara Flynn]]), his uncle is unsupportive.


===Main===
===Main===
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| Nurse Gladys Emmanuel|| [[Lynda Baron]] || colspan="4" {{yes2|}} || {{center|26}}
| Nurse Gladys Emmanuel|| [[Lynda Baron]] || colspan="4" {{yes2|}} || {{center|26}}
|-
|-
| Milk Woman || [[Barbara Flynn]] || colspan="1" {{no2|}} || colspan="3" {{yes2|}} || {{center|11}}
| Milk Woman || [[w:Barbara Flynn|Barbara Flynn]] || colspan="1" {{no2|}} || colspan="3" {{yes2|}} || {{center|11}}
|-
|-
| Mrs Featherstone || [[Stephanie Cole]] || colspan="2" {{no2|}} || colspan="2" {{yes2|}} || {{center|10}}
| Mrs Featherstone || [[w:Stephanie Cole|Stephanie Cole]] || colspan="2" {{no2|}} || colspan="2" {{yes2|}} || {{center|10}}
|-
|-
| Mrs Blewett || [[Kathy Staff]] || colspan="2" {{yes2|}} || colspan="2" {{no2|}} || {{center|7}}
| Mrs Blewett || [[Kathy Staff]] || colspan="2" {{yes2|}} || colspan="2" {{no2|}} || {{center|7}}
|-
|-
| Mavis || [[Maggie Ollerenshaw]] || colspan="1" {{no2|}} || colspan="2" {{yes2|}} || colspan="1" {{no2|}} || {{center|7}}
| Mavis || [[w:Maggie Ollerenshaw|Maggie Ollerenshaw]] || colspan="1" {{no2|}} || colspan="2" {{yes2|}} || colspan="1" {{no2|}} || {{center|7}}
|}
|}


==Production==
==Production==
[[File:Lister Avenue in Balby (a suburb of Doncaster in the North of England), used for the exterior shots on the BBC television sitcom Open All Hours.jpg|thumb|right|Lister Avenue in [[Balby]], where exterior shots were set with 'Beautique', the shop used as Arkwright's, on the right.]]
[[File:Lister Avenue in Balby (a suburb of Doncaster in the North of England), used for the exterior shots on the BBC television sitcom Open All Hours.jpg|thumb|right|Lister Avenue in [[w:Balby|Balby]], where exterior shots were set with 'Beautique', the shop used as Arkwright's, on the right.]]


===Series development===
===Series development===
The shop is based on a little store called L E Riddiford in [[Thornbury, Gloucestershire|Thornbury]], [[Gloucestershire]]. Roy Clarke visited this small town whilst travelling and was said to have fallen in love with the shop layout and its owner, Len Riddiford.
The shop is based on a little store called L E Riddiford in [[w:Thornbury, Gloucestershire|Thornbury]], [[w:Gloucestershire|Gloucestershire]]. Roy Clarke visited this small town whilst travelling and was said to have fallen in love with the shop layout and its owner, Len Riddiford.


Ronnie Barker proposed that Arkwright should have a stammer, and this was written into the character. Barker also co-created the premise of the dangerous till. In the series, the shop's antiquated till has a drawer that tends to snap shut suddenly. Even though this terrifies Granville and Arkwright, Arkwright refuses to replace the till due to the cost of a replacement, and because he believes it discourages burglars.  By the time of ''Still Open All Hours'', it is suggested that the till is now haunted by Arkwright's ghost as it sporadically opens and closes violently at the mere suggestion of Granville spending money.
Ronnie Barker proposed that Arkwright should have a stammer, and this was written into the character. Barker also co-created the premise of the dangerous till. In the series, the shop's antiquated till has a drawer that tends to snap shut suddenly. Even though this terrifies Granville and Arkwright, Arkwright refuses to replace the till due to the cost of a replacement, and because he believes it discourages burglars.  By the time of ''Still Open All Hours'', it is suggested that the till is now haunted by Arkwright's ghost as it sporadically opens and closes violently at the mere suggestion of Granville spending money.


===Filming locations===
===Filming locations===
[[Image:openallhours 1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, [[Arkwright (Open All Hours)|Arkwright]] and [[Granville (Open All Hours)|Granville]]]]
[[File:openallhours 1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, [[Arkwright (Open All Hours)|Arkwright]] and [[Granville (Open All Hours)|Granville]]]]
The exterior shots were shot on Lister Avenue in [[Balby]], a suburb of [[Doncaster]]; South Yorkshire. The shop itself is a hairdresser's salon, which closed for a Summer break during each year the series was being filmed by the BBC. The same location is used for the sequel series ''Still Open All Hours''. The pilot episode (featured in the series ''[[Seven of One]]'') used a shop front on the western intersection of Drayton Avenue and Manor Road in Ealing, London for exterior filming.
The exterior shots were shot on Lister Avenue in [[w:Balby|Balby]], a suburb of [[w:Doncaster|Doncaster]]; South Yorkshire. The shop itself is a hairdresser's salon, which closed for a Summer break during each year the series was being filmed by the BBC. The same location is used for the sequel series ''Still Open All Hours''. The pilot episode (featured in the series ''[[Seven of One]]'') used a shop front on the western intersection of Drayton Avenue and Manor Road in Ealing, London for exterior filming.


In the first series, Nurse Gladys lives at 34 Lister Avenue. This is changed to 32 from the second series.
In the first series, Nurse Gladys lives at 34 Lister Avenue. This is changed to 32 from the second series.


The local council considered demolishing the shop used in ''Open All Hours''. A fan created a web site to garner support for preserving it. The shop was to be auctioned in [[Leeds]] on 24 November 2008, and was expected to fetch between £120,000 and £130,000; however, all bids fell short of the [[Reservation price|reserve price]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/4769568.stm Famous TV shop faces demolition] BBC News Online. Retrieved 4 April 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a134909/open-all-hours-shop-to-be-auctioned.html|title='Open All Hours' shop to be auctioned|work=Digital Spy|date=7 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7747527.stm|title=Open All Hours shop fails to sell |publisher=BBC|access-date=25 November 2008 | date=25 November 2008}}</ref>
The local council considered demolishing the shop used in ''Open All Hours''. A fan created a web site to garner support for preserving it. The shop was to be auctioned in [[w:Leeds|Leeds]] on 24 November 2008, and was expected to fetch between £120,000 and £130,000; however, all bids fell short of the [[w:Reservation price|reserve price]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/4769568.stm Famous TV shop faces demolition] BBC News Online. Retrieved 4 April 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a134909/open-all-hours-shop-to-be-auctioned.html|title='Open All Hours' shop to be auctioned|work=Digital Spy|date=7 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7747527.stm|title=Open All Hours shop fails to sell |publisher=BBC|access-date=25 November 2008 | date=25 November 2008}}</ref>


Three years earlier, a different sort of auction commemorated the programme. The BBC donated, to the [[British Stammering Association]], two of the false moustaches worn by Ronnie Barker in the series. The BSA auctioned the moustaches at their London conference in September 2005, shortly before Barker's death.
Three years earlier, a different sort of auction commemorated the programme. The BBC donated, to the [[w:British Stammering Association|British Stammering Association]], two of the false moustaches worn by Ronnie Barker in the series. The BSA auctioned the moustaches at their London conference in September 2005, shortly before Barker's death.


===Theme tune===
===Theme tune===
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===Books===
===Books===
Two books related to the programme have been released in the UK. One was written by Graham McCann and published by [[BBC Books]] in October 2014 and the other one, a 'novelisation' based on scripts for the first series, was written by Christine Sparks and was published by BBC Books.
Two books related to the programme have been released in the UK. One was written by Graham McCann and published by [[w:BBC Books|BBC Books]] in October 2014 and the other one, a 'novelisation' based on scripts for the first series, was written by Christine Sparks and was published by BBC Books.


* ''Open All Hours''
* ''Open All Hours''
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| last = Sparks  
| last = Sparks  
| first = Christine
| first = Christine
| publisher = [[BBC Books]]
| publisher = [[w:BBC Books|BBC Books]]
| isbn = 0563179244
| isbn = 0563179244
}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Open All Hours|id={{ASIN|0563179244|country=uk}}}}</ref>
}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Open All Hours|id={{ASIN|0563179244|country=uk}}}}</ref>
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| last = McCann  
| last = McCann  
| first = Graham  
| first = Graham  
| publisher = [[BBC Books]]
| publisher = [[w:BBC Books|BBC Books]]
| isbn = 978-1849908863
| isbn = 978-1849908863
}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Still Open All Hours: The Story of a Classic Comedy |id={{ASIN|1849908869|country=uk}} }}</ref>
}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Still Open All Hours: The Story of a Classic Comedy |id={{ASIN|1849908869|country=uk}} }}</ref>


===VHS releases===
===VHS releases===
A selection of 15 episodes of the series was released on five VHS cassettes by BBC Video on 2 April 1990, 12 June 1995, 4 March 1996, 2 June 1997, and 2 March 1998. Universal Playback, under licence by [[BBC Worldwide]], released Series 1 and 2 as a three tape boxset on 19 August 2002 and Series 3 and 4 as a three tape set boxset on 2 June 2003.
A selection of 15 episodes of the series was released on five VHS cassettes by BBC Video on 2 April 1990, 12 June 1995, 4 March 1996, 2 June 1997, and 2 March 1998. Universal Playback, under licence by [[w:BBC Worldwide|BBC Worldwide]], released Series 1 and 2 as a three tape boxset on 19 August 2002 and Series 3 and 4 as a three tape set boxset on 2 June 2003.


===DVD releases===
===DVD releases===
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!rowspan="2"|Notes
!rowspan="2"|Notes
|-
|-
![[DVD region code#1|Region 1]]
![[w:DVD region code#1|Region 1]]
![[DVD region code#2|Region 2]]
![[w:DVD region code#2|Region 2]]
![[DVD region code#4|Region 4]]
![[w:DVD region code#4|Region 4]]
|-
|-
| style="background:#ff7f00;"|
| style="background:#ff7f00;"|
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==Planned spin-off==
==Planned spin-off==


In 1984, at which time no new episodes of the series had been produced for two years, a spin-off was proposed based around [[Lynda Baron]]'s character, Nurse Gladys Emmanuel. Given the working title ''Call the Nurse'', this spin-off series would have followed Nurse Gladys as she visited various eccentric and demanding patients. The characters of Arkwright and Granville were not written to appear, and [[Roy Clarke]] was keen to develop a new set of supporting characters rather than rely on those already built up for ''Open All Hours''. A thirty-minute pilot was written but did not enter production as the BBC turned down the series; instead, ''Open All Hours'' returned for its fourth and what would be its final series the following year.
In 1984, at which time no new episodes of the series had been produced for two years, a spin-off was proposed based around [[Lynda Baron]]'s character, Nurse Gladys Emmanuel. Given the working title ''Call the Nurse'', this spin-off series would have followed Nurse Gladys as she visited various eccentric and demanding patients. The characters of Arkwright and Granville were not written to appear, and [[w:Roy Clarke|Roy Clarke]] was keen to develop a new set of supporting characters rather than rely on those already built up for ''Open All Hours''. A thirty-minute pilot was written but did not enter production as the BBC turned down the series; instead, ''Open All Hours'' returned for its fourth and what would be its final series the following year.


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 09:58, 23 December 2022

Open All Hours
1976 title card. The series title appears over an aerial shot of the corner shop.
GenreSitcom
Created byRoy Clarke
Written byRoy Clarke
Directed bySydney Lotterby
Starring
Theme music composerJoseph Ascher
Opening theme"Alice"
Ending theme"Alice, Where Art Thou?"
ComposerMax Harris
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJames Gilbert
(pilot episode)
ProducersSydney Lotterby
(1973–1985)
Production locationEngland
Running time30 minutes
Production companyBBC
Original release
Network
Release23 March 1973 (1973-03-23) –
6 October 1985 (1985-10-06)
Related
Seven of One

Open All Hours is a British television sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC. It ran for 26 episodes in four series, which aired in 1976, 1981, 1982 and 1985. The programme developed from a television pilot broadcast in Ronnie Barker's comedy anthology series, Seven of One (1973). Open All Hours ranked eighth in the 2004 Britain's Best Sitcom poll.[1] A sequel, entitled Still Open All Hours, began airing in 2013.

Premises

The setting is a small grocer's shop in Balby, a suburb of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. The owner, Arkwright (Ronnie Barker), is a middle-aged miser with a stammer and a knack for selling. His nephew Granville (David Jason) is his put-upon errand boy, who blames his work schedule for his lacklustre social life.

Across the road lives Nurse Gladys Emmanuel (Lynda Baron), largely occupied by her professional rounds, and her elderly mother. Arkwright longs to marry Gladys, but she resists his persistent pressures. In later episodes it is explained that the two have been engaged for many years but have been unable to go through with a wedding due to the advanced age of her mother, for whom she cares at home, as well as the mutual loathing between her mother and Arkwright. Though short-tempered with her fiancé, she is concerned for his and Granville's welfare.

Episodes

Twenty-six episodes of Open All Hours, all written by Roy Clarke, were produced for the BBC. The show began airing in 1973 with the pilot episode and ended in 1985 after the fourth series. All episodes have a running time of 30 minutes.

Still Open All Hours

A sequel, entitled Still Open All Hours, was created in 2013 by original writer Roy Clarke and featuring several original cast members, including David Jason, Lynda Baron, Stephanie Cole and Maggie Ollerenshaw. On 30 January 2014, the BBC commissioned Still Open All Hours for six new episodes beginning on 26 December 2014.[2] and, as of 2019, has run for six series.

Open All Hours and Still Open All Hours, has run for a total of 67 episodes across ten series.

Characters

Arkwright

Albert Arkwright is a pragmatic, miserly man with old-fashioned values, whose world seems to stop at his shop door, except for his uncontrollable lust for Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, which may prompt him on occasion to wander across the road, usually with a ladder, to gain access to her bedroom window. Arkwright is a devious and mildly dishonest character, who has many crafty tricks to try to persuade a customer to leave his shop having bought at least one thing, and will avoid spending his own money at all costs. He is also very protective of his savings, keeping some in his pocket wrapped in a fine gold chain, and some in an old, battered Oxo tin that he hides under the kitchen sink. This includes, or so he claims, coins from before 1922, when they were "solid silver".

Granville

Granville is the son of Arkwright's sister. She died a single mother when Granville was very young, leaving Arkwright to bring up the boy. Arkwright's jokes imply that his sister was promiscuous; he frequently speculates that Granville's father is Hungarian, and was forbidden to marry Granville's mother because she was English. He is often referred to as a "youth" or "young lad", even though Granville is well into his adult years. (In the Pilot episode he states that he is 25 years old.)

Granville is shy and awkward, but kind. His priorities differ from those of his uncle. He always feels that life is passing him by. Occasionally, people from Granville's past come into the shop. To Granville, who is ever saddled with his shop duties and bearing his uncle's belittling, their lives seem richer and more fulfilling.

When Granville has a fling with the milkwoman (played by Barbara Flynn), his uncle is unsupportive.

Main

Character Played by Series Episode count
1 2 3 4
Main Characters
Arkwright Ronnie Barker
26
Granville David Jason
26
Nurse Gladys Emmanuel Lynda Baron
26
Milk Woman Barbara Flynn
11
Mrs Featherstone Stephanie Cole
10
Mrs Blewett Kathy Staff
7
Mavis Maggie Ollerenshaw
7

Production

Lister Avenue in Balby, where exterior shots were set with 'Beautique', the shop used as Arkwright's, on the right.

Series development

The shop is based on a little store called L E Riddiford in Thornbury, Gloucestershire. Roy Clarke visited this small town whilst travelling and was said to have fallen in love with the shop layout and its owner, Len Riddiford.

Ronnie Barker proposed that Arkwright should have a stammer, and this was written into the character. Barker also co-created the premise of the dangerous till. In the series, the shop's antiquated till has a drawer that tends to snap shut suddenly. Even though this terrifies Granville and Arkwright, Arkwright refuses to replace the till due to the cost of a replacement, and because he believes it discourages burglars. By the time of Still Open All Hours, it is suggested that the till is now haunted by Arkwright's ghost as it sporadically opens and closes violently at the mere suggestion of Granville spending money.

Filming locations

Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, Arkwright and Granville

The exterior shots were shot on Lister Avenue in Balby, a suburb of Doncaster; South Yorkshire. The shop itself is a hairdresser's salon, which closed for a Summer break during each year the series was being filmed by the BBC. The same location is used for the sequel series Still Open All Hours. The pilot episode (featured in the series Seven of One) used a shop front on the western intersection of Drayton Avenue and Manor Road in Ealing, London for exterior filming.

In the first series, Nurse Gladys lives at 34 Lister Avenue. This is changed to 32 from the second series.

The local council considered demolishing the shop used in Open All Hours. A fan created a web site to garner support for preserving it. The shop was to be auctioned in Leeds on 24 November 2008, and was expected to fetch between £120,000 and £130,000; however, all bids fell short of the reserve price.[3][4][5]

Three years earlier, a different sort of auction commemorated the programme. The BBC donated, to the British Stammering Association, two of the false moustaches worn by Ronnie Barker in the series. The BSA auctioned the moustaches at their London conference in September 2005, shortly before Barker's death.

Theme tune

The show's theme tune is a song called "Alice", written by Joseph Ascher. It was arranged for a brass band and performed by Max Harris, who also wrote the incidental music for the programme.[6][7]

Reception

Barker noted in his autobiography It's Hello from Him that he received a letter which began "We are a family of stutterers...", that made his heart sink. However, the writer went on to praise his portrayal and added that the whole family found the character hilarious.

Merchandise

Books

Two books related to the programme have been released in the UK. One was written by Graham McCann and published by BBC Books in October 2014 and the other one, a 'novelisation' based on scripts for the first series, was written by Christine Sparks and was published by BBC Books.

  • Open All Hours

This was published in February 1981 which is based on the original programme. Sparks, Christine (February 1981). Open All Hours:[Papercover]. BBC Books. ISBN 0563179244.[8]

  • Still Open All Hours: The Story of a Classic Comedy

This was published on 30 October 2014. McCann, Graham (30 October 2014). Still Open All Hours: The Story of a Classic Comedy [Hardcover]. BBC Books. ISBN 978-1849908863.[9]

VHS releases

A selection of 15 episodes of the series was released on five VHS cassettes by BBC Video on 2 April 1990, 12 June 1995, 4 March 1996, 2 June 1997, and 2 March 1998. Universal Playback, under licence by BBC Worldwide, released Series 1 and 2 as a three tape boxset on 19 August 2002 and Series 3 and 4 as a three tape set boxset on 2 June 2003.

DVD releases

All four series have been released in Regions 2 and 4, both individually and in box sets. Region 1 has released the box set but the series have not been released individually. In Australia, the BBC with Roadshow released "Series One: Episodes 1–3 Comedy Bites" in 2010.

DVD Title Discs Year Ep. No. DVD releases Notes
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
Complete Series 1 1 1973 and 1976 7 30 September 2002 1 April 2003 Includes the 1973 pilot
Complete Series 2 1 1981 7 29 September 2003 3 December 2003
Complete Series 3 1 1982 6 4 October 2004 2 March 2005
Complete Series 4 1 1985 6 31 October 2005 8 August 2006
Complete Series 14 4 1973–1985 26 9 June 2009 13 November 2006 1 August 2007 Includes the 1973 pilot

Planned spin-off

In 1984, at which time no new episodes of the series had been produced for two years, a spin-off was proposed based around Lynda Baron's character, Nurse Gladys Emmanuel. Given the working title Call the Nurse, this spin-off series would have followed Nurse Gladys as she visited various eccentric and demanding patients. The characters of Arkwright and Granville were not written to appear, and Roy Clarke was keen to develop a new set of supporting characters rather than rely on those already built up for Open All Hours. A thirty-minute pilot was written but did not enter production as the BBC turned down the series; instead, Open All Hours returned for its fourth and what would be its final series the following year.

See also

References

  1. ^ Britain's Best Sitcom:Top Ten, URL accessed 2 December 2006.
  2. ^ "Still Open All Hours commissioned for full series". BBC News. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  3. ^ Famous TV shop faces demolition BBC News Online. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
  4. ^ "'Open All Hours' shop to be auctioned". Digital Spy. 7 November 2008.
  5. ^ "Open All Hours shop fails to sell". BBC. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  6. ^ "Alice, Where Art Thou?, by J. Ascher (1829–1869)". mutopiaproject.org.
  7. ^ Credits at the Internet Movie Database.
  8. ^ Open All Hours. ASIN 0563179244.
  9. ^ Still Open All Hours: The Story of a Classic Comedy. ASIN 1849908869.

External links