- Open All Hours
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Open All Hours 
Series title card, 1976–1985.Format Comedy Created by Roy Clarke Written by Roy Clarke Directed by Sydney Lotterby Starring Ronnie Barker
David Jason
Lynda Baron
Barbara Flynn
Stephanie Cole
Kathy Staff
Maggie OllerenshawCountry of origin United Kingdom No. of series 4 No. of episodes 26 Production Executive producer(s) James Gilbert
(1973, pilot episode)Producer(s) Sydney Lotterby
(1973, 1976–1985)Running time 30 mins (per episode) Broadcast Original channel BBC Two (1973, 1976)
BBC One (1981–1985)First shown in Pilot episode:
25 March 1973Original airing Series 1:
20 February – 26 March 1976
Series 2::
1 March – 19 April 1981
Series 3:
21 March – 25 April 1982
Series 4:
1 September – 6 October 1985Open All Hours is a BBC sitcom written by Roy Clarke which ran for four series (26 episodes in all over three broadcast runs) a first run in 1976, a second run in 1981, third in 1982 and finally with a fourth (and final) run in 1985, with a pilot episode from the Seven of One series in 1973. In 2004, the series was voted eighth in Britain's Best Sitcom.[1]
Contents
Plot
The series features a small grocer's shop in Balby, a suburb of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. The owner, Albert Arkwright (Ronnie Barker), is a middle-aged miser with a stammer and a knack for being able to sell anything to any buyer, no matter how unwilling. His nephew Granville (David Jason), is his put-upon errand boy, whose attempts at a love-life or even just a meaningful social life fall flat. He blames his uncle, in particular, that, he has to be up early to open the shop, stay up late to close it with only an odd hour of free time and deliver large numbers of goods on a battered bicycle. Almost every mistake Arkwright makes is followed by a cry of "Gr-Granville! F-fetch yer cloth!". Granville was orphaned at an early age when Arkwright's sister died, leaving Arkwright to raise the boy. A recurring joke revolves around Arkwright's speculation that Granville's father, his identity and whereabouts unknown, was Hungarian — an issue never resolved. Granville's intellectual and emotional nature frustrates Arkwright, who wants his sole heir to develop an avaricious nature akin to his own.
The shop is crowded and most goods can only be reached from behind the counter — allowing Arkwright a chance to hawk more goods. The till is old, and an overtightened spring on its drawer terrifies Granville and Arkwright, as it results in many a close call as the till snaps shut, almost trapping the pair's fingers. Arkwright does not replace it partly because replacements are too expensive, and partly because it prevents people from taking his precious money.
Across the road lives Nurse Gladys Emmanuel (Lynda Baron), Arkwright's long-standing fiancée; much of the skinflint's time is dedicated to trying to persuade her to marry him, or at least sleep with him. Nurse Gladys has her rounds and her elderly mother to occupy her. The only one with any influence over Arkwright, she forces him to give Granville more freedoms and spend money to modernize his archaic lifestyle. In the pilot episode, Nurse Gladys was played by Sheila Brennan with an Irish accent, and the character was slimmer than the buxom creature she became, played by Lynda Baron.
Other regulars included the milkwoman (Barbara Flynn) with whom Granville had a romantic fling; Mavis (Maggie Ollerenshaw) a young woman who can never make up her mind what to buy; Mrs Blewett (Kathy Staff), with a critical word for everyone; and Mrs Featherstone (Stephanie Cole), nicknamed "The Black Widow", a sour-faced miser who admires Arkwright for being likewise and shows a degree of romantic interest in him.
A few complaints were registered over humorous use of a speech impediment, but Arkwright was so amiable and the humour so good-natured that most deemed it a portrayal without malice. The part was originally written without the stammer — Barker suggested it and it became part of Arkwright's character. Similarly, the dangerous cash-register was created mostly by Barker.
Two of Ronnie Barker's fake moustaches (donated by the BBC) used in the show were auctioned at the British Stammering Association conference in London, September 2005 (shortly before Barker's death).
The show's theme tune is a song called Alice, where art thou? music written by Joseph Ascher. It was played in an arrangement for brass band by Max Harris, who also wrote the incidental music for the series.[2][3]
The programme can be quite reflective and at times has moments of pathos. Whilst everyone else in the programme is practical and shows no emotion or sentimentality, Granville is quite the opposite and throughout the series often reflects on life passing him by. Occasionally, characters he would have known as a teenager are brought in and whilst they have all gone on in life and had some success, Granville has remained his uncle's errand boy — the ageing Granville is still treated like a child, in particular by Arkwright, but also by customers in the shop, even those sympathetic towards his predicament.
Locations
The exterior shots were in Lister Avenue in Balby, a suburb of Doncaster; the shop itself is a hairdresser's salon.[4]
Gladys Emmanuel's house was 34 Lister Avenue, Balby, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in the first series, but moved to number 32 in the second series.
The local council considered demolishing the shop used in Open All Hours and a web site has been set up for fans of the show to post messages in support of saving the shop and a web site has been set up for fans of the show to post messages in support of saving the shop. The shop was to be auctioned in Leeds on 24 November 2008, and was expected to fetch between £120,000 and £130,000, however, it failed to meet its reserve price.[5][6][7]
All four series of all 26 episodes have now been released on VHS and DVD.
Political reference
While Arkwright does not seem to have any particular political convictions, he is an avid political commentator, usually not in a serious capacity. In the earlier episodes the series makes many references to the policy of the Labour governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, with comments like My top lip went all stiff and dead, as if it had been nationalised and When Wales get home rule, do you think they'll nationalise Clive Jenkins. By the time the later series were made the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher was in power, and fewer political observations were made against government or opposition.
Cast
The following have appeared in more than one episode. (The pilot episode starred Sheila Brennan as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel.)
Actor name Character name Episodes Years Ronnie Barker Arkwright 26 episodes 1976–1985 David Jason Granville 26 episodes 1976–1985 Lynda Baron Nurse Gladys Emmanuel 25 episodes 1976–1985 Barbara Flynn The Milk Woman 10 episodes 1981–1985 Stephanie Cole Mrs. Featherstone 10 episodes 1982–1985 Kathy Staff Mrs. Blewett 7 episodes 1976–1981 Maggie Ollerenshaw Mavis 7 episodes 1981–1982 Frances Cox Mrs. Parslow 5 episodes 1981–1985 Tom Mennard Cyril 3 episodes 1982–1985 Madge Hindle Mrs. Jardine/Posh Customer 2 episodes 1976–1982 Barbara Keogh Mrs. Ellis 2 episodes 1976 Howard Crossley Man in Car/Milk Round Supervisor 2 episodes 1981–1982 Nick Stringer Neville/Man 2 episodes 1981–1982 Teddy Turner Gordon 2 episodes 1981–1982 Alan Starkey Thorndyke 2 episodes 1982–1985 Helen Cotterill Julie 2 episodes 1982 Sandra Voe Mrs. Bickerdyke 2 episodes 1985 John Challis Bread Man 1 episode 1976 Episode list
Pilot
Air Date: 25 March 1973
Main Cast: Ronnie Barker (Albert Arkwright), David Jason (Granville)
Synopsis: Part of the Seven of One series.
Note: Store location is different (and unknown) to the shop used in the main series.
Episode Title Broadcast details #1 Open All Hours 25 March 1973: BBC2, Sun 20:15 Cast Sheila Brennan (Nurse Gladys Emmanuel), Keith Chegwin (Boy Buying Lolly), Elissa Derwent (Girl from Petrol Station), Yootha Joyce (Mrs. Scully), David Valla (Bread Man) Synopsis Arkwright hears that Gladys Emmanuel has another man, "Couldn't you clasp me to your bosom?". Granville wants a van to meet ladies. Series 1
Air Dates: 20 February – 26 March 1976
Episode Title Broadcast details #1 Full of Mysterious Promise 20 Feb 1976: BBC2, Fri 21:00 Cast John Lawrence (Mr. Bristow), Gillian McClements (Gloria), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett), Peter Wallis (Winston), Poppy Lane (Extra - uncredited) Synopsis “Why don’t we get engaged before we both grow a moustache?” What’s more fruitless – Arkwright’s pursuit of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, or his attempt to sell tins of food without labels? #2 A Mattress on Wheels 27 Feb 1976: BBC2, Fri 21:00 Cast Juliet Cooke (Eva), Jean Heywood (Vera), George Innes (Used Car Salesman), Barbara Keogh (Mrs. Ellis), Harry Markham (Freddie) Synopsis Arkwright’s always been dead against getting a van, until Granville points out the advantages of taking a lady friend for a drive... #3 A Nice Cosy Little Disease 5 Mar 1976: BBC2, Fri 21:00 Cast Juliet Ackroyd (Linda Mulgrave), Tony Aitken (Norman), Graham Armitage (Man from Matlock Mutual Protection Society), Clare Kelly (Mrs. Braddock), Barbara Keogh (Mrs. Ellis) Synopsis Perhaps, a nice cosy little disease on Arkwright’s part would be the thing to attract the ministrations of a certain district nurse? #4 Beware of the Dog! 12 Mar 1976: BBC2, Fri 21:00 Cast Kevin Moreton (Boy), Shirley Steedman (Maureen) Synopsis A crime wave scares an already security-obsessed Arkwright – the shop has to be fortified. #5 Well Catered Funeral 19 Mar 1976: BBC2, Fri 21:00 Cast Reginald Barratt (Mr. Wilkinson), John Challis (Bread Man), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett), Elizabeth Dawn (Woman Outside Shop - uncredited) Synopsis His best friend’s funeral tests Arkwright’s generosity. #6 Apples and Self Service 26 Mar 1976: BBC2, Fri 21:00 Cast Edna Doré (Woman Wanting Firelighters), Madge Hindle (Mrs. Jardine), John McKelvey (Hard of Hearing Man), Michael Redfern (Southerner) Synopsis Slow apple sales lead to a self-service experiment. Series 2
Air Dates: 1 March - 19 April 1981
Episode Title Broadcast details #1 Laundry Blues 1 Mar 1981: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Matthew Scurfield (Man from Bus Stop), Renu Setna (VAT Man), Nick Stringer (Neville) Synopsis When Nurse Gladys Emmanuel tells Arkwright that he must buy a new washing machine, he is forced to come up with an ingenious plan to keep her happy and his savings undisturbed. #2 The Reluctant Traveller 8 Mar 1981: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett) Synopsis Nurse Gladys Emmanuel and Arkwright are finally going to spend the night together at a hotel... with an over-tight money belt. #3 Fig Biscuits and Inspirational Toilet Rolls 15 Mar 1981: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Howard Crossley (Man in Car), Mike Kelly (Delivery Man), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett) Synopsis Arkwright's marketing genius comes to the fore as he tries to shift some over-stocked items. #4 The New Suit 22 Mar 1981: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Michael Bilton (Hypnotist), Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Frances Goodall (Woman on Bench), Emrys James (Eli Bickerdyke), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett) Synopsis Arkwright has to buy a new suit – on Nurse Gladys Emmanuel's say so. #5 Arkwright's Mobile Store 29 Mar 1981: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Brian Peck (Customer), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett), Paula Tilbrook (Mrs. Tattersall) Synopsis Arkwright proves his ambition by expanding the business... he buys an old ice-cream van. #6 Shedding at the Wedding 5 Apr 1981: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Roger Elliott (Mr. Bristow), Stuart Fell (Motorcyclist), Patsy Smart (Customer), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett) Synopsis Arkwright's wedding suit smells of mothballs. Hanging his trousers out of Gladys' car was never going to be a good idea... #7 St. Albert's Day 19 Apr 1981: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Oscar Quitak (Hungarian), Teddy Turner (Gordon) Synopsis Arkwright invents a Saint's day so that Granville can check the pockets of a foreign visitor who he suspects of shoplifting. Series 3
Air Dates: 21 March – 27 December 1982
Episode Title Broadcast details #1 An Errand Boy by the Ear 21 Mar 1982: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Bridget Ashburn (Mrs. Turner), Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Madge Hindle (Posh Customer), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Sue Race (Mrs. Ellis), Nick Stringer (Man) Synopsis Arkwright's baffled when his customers get upset with his treatment of Granville. "Surely, it's what errand boys are for.". #2 The Ginger Men 28 Mar 1982: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Helen Cotterill (Julie), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Bert Gaunt (Bert - Bread Man), Tom Mennard (Cyril), Alan Starkey (Thorndyke) Synopsis Why is Arkwright forcing his ginger cake upon Nurse Gladys?, Could it be he has overstocked?, and if it really is an old Jamaican aphrodisiac, Granville's acting like he's overdosed. #3 Duet for Solo Bicycle 4 Apr 1982: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Sally Miles (Mrs. Whittington), Donald Morley (Man Looking for Directions), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Liz Whiting (Wendy) Synopsis A squeak in the shop's bicycle is driving Granville round the bend, but can it really be affecting his love-life? #4 How to Ignite Your Errand Boy 11 Apr 1982: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Howard Crossley (Milk Round Supervisor), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Frank Marlborough (Delivery man), Tom Mennard (Cyril), David Thackwray (Boy) Synopsis Arkwright's plan to make his own fire lighters has a snag, they may be somewhat dangerous to make... Oh well, Granville is not busy... #5 "The Man from Down Under" 18 Apr 1982: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Janet Davies (Mrs. Blake), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Johnny Leeze (Man Whose Tyres Were Let Down), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis),
Teddy Turner (Gordon)Synopsis When one of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel's admirers returns from Australia, Arkwright proffers a real Yorkshire welcome... #6 The Cool Cocoa Tin Lid 25 Apr 1982: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast John Bleasdale (Dennis), Helen Cotterill (Julie), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Tony London (Youth), Mollie Maureen (Old Woman) Synopsis Granville decides to get cool. He's got the open necked shirt and the shades, but where's a poor errand boy going to find a medallion? Special The Funny Side of Christmas 27 Dec 1982: BBC1, Mon 20:05 Cast Synopsis Short special part of The Funny Side of Christmas. Series 4
Air Dates: 1 September – 6 October 1985
Episode Title Broadcast details #1 Soulmate Wanted 1 Sep 1985: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Gilly Coman (Girl Who Answers Advert), Christine Ozanne (Customer), Norman Robbins (Mr. Halliwell), Jean Warren (Michelle) Synopsis Granville is desperate for female company, so he decides to resort to advertising. He ends up getting more than he bargained for. #2 Horse-Trading 8 Sep 1985: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Charlotte Barker (Customer), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), John Rutland (Black Lead Customer), Nadim Sawalha (Albert Gupta), Alan Starkey (Thorndyke) Synopsis Arkwright thinks he's done great business when he offloads some genuine Yorkshire clothes horses on a local Asian shopkeeper... #3 The Housekeeper Caper 15 Sep 1985: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Joe Belcher (Shopfitter), Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Patricia Kane (Little Old Lady), Sandra Voe (Mrs. Bickerdyke) Synopsis Arkwright advertises for a live-in housekeeper. It doesn't succeed in getting Nurse Gladys Emmanuel jealous but does tempt the "Black Widow", the formidable Mrs Featherstone... #4 The Errand Boy Executive 22 Sep 1985: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Howell Evans (Victor - Vac Salesman), Julie Shipley (Stephanie), Sandra Voe (Mrs. Bickerdyke) Synopsis To impress Stephanie, a young lady from the boutique, Granville claims he is an "executive" and that Arkwright is his "faithful old assistant". #5 Happy Birthday, Arkwright! 29 Sep 1985: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Howard Lew Lewis (Byron), Tom Mennard (Cyril), John Owens (Windscreen Smear Customer) Synopsis What does Arkwright want for his birthday? Certainly not a visit from the man from the Good Shop Guide. #6 The Mystical Boudoir of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel 6 Oct 1985: BBC1, Sun 19:15 Cast Barbara Ashcroft (Mrs. Turnbull), Bobby Bragg (Customer), Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Barbara Flynn (The Milk Woman), Eric Richard (Cash Register Salesman) Synopsis Arkwright will do anything to get himself into Nurse Gladys Emmanuel's bedroom, including the use of a ladder and a box of chocolates.
Meanwhile, Granville takes to wearing tights on his head, and attempts to persuade his uncle to finally buy a new till.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. # 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 1 – 4 4 1973 – 1985 26 9 June 2009 13 November 2006 1 August 2007 Includes the 1973 pilot. References
- ^ Britain's Best Sitcom:Top Ten, URL accessed 2 December 2006.
- ^ Alice, Where Art Thou? (Joseph Ascher) with sound file example
- ^ Credits at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Lister+Avenue,+balby&sll=53.517336,-1.128652&sspn=0.006634,0.027466&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lister+Ave,+Doncaster,+South+Yorkshire+DN4,+United+Kingdom&ll=53.510243,-1.142664&spn=0.000829,0.003433&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.509954,-1.143667&panoid=RKkrn_n_rgqODc2F9g-k1g&cbp=12,129.54,,0,15.48
- ^ Famous TV shop faces demolition BBC News Online. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
- ^ 'Open All Hours' shop to be auctioned
- ^ "Open All Hours shop fails to sell". BBC. 25 November 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7747527.stm. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
External links
- Open All Hours at BBC Online Guide to Comedy.
- Open All Hours at the British Film Institute.
- Open All Hours at the BFI's Screenonline.
- Open All Hours at the Internet Movie Database.
- Open All Hours at the British Comedy Guide.
- Image of Arkwright's shop in April 2007
Situation
comediesThe Misfit (1970-71) · Last of the Summer Wine (1973-2010) · Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt! (pilot, 1974) · Open All Hours (1973, 1976-85) · The Growing Pains Of PC Penrose (1975) · Rosie (1977-81) · Potter (1979-83) · The Magnificent Evans (1984) · First of the Summer Wine (1988-89) · Keeping Up Appearances (1990-95) · Ain't Misbehavin' (1994-95)Other The Bass Player and the Blonde (1977) · Hawks (1988) · The Sharp End (1991) · A Foreign Field (1993)Situation comedies The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs · Porridge · Lucky Feller · Open All Hours · A Sharp Intake of Breath · Only Fools and HorsesRadio shows Mostly Monkhouse · Week Ending · The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy · The Jason Explanation · The Next Programme Follows Almost Immediately · The Burkiss Way (guest)Films Sketch shows Television drama Porterhouse Blue · A Bit of a Do · Amongst Barbarians · The Darling Buds of May · A Touch of Frost · The Bullion Boys · The Ice House · March in the Windy City · All the King's Men · Micawber · The Quest · Diamond Geezer · Ghostboat · Terry Pratchett's Hogfather · Terry Pratchett's The Colour of MagicAnimated shows Presented shows Cartoon Kings · Prehistoric ParkCategories:- BBC television sitcoms
- 1970s British television series
- 1980s British television series
- 1976 British television programme debuts
- 1985 British television programme endings
- Doncaster
- Television shows set in Yorkshire
- English-language television series
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