Open All Hours
Series title card
Genre	Comedy
Created by	Roy Clarke
Directed by	Sydney Lotterby
Starring	Ronnie Barker David Jason Lynda Baron Barbara Flynn Stephanie Cole Kathy Staff Maggie Ollerenshaw
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	26
Production
Producer(s)	Sydney Lotterby
Running time	30 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC-1
Original run	1973 (pilot) 1976 – 1985 (series)

Open All Hours was a BBC sitcom written by Roy Clarke which ran for four series (26 episodes in all) between 1976 and 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] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Comedy has a classical meaning (comical theatre) and a popular one (the use of humour with an intent to provoke[[ laughter in general). ... Roy Clarke (born January 28, 1930 in Goole, Yorkshire) is a British comedy writer, best known for creating Last of the Summer Wine starring Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Brian Wilde, Kathy Staff and Dame Thora Hird amongst others (he also wrote the prequel First of the Summer Wine); and Keeping... Sydney Lotterby is a British television producer and director with the BBC. Television comedy series of which he was producer or director included: As Time Goes By, May to December, Yes, Prime Minister, Ever Decreasing Circles, Brush Strokes, Open All Hours, Butterflies, Ripping Yarns, Porridge, Going Straight, Broaden Your Mind... Ronnie Barker Ronald William George Barker OBE (September 25, 1929 – October 3, 2005), popularly known as Ronnie Barker and (as a writer) Gerald Wiley , was an English comic actor and writer. ... Sir David Jason, OBE (born February 2, 1940) is a highly regarded English actor, admired equally for his dramatic work as for his comedy roles. ... Lynda Baron with Ronnie Barker and David Jason in Open All Hours Lynda Baron (born 24 March 1942 in Urmston, Manchester, Lancashire) is an English actress. ... Barbara Flynn (born 5 August 1948) is a British actress. ... Stephanie Cole, in character as Diana Trent on Waiting for God. ... Kathy Staff (born July 12, 1928) is a British actress born at Dukinfield, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. ... Sydney Lotterby is a British television producer and director with the BBC. Television comedy series of which he was producer or director included: As Time Goes By, May to December, Yes, Prime Minister, Ever Decreasing Circles, Brush Strokes, Open All Hours, Butterflies, Ripping Yarns, Porridge, Going Straight, Broaden Your Mind... BBC One (or BBC1 as it was formerly styled) is the oldest United Kingdom, and indeed, the world. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Roy Clarke (born January 28, 1930 in Goole, Yorkshire) is a British comedy writer, best known for creating Last of the Summer Wine starring Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Brian Wilde, Kathy Staff and Dame Thora Hird amongst others (he also wrote the prequel First of the Summer Wine); and Keeping... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the 1976 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Seven of One was a 1973 television comedy series featuring Ronnie Barker. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Britains Best Sitcom was a poll conducted in 2003 and 2004 by the BBC to identify the United Kingdoms best situation comedy. ...

Plot

The series centres around a small grocer's shop in Balby, a village in South Yorkshire near Doncaster. The store's owner, Albert Arkwright (played by Ronnie Barker) is a middle-aged miser with a stammer and a knack of being able to sell anything and everything to any passing visitor to his shop. His nephew, Granville (played by David Jason) is the shop's put-upon errand boy, whose attempts at a burgeoning love-life (or, some might say, obsessions with local girls) somehow seem to fall flat. He blames his uncle, in particular for the fact that he has to be up at an extremely early hour of the morning in order to open the shop. Almost every mistake Arkwright makes is followed by a cry of "Ger-Granville! Fer-fetch yer cloth!". A recurring joke throughout the series revolves around Arkwright's claim that Granville's estranged father was Hungarian – an issue which is never resolved. Statistics Population: 286,866 (inclusive with Doncaster urban sub-area) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SE561012 Administration District: Doncaster Region: Yorkshire and the Humber Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: South Yorkshire Historic county: Yorkshire Services Police force: South Yorkshire Police Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance... South Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber Government Office Region of England, in the United Kingdom. ... Doncaster is a town in the English county of South Yorkshire, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. ... Ronnie Barker Ronald William George Barker OBE (September 25, 1929 – October 3, 2005), popularly known as Ronnie Barker and (as a writer) Gerald Wiley , was an English comic actor and writer. ... Stuttering is a speech disorder in which pronunciation of the (usually) first letter or syllable of a word is repeated involuntarily. ... Sir David Jason, OBE (born February 2, 1940) is a highly regarded English actor, admired equally for his dramatic work as for his comedy roles. ...

The shop is crowded and most goods can only be reached from behind the counter - allowing the smooth-talking Arkwright a chance to hawk more of his goods. The till is very old, and has a vicious spring on its drawer which terrifies both Granville and Arkwright.

Across the road from the shop lives Nurse Gladys Emmanuel (Lynda Baron), Arkwright's long-standing (and still mostly chaste) fiancée; much of the old skinflint's time is dedicated to trying to convince her to make good on her promise to marry him, or at least sleep with him. Unfortunately Nurse Gladys has both her rounds and taking care of her elderly mother to occupy her. She is protective of Granville and tries to use her influence with Arkwright to get him a better lot in life. In the pilot episode, Nurse Gladys was played by Sheila Brennan with a decidedly Irish accent, and the character was considerably slimmer than the buxom creature she later became. Lynda Baron with Ronnie Barker and David Jason in Open All Hours Lynda Baron (born 24 March 1942 in Urmston, Manchester, Lancashire) is an English actress. ...

Episodes generally involve some plan by Arkwright to wed Nurse Gladys, save money or flog more stuff to the locals (who are mostly wise to his schemes), and end with Arkwright shutting up shop and praying as he walks round - mostly a matter-of-fact reflection on the day, addressed to God.

A few complaints were registered over the humorous use of a speech impediment but Arkwright was so amiable and the humour so good-natured that it was deemed by most people to be a portrayal without malice. The part was originally written without the stammer - Barker suggested using it in rehearsals and it became part of Arkwright's character. Similarly, the 'business' with the dangerous cash-register was created mostly by Barker.

Trivia

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.

Locations

The exterior shots were filmed in Lister Avenue^[2] in Balby, a suburb of Doncaster; the shop itself is actually a hairdresser's salon. Statistics Population: 286,866 (inclusive with Doncaster urban sub-area) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SE561012 Administration District: Doncaster Region: Yorkshire and the Humber Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: South Yorkshire Historic county: Yorkshire Services Police force: South Yorkshire Police Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance... Doncaster is a town in the English county of South Yorkshire, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. ...

Gladys Emmanuel's house was 34 Lister Avenue, Balby, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, UK in the first series, but moved next door to number 32 in the second series and onwards.

The local council is considering demolishing the shop which was used in filming Open All Hours ^[3] and a web site has been set up for fans of the show to post messages in support of saving the shop.^{[citation needed]}

All four series of all 26 episodes have now been released on DVD. DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ...

Cast List

Lynda Baron, Ronnie Barker, and David Jason.

The following have appeared in more than one episode. Image File history File links The 3 main characters in the British TV sitcom Open All Hours File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links The 3 main characters in the British TV sitcom Open All Hours File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Lynda Baron with Ronnie Barker and David Jason in Open All Hours Lynda Baron (born 24 March 1942 in Urmston, Manchester, Lancashire) is an English actress. ... Ronnie Barker Ronald William George Barker OBE (September 25, 1929 – October 3, 2005), popularly known as Ronnie Barker and (as a writer) Gerald Wiley , was an English comic actor and writer. ... Sir David Jason, OBE (born February 2, 1940) is a highly regarded English actor, admired equally for his dramatic work as for his comedy roles. ...

Ronnie Barker Ronald William George Barker OBE (September 25, 1929 – October 3, 2005), popularly known as Ronnie Barker and (as a writer) Gerald Wiley , was an English comic actor and writer. ... Sir David Jason, OBE (born February 2, 1940) is a highly regarded English actor, admired equally for his dramatic work as for his comedy roles. ... Lynda Baron with Ronnie Barker and David Jason in Open All Hours Lynda Baron (born 24 March 1942 in Urmston, Manchester, Lancashire) is an English actress. ... Barbara Flynn (born 5 August 1948) is a British actress. ... Stephanie Cole, in character as Diana Trent on Waiting for God. ... Kathy Staff (born July 12, 1928) is a British actress born at Dukinfield, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. ... Madge Hindle (born May 19, 1938 in Blackburn, Lancashire) is a British actress, best known for her roles on television series. ... Barbara Keogh (21 April 1929 - 25 October 2005) was a British actress who is possibly best remembered for playing Lilly Mattock in EastEnders, as well as playing various roles in Little Britain. ... Nick Stringer (born 10 August 1948 in Torquay, Devon) is an English actor. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Episode list

Pilot

Air Date: 25th March 1973

Main Cast: Ronnie Barker (Albert Arkwright), David Jason (Granville)

Synopsis: Part of the Seven of One series Seven of One was a 1973 television comedy series featuring Ronnie Barker. ...

List of Open All Hours episodes The Pilot episode of Open All Hours was aired in a program called Seven of One, which contained seven separate pilots for possible regular sitcoms. ...

Series 1

Series 1 - Various Cast

Air Date: 20th February 1976 - 26th March 1976 Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Main Cast:

Ronnie Barker (Albert Arkwright)

David Jason (Granville)

Lynda Baron (Nurse Gladys Emmanuel)

Synopsis: Ronnie Barker stars as Arkwright, the stuttering grocer, in the first series of this cornershop comedy. Arkwright's urge to take money from his customers by fair means or foul is second only to his need to prevent his nephew, Granville, from discovering a world beyond the clang of the shop bell... And, of course, his consuming passion for nurse Gladys Emmanuel.

List of Open All Hours episodes Full of Mysterious Promise is the first episode of Open All Hours first season. ... List of Open All Hours episodes A Matress on Wheels is the second episode of Open All Hours first season. ... List of Open All Hours episodes A Nice Little Cosy Disease is the third episode of Open All Hours first season Arkwright (Ronnie Barker) becomes really pale after a client asks him to cash a cheque. ... List of Open All Hours episodes Beware of the Dog is the fourth episode of Open All Hours first season. ... List of Open All Hours episodes Well Catered Funeral is the fifth episode of Open All Hours first season. ... List of Open All Hours episodes Apples and Self Service is the sixth episode of Open All Hours first season. ...

Series 2

Series 2 - Various Cast

Air Date: 1st March 1981 - 19th April 1981 Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Main Cast:

Ronnie Barker (Albert Arkwright)

David Jason (Granville)

Lynda Baron (Nurse Gladys Emmanuel)

Synopsis: Ronnie Barker's tight-fisted shopkeeper Arkwright continues to risk amputation rather than replace his death trap of a till. As Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, the owner of an awesome bosom and an old Morris Minor, deflates his amorous advances, Arkwright seeks solace in bullying his over-worked, sexually and socially-frustrated nephew and errand boy, G-G-G-Granville.

List of Open All Hours episodes Laundry Blues is the first episode of Open All Hours second season. ... List of Open All Hours episodes The Reluctant Traveller is the second episode of Open All Hours second season. ... List of Open All Hours episodes Fig Biscuits and Inspirational Toilet Rolls is the third episode of Open All Hours second season. ... List of Open All Hours episodes The New Suit is the fourth episode of Open All Hours second season. ...

Series 3

Series 3 - Various Cast

Air Date: 21st March 1982 - 25th April 1982 Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Main Cast:

Ronnie Barker (Albert Arkwright)

David Jason (Granville)

Lynda Baron (Nurse Gladys Emmanuel)

Synopsis: Ronnie Barker's stuttering shopkeeper Arkwright lives for just three things - a regularly ringing till, a glimpse of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel's more than ample bosom and making the life of his nephew and errand boy, G-G-G-Granville ever more miserable...

Series 4

Series 4 - Various Cast

Air Date: 1st September 1985 - 6th October 1985 Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Main Cast:

Ronnie Barker (Albert Arkwright)

David Jason (Granville)

Lynda Baron (Nurse Gladys Emmanuel)

Synopsis: Ronnie Barker's great creation Arkwright continues to mind the store where the only thing going cheap is talk. The

elusive Nurse Gladys Emmanuel is still there to drive him to distraction, while delivery boy Granville just yearns for a trendy girlfriend, a high-powered executive job, a sports car or even a new bell on his bicycle.

References

1. ^ Britain's Best Sitcom:Top Ten, URL accessed December 2nd, 2006
2. ^ Google Map of Lister Avenue and surrounding area
3. ^ Famous TV shop faces demolition BBC News Online (retrieved 4 April 2007)

is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Lines From My Grandfathers Forehead, a sketch comedy show for radio, was first broadcast by the BBC Radio 4 in 1971. ... The Frost Report was a satirical television show hosted by Sir David Frost. ... The Ronnie Barker Playhouse was a series of six comedy half hours showcasing the talents of Ronnie Barker. ... The Two Ronnies was a British sketch show that aired on BBC One from 1971 to 1987. ... The Two Ronnies Sketchbook was a collection of classic sketches from the BBC comedy series The Two Ronnies, with newly filmed introductions by the stars, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett. ... A Home of Your Own is a British comedy film made in (1964), directed by Jay Lewis. ... Futtocks End is a British comedy film made in (1969) and released in 1970, directed by Bob Kellett. ... The Picnic (full title The Two Ronnies Present - The Picnic), was a 1976 BBC film starring The Two Ronnies, and written by Ronnie Barker under the pseudonyms Dave Huggett and Larry Keith. The film followed the extended family of The General, played by Barker, as they went on an eventful... For the Charlie Chaplin film of the same name, see By the Sea (1915) By the Sea (full title The Two Ronnies Present - By the Sea), was a 1982 BBC film starring The Two Ronnies, and written by Ronnie Barker under the pseudonyms Dave Huggett and Larry Keith. Introduction The... Robin and Marian is a 1976 film starring Sean Connery as Robin Hood, Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian, Nicol Williamson as Little John, Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Richard Harris as King Richard. ... The Gathering Storm is a BAFTA and Emmy award winning BBC television biographical movie about Winston Churchills life in the years just prior to World War II. The title of the film is the same as the title of the first volume of Churchills largely autobiographical six-volume... My House in Umbria is a 2003 made for TV movie. ... Ronnie Corbett in Extras Ronald Balfour Corbett, OBE (born 4 December 1930 in Edinburgh, commonly credited as Ronnie Corbett) is a British comedian and actor, best known as one of The Two Ronnies. ... Sir David Jason, OBE (born February 2, 1940) is a highly regarded English actor, admired equally for his dramatic work as for his comedy roles. ... Richard Beckinsale (6 July 1947 – 19 March 1979) was an English actor who is most famous for his role as Lennie Godber in the popular BBC sitcom Porridge. ... Sir David Paradine Frost, OBE (born April 7, 1939) is an English television presenter. ... Dick Clement (born September 5, 1937) is an English writer. ... Ian La Frenais, born 7 January 1937 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, is, in partnership with Dick Clement, one of the most influential television writers in Britain. ... Roy Clarke (born January 28, 1930 in Goole, Yorkshire) is a British comedy writer, best known for creating Last of the Summer Wine starring Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Brian Wilde, Kathy Staff and Dame Thora Hird amongst others (he also wrote the prequel First of the Summer Wine); and Keeping...

External links

• Open All Hours at the bbc.co.uk Guide to Comedy
• Open All Hours at the BBC Programme Catalogue
• Open All Hours at the British Film Institute
• Open All Hours at the BFI's Screenonline
• Open All Hours at the Internet Movie Database
• Image of Arkwright's in 2007