Open All Hours

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 Ollerenshaw
Country 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 1973
Original 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 1985

Open 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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

Lynda Baron, Ronnie Barker and
David Jason.

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
Ronald Parsons	Nurse Gladys Emmanuel's Nephew	1 episode	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.

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