Open All Hours

Open All Hours was a BBC sitcom which ran for four series (26 episodes in all) between 1976 and 1985, with a pilot episode from the Seven of One series. It centres around a small grocer's shop in a town in Yorkshire. The store's owner, Albert Arkwright, played by Ronnie Barker is a middle-aged miser with a stutter 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 a cloth!"

Related Topics:
BBC - Sitcom - 1976 - 1985 - Seven of One - Yorkshire - Ronnie Barker - David Jason

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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 Granville.

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Across the road from the shop lives Nurse Gladys Emmanuel (Lynda Baron), Arkwright's long-standing fiancée and 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.

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Episodes generally involve some plan by Arkwright to try 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.

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The exterior shots were filmed in Lister Avenue in Balby, a suburb of Doncaster. The shop itself was actually a hairdressers in reality.

Related Topics:
Balby - Doncaster

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