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Open All Hours |
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1973 /1976 BBC1 1981-1982/1985 UK (BBC) Seasons 4 Episodes 27
Arkwright Ronnie Barker G-G-G-Granville David Jason Nurse Gladys Emmanuel Lynda Barron Mrs Featherstone Stephanie Cole Mavis Maggie Ollerenshaw Mrs Blewitt Kathy Staff Milkwoman Barbara Flynn |
Ronnie played an ageing shopkeeper called Arkwright whose life revolved around his backstreet corner shop. Now to say Arkwright was a miser would be a huge understatement. Every time money went into his rickety old till he would literally rubs in hands with glee!
Arkwright's right hand man was his nephew Granville, played by David Jason. Granville was the son of Arkwright's sister Beryl who was known locally for being a little bit of slapper!
Granville was a young man with a old man's head on his shoulders, he would often drape himself forlornly across the shop counter, trying to work out why life was passing him by. He also pondered on why he was unable to attract any female company. One woman in particular was top of his to-do list, the Milkwoman. Sadly she was already spoken for and all she could only offer him was a couple of pints of milk and a warm smile each morning. Granville however was more interested in her Gold Tops!
Arkwright had slightly more luck with the ladies. His eyes were firmly focused on the buxom Nurse Gladys Emmanuel (Lynda Barron) who lived across the street. Although the two were engaged, marriage seemed a long way off due to the fact that would cost money and Arkwright was having none of that!
Unfortunately, he was also not getting any of the other either as Nurse Gladys would always hold out until she had a ring on her finger! Each week, the lecherous grocer would go to great lengths to try and conquer his betrothed and each week he'd failed with hilarious results.
Ironically the only person that got closer to Nurse Gladys's ample bosom was Granville. If she felt sorry for him, she would give him a hug and at the same time smother the poor lamb, much to the disgust of Arkwright!
Away from all the sexual tension, Arkwright and Granville managed to survive each working day with jovial banter and indeed sometimes some deep meaningful conversation, well after Arkwright event-event-eventually spat out the words he constantly stumbled over! In between their often witty and clever dialogue, the pair would be interrupted by customers. Some were seen only the once and had only a few lines, others were more regular.
Mrs Featherstone, was a rather abrupt scary lady. Nicknamed the Black Widow by Arkwright and Granville, she would always enter the shop with a face like thunder. Other customers included Wavey Mavey aka Mavis, a middle aged housewife who could never make her mind up about anything and held a soft spot for our Granville. Finally, there was Mrs Blewitt, who basic hated men and bore a striking resemblance to Nora Batty!
Over the years Open All Hours has been become a comedy
classic and still manages to achieve audience figures of
over 5 million despite actually ending in 1985. |
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Credits Jason D'Arcy ©TV Fetish 2005- 2007 |
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