Open All Hours

1976 - 1985

Full of Mysterious Promise

20th February 1976

Episode 1

Stuttering shopkeeper Albert Arkwright, assisted by his much put-upon nephew Granville, runs the corner shop in a Doncaster suburb, boasting that it's open all hours. When not pursuing Gladys Emmanuel, the district nurse who lives opposite the shop, Arkwright is ever on the lookout to save money, such as buying a load of fire-damaged tinned food. Unfortunately, the damage means that all the labels have come off so nobody knows exactly what they're meant to be buying.

A Mattress on Wheels

27th February 1976

Episode 2

Fed up with having to do deliveries in all weathers on his bike, Granville suggests Arkwright invest in a van. Needless to say, his uncle balks at the expense until Granville points out that it could be a mattress on wheels, a means of impressing Nurse Gladys. Arkwright buys a secondhand one and Granville wishes he hadn't when he takes it out on the road.

A Nice Cosy Little Disease

Episode 3

Arkwright feels that Nurse Gladys has been neglecting him and, in order to get her undivided attention, he must come down with a 'disease', nothing too serious, just something that'll have her lavishing attention on him. She sees through the ruse and is ready to beat him at his own game.

Beware of the Dog

12th March 1976

Episode 4

When a crime wave hits the area, Arkwright decides to scare off any potential burglars by putting up a notice that says BEWARE OF THE DOG but, since everybody knows that he has no dog, he goes out to borrow one for the weekend from the local kennels.

Well Catered Funeral

19th March 1976

Episode 5

Arkwright goes with Nurse Gladys to the funeral of his friend Parslow. He's not keen to leave Granville in charge but it affords the opportunity to get rid of some unwanted bakery products for the wake. Having rung the shop constantly to ensure that Granville has got things under control, he later tells him he should get out more — as this'll give Arkwright more opportunity with Nurse Gladys.

Apples and Self Service

26th March 1976

Episode 6

Arkwright has bought too many apples and desperately tries in vain to persuade each successive customer to buy some. After raising eyebrows around town after finding a pair of shop window dummy's legs, Granville tells his uncle he should adopt the personal touch in his sales methods. Arkwright, however, plumps for self-service and then suspects everyone of shoplifting.

Top Cast

Ronnie Barker•David Jason•Lynda Baron

Open All Hours is a British television sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke, starring Ronnie Barker as penny-pinching corner-shopkeeper Albert Arkwright, and David Jason as his nephew and assistant Granville. The programme originated as a 1973 episode of Barker’s comedy anthology Seven of One, and later ran for 26 episodes; the first series broadcast on BBC2, the remaining three series broadcast on BBC1.

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Full Cast

Ronnie Barker Image

Ronnie Barker

Albert Arkwright

David Jason Image

David Jason

Granville

Lynda Baron Image

Lynda Baron

Nurse Gladys Emmanuel

Full Crew

Sue Bysh

Production Manager

John Jarvis

Editor

John Hearne

Costume Design

Mary Liddell

Makeup Artist

Judy Loe Image

Judy Loe

Production Assistant

James Gilbert

Producer

Sydney Lotterby

Producer

Max Harris

Original Music Composer

Tim Gleeson

Production Design

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