Granville! Fetch yer cloth! Ah...now this truly is a comedy classic if ever there was one. Ronnie Barker, David Jason, and Lynda Baron. Names that were legendary then and names that have been cemented in such an iconic fashion that no amount of time will render them forgotten.
Written by the equally respected Roy Clarke, Open All Hours, as I'm sure many of us know, told the tale of Arkwright, played beautifully by Ronnie Barker, the miserly, old-fashioned, but totally lovable Yorkshire shopkeeper , and his downtrodden young errand boy Granville, played by the wonderful David Jason. This pairing would have been enough to keep us going with a great sitcom, but they were regularly aided by a whole host of highly individual supporting characters, led by Lynda Baron who played Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, Arkwright's casual and evasive love interest.
Today, and perhaps even then, the premise of a simple corner shop and what goes on inside it may have seemed like quite a lame premise, but this couldn't be further from the truth. It was charming, it was recognizable, it was intelligent, it was cheeky, it was hilarious. And all of the above can still be said today. Even when it came to often repeated comedic formula; it was all incredibly familiar but always so watchable. Almost every episode's comedy, or at least a good chunk of it, came from Arkwright mistreating and badgering his young "shopkeeper's assistant" Granville, or else from Arkwright's failed pursuit of nurse Gladys, or failing to shift his stock. You knew what was coming but you couldn't wait for it. If you've never watched an episode than I really feel you should. Open All Hours truly gave out spades of ingenious scripts, remarkable characters, and wonderful actors behind them.
The only reason I haven't praised it absolutely and completely (i.e. 5 stars) is because they're bringing it back. On Boxing Day, Still Open All Hours will grace our screens once again. Without Ronnie Barker, who tragically died some years ago. My gut instinct to this is - fantastic! Mostly I'm really and truly glad we get to see another episode of this comedy, as often when they bring oldies back it is questionable if they deserve it. Open All Hours certainly does, the only niggling worry at the back of my mind is that it is trying to re-emerge without Ronnie Barker. Ronnie Barker, who was so charmingly integral to the show, as I'm sure fans will agree. Don't get me wrong, I adore David Jason and all the other returning figures, I just worry whether or not they'll be able to pull it off without Barker's Arkwright. Nevertheless I wish them all the luck in the world, and whatever happens it shall not detract from the glory that was, and is, Open All Hours.
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