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.
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.
Season 2 episodes
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Nurse Gladys feels sorry for Granville, struggling to do the laundry by hand, and suggests to Arkwright that he buy a washing machine. Arkwright wants Gladys' affections but doesn't want to spend too much money, so he ensures that she sees a brand-new machine being delivered — which is then taken away and replaced by an elderly secondhand one.
Episode credits
Directed by Sydney LotterbyWritten by Roy ClarkeGuest stars Maggie Ollerenshaw, Nick Stringer, Renu Setna, Matthew Scurfield
Arkwright decides to take Nurse Gladys to a hotel, leaving Granville in a position to make his play for the milk round lady. However, Arkwright, hands on as ever and never keen to be too far away from the shop, has booked himself and Gladys into a hotel just round the corner — where he has problems with an extra-tight money belt.
Episode credits
Directed by Sydney LotterbyWritten by Roy ClarkeGuest stars Barbara Flynn, Kathy Staff, Maggie Ollerenshaw
Whilst Granville moans about the shop opening at dawn, Arkwright bewails his inability to sell a load of fig biscuits and toilet rolls imprinted with biblical texts. The opportunity arises when Mavis mistakes the sepulchral voice of Granville in the cellar for a ghost advising her what to buy but unfortunately for Arkwright, he falls through the open trapdoor and breaks his leg.
Episode credits
Directed by Sydney LotterbyWritten by Roy ClarkeGuest stars Kathy Staff, Maggie Ollerenshaw, Howard Crossley, Mike Kelly
In an effort to convince Nurse Gladys that he's a man of enterprise, Arkwright decides to invest in a mobile shop, to be driven around by Granville. However, given his customary stinginess, the best that he can come up with is an old ice cream van, leading to Granville having a close encounter with some perishables.
Episode credits
Directed by Sydney LotterbyWritten by Roy ClarkeGuest stars Kathy Staff, Maggie Ollerenshaw, Paula Tilbrook, Brian Peck
To the envy of Granville who has never attended one, Arkwright is taking Nurse Gladys to a wedding and has taken his old suit out of mothballs, but it still reeks of camphor. Gladys makes him hang it out of the car window as they drive along but the trousers end up under a tractor's wheels.
Episode credits
Directed by Sydney LotterbyWritten by Roy ClarkeGuest stars Kathy Staff, Roger Elliott, Patsy Smart, Stuart Fell
Arkwright has always told Granville his father was a Hungarian but then a real Hungarian comes into the shop. Could it be him? Arkwright is more concerned that he may be a shoplifter and hits on a cunning plan to part him from his jacket so that he can search the pockets for evidence. Welcome to the mythical feast day of St Albert!
Episode credits
Directed by Sydney LotterbyWritten by Roy ClarkeGuest stars Frances Cox, Teddy Turner, Oscar Quitak
