For fans of Arkwrights store and David Jason, Still Open All Hours is making a return to out TV screens for a Christmas Special and a much anticipated third series.
Still Open All Hours has proven to be a huge hit with audiences since the show began in 2014, with the most recent episodes making it the highest rated comedy series of the past 12 months. The news that location filming will begin soon, with studio filming to follow from October, is great news for fans of the show.
On returning to one of his most famous roles, Sir David Jason, who plays Granville, said “I can’t wait for viewers to see the scrapes Granville gets into this series, almost as much as I can’t wait to start filming them. Roy Clarke has once again written seven fantastically warm, funny and inventive scripts, full of the humour and eccentric characters that the nation has come to love over the years.”
The Christmas special will see Granville and Gastric (Tim Healy) finding themselves playing marriage counsellors, whilst Leroy (James Baxter) adopts a festive disguise to avoid relationship trouble of a different kind. Meanwhile, Mrs Featherstone (Stephanie Cole) struggles to get into the Christmas spirit and Kath (Sally Lindsay) attempts to bring the street together as one harmonious choir of carollers and beat Finkle Street once and for all – but does Granville have a trick up his sleeve to help them out?
Jason and Healy will be joined by series regulars Maggie Ollerenshaw as the love of Granville’s life, Mavis, plus Johnny Vegas as Eric, Kulvinder Ghir as Cyril, Brigit Forsyth as Madge, Nina Wadia as Mrs Hussein and Geoffrey Whitehead as Mr Newbold.
Sadly, Lynda Baron is unable to join the cast for this series, saying “I was thrilled by the huge success of Still Open All Hours and was very happy to be a part of it. However this year it just isn’t possible to fit it in with my schedule. I am disappointed not least because it is beyond doubt the nicest cast and crew a girl could wish for. There are as many laughs off the set as there are on. Long may they stay Open All Hours.”
Executive Producer Gareth Edwards said: “I continue to be bowled over by the incredible audience response to Still Open All Hours, so it’s a real pleasure to welcome the series back to BBC One. The opening Christmas special is our most festive yet, and the wonderful mind of Roy Clarke has conjured up many more eccentric, classic adventures for Granville and the gang over the series.”
Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy, BBC Studios, added: “It’s brilliant for BBC Studios to keep on working with comedy legends Sir David Jason and Roy Clarke. Long may it last!”
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
