The first series of Open All Hours, starring Ronnie Barker as miserly shopkeeper Albert Arkwright, opened for business on 20 February 1976. The script by Roy Clarke evoked a vanishing world of corner shops. Barker was ably supported by David Jason as shop assistant Granville, and Lynda Baron as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, the object of Arkwright's unrequited lust.
Open All Hours was the second programme derived from Seven of One, a series of standalone pilot episodes by a variety of writers, all starring Barker, transmitted in March 1973. The second episode 'Prisoner and Escort' had already formed the basis of the sitcom Porridge (1974-1977).
Barker was probably the BBC's biggest comic star at the time - following Porridge and The Two Ronnies - but initial critical reaction to the comedy was lukewarm. Barker took great pains over Clarke's script, polishing it with his own rewrites, but some took issue with his decision to give Arkwright a stammer, and with the quantity of sexual innuendo. These objections melted away once the warmth of the characterisation and the strength of the performances became clear.
Although it ended in 1985, Open All Hours remains popular. The shop in Doncaster that stood in for Arkwright's grocers remains almost unchanged to this day, and is of interest to fans. David Jason went on to even greater acclaim in Only Fools and Horses. In 2004 Open All Hours came 8th in a poll of Britain's Best Sitcom. Roy Clarke received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 British Comedy Awards. A sequel, Still Open All Hours brought back many of the characters in 2013.
February anniversaries
Blue Peter 5000th edition
1 February 2018
Face to Face
4 February 1959
First TV Sports commentary
4 February 1937
The Wombles
5 February 1973
