List of Open All Hours episodes
This list includes all the episodes of the BBC sitcom Open All Hours, including the 1973 television pilot, the 1982 Christmas special. A sequel, Still Open All Hours, began with a Christmas special in 2013.
Series overview
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD release date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series premiere | Series finale | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| 1 | 6 | 20 February 1976 | 26 March 1976 | 9 June 2009 | 30 September 2002 | 1 April 2003 | |
| 2 | 7 | 1 March 1981 | 19 April 1981 | 9 June 2009 | 29 September 2003 | 3 December 2003 | |
| 3 | 6 | 21 March 1982 | 25 April 1982 | 9 June 2009 | 4 October 2004 | 2 March 2005 | |
| 4 | 6 | 1 September 1985 | 6 October 1985 | 9 June 2009 | 31 October 2005 | 8 August 2006 | |
Pilot
The Open All Hours pilot was the first episode of Ronnie Barker's 1973 comedy anthology series, Seven of One. The pilot developed into the sitcom, which premiered on BBC Two in 1976 and on BBC One in 1981.
The exterior shots in the main series were filmed at a different location: The corner of Lister Avenue and Scarth Avenue in Doncaster.
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | "Open All Hours" | 25 March 1973 |
|
Arkwright hears that Gladys Emmanuel has another man. ("Couldn't you clasp me to your bosom?") Granville wants a van to meet ladies. Featuring: Yootha Joyce (Mrs Scully), Keith Chegwin (customer), Sheila Brennan (Nurse Gladys Emmanuel), David Valla (bread man) | ||
Series 1 (1976)
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Full of Mysterious Promise" | 20 February 1976 |
|
"Why don't we get engaged before we both grow a moustache?" What's more fruitless: Arkwright's pursuit of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, or his attempt to sell tins of food without labels? Featuring: John Lawrence (Mr. Bristow), Gillian McClements (Gloria), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett), Peter Wallis (Winston), Poppy Lane (Extra – uncredited) | ||
| 2 | "A Mattress on Wheels" | 27 February 1976 |
|
Arkwright's always been dead against getting a van, until Granville points out the advantages of taking a lady friend for a drive... Juliet Cooke (Eva), Jean Heywood (Vera), George Innes (Used car salesman), Barbara Keogh (Mrs. Ellis), Harry Markham (Freddie) | ||
| 3 | "A Nice Cosy Little Disease" | 5 March 1976 |
|
Perhaps, a nice cosy little disease on Arkwright's part would be the thing to attract the ministrations of a certain district nurse? Featuring: Juliet Ackroyd (Linda Mulgrave), Tony Aitken (Norman), Graham Armitage (man from Matlock Mutual Protection Society), Clare Kelly (Mrs. Braddock), Barbara Keogh (Mrs. Ellis) | ||
| 4 | "Beware of the Dog" | 12 March 1976 |
|
A crime wave scares an already security-obsessed Arkwright – the shop has to be fortified. Featuring: Kevin Moreton (Boy), Shirley Steedman (Maureen) | ||
| 5 | "Well Catered Funeral" | 19 March 1976 |
|
His best friend's funeral tests Arkwright's generosity. Featuring: Reginald Barratt (Mr. Wilkinson), John Challis (Bread man), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett), Elizabeth Dawn (Woman outside shop – uncredited) | ||
| 6 | "Apples and Self Service" | 26 March 1976 |
|
Slow apple sales lead to a self-service experiment. Featuring: Edna Doré (Woman Wanting Firelighters), Madge Hindle (Mrs. Jardine), John McKelvey (hearing–impaired man), Michael Redfern (Southerner) | ||
Series 2 (1981)
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | "Laundry Blues" | 1 March 1981 |
|
When Nurse Gladys Emmanuel tells Arkwright that he must buy a new washing machine, he is forced to come up with an ingenious plan to keep her happy and his savings undisturbed, especially when an ill-tempered Pakistani VAT man comes to the shop. Featuring: Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Matthew Scurfield (Man from bus stop), Renu Setna (VAT Man), Nick Stringer (Neville) | ||
| 8 | "The Reluctant Traveller" | 8 March 1981 |
|
Nurse Gladys Emmanuel and Arkwright are finally going to spend the night together at a hotel, leaving the way open for Granville to invite the local milkwoman over. But Arkwright still refuses to part with his precious money, and resorts to an over-tight money belt, which makes him walk funny. Featuring: Barbara Flynn (The milk woman), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett) | ||
| 9 | "Fig Biscuits and Inspirational Toilet Rolls" | 15 March 1981 |
|
Arkwright's marketing genius comes to the fore as he tries to shift some over-stocked items. Featuring: Howard Crossley (man in car), Mike Kelly (delivery man), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett) | ||
| 10 | "The New Suit" | 22 March 1981 |
|
Arkwright has to buy a new suit – on Nurse Gladys Emmanuel's say so. Featuring: Michael Bilton (Hypnotist), Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Frances Goodall (woman on bench), Emrys James (Eli Bickerdyke), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett) | ||
| 11 | "Arkwright's Mobile Store" | 29 March 1981 |
|
Arkwright proves his ambition by expanding the business... he buys an old ice-cream van. Featuring: Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Brian Peck (Customer), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett), Paula Tilbrook (Mrs. Tattersall) | ||
| 12 | "Shedding at the Wedding" | 5 April 1981 |
|
Arkwright's wedding suit smells of mothballs. Hanging his trousers out of Gladys' car was never going to be a good idea... Featuring: Roger Elliott (Mr. Bristow), Stuart Fell (Motorcyclist), Patsy Smart (Customer), Kathy Staff (Mrs. Blewett) | ||
| 13 | "St. Albert's Day" | 19 April 1981 |
|
Arkwright invents a Saint's day so that Granville can check the pockets of a foreign visitor who he suspects of shoplifting. Featuring: Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Oscar Quitak (Hungarian), Teddy Turner (Gordon) | ||
Series 3 (1982)
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | "An Errand Boy by the Ear" | 21 March 1982 |
|
Arkwright's baffled when his customers get upset with his treatment of Granville. "Surely, it's what errand boys are for." Featuring: Bridget Ashburn (Mrs. Turner), Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Madge Hindle (posh customer), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Sue Race (Mrs. Ellis), Nick Stringer (man) | ||
| 15 | "The Ginger Men" | 28 March 1982 |
|
Why is Arkwright forcing his ginger cake upon Nurse Gladys?, Could it be he has overstocked?, and if it really is an old Jamaican aphrodisiac, Granville's acting like he's overdosed. Featuring: Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Helen Cotterill (Julie), Barbara Flynn (milk woman), Bert Gaunt (Bert the bread man), Tom Mennard (Cyril), Alan Starkey (Thorndyke) | ||
| 16 | "Duet for Solo Bicycle" | 4 April 1982 |
|
A squeak in the shop's bicycle is driving Granville round the bend, but can it really be affecting his love-life? Featuring: Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Barbara Flynn (The milk woman), Sally Miles (Mrs. Whittington), Donald Morley (Man looking for directions), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Liz Whiting (Wendy) | ||
| 17 | "How to Ignite Your Errand Boy..." | 11 April 1982 |
|
Arkwright's plan to make his own fire lighters has a snag, they may be somewhat dangerous to make... Oh well, Granville is not busy... Featuring: Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Howard Crossley (Milk round Supervisor), Barbara Flynn (milk woman), Frank Marlborough (delivery man), Tom Mennard (Cyril), David Thackwray (boy) | ||
| 18 | "The Man from Down Under" | 18 April 1982 |
|
When one of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel's admirers returns from Australia, Arkwright proffers a real Yorkshire welcome... Featuring: Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Janet Davies (Mrs. Blake), Barbara Flynn (The milk woman), Johnny Leeze (man whose tyres were let down), Maggie Ollerenshaw (Mavis), Teddy Turner (Gordon) | ||
| 19 | "The Cool Cocoa Tin Lid" | 25 April 1982 |
|
Granville decides to get cool. He's got the open necked shirt and the shades, but where's a poor errand boy going to find a medallion? Featuring: John Bleasdale (Dennis), Helen Cotterill (Julie), Barbara Flynn (milk woman), Tony London (youth), Mollie Maureen (old woman) | ||
Christmas special (1982)
| Christmas special | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|
| An eight-minute short subject, shown as part of the show "The Funny Side of Christmas" | 27 December 1982 | |
| On Christmas morning, Granville is looking forward to dinner at Nurse Gladys's, but Arkwright is annoyed that her mother is still alive. Granville also reveals he is having tea later with the newly separated 'Wavy Mavis'. In the typical closing thought, Arkwright bemoans the fact that Jesus was born on a Bank Holiday, resulting in him having to close the shop. | ||
Series 4 (1985)
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | "Soulmate Wanted" | 1 September 1985 |
|
Granville is desperate for female company, so he decides to resort to advertising. He ends up getting more than he bargained for. Featuring: Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Gilly Coman (girl who answers advert), Christine Ozanne (customer), Norman Robbins (Mr. Halliwell), Jean Warren (Michelle) | ||
| 21 | "Horse-Trading" | 8 September 1985 |
|
Arkwright thinks he's done great business when he offloads some genuine Yorkshire clothes horses on a local Asian shopkeeper... Featuring: Charlotte Barker (customer), Barbara Flynn (milk woman), John Rutland (black lead customer), Nadim Sawalha (Albert Gupta), Alan Starkey (Thorndyke) | ||
| 22 | "The Housekeeper Caper" | 17 September 1985 |
|
Arkwright advertises for a live-in housekeeper. It doesn't succeed in getting Nurse Gladys Emmanuel jealous but does tempt the "Black Widow", the formidable Mrs Featherstone... Featuring: Joe Belcher (shopfitter), Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Barbara Flynn (milk woman), Patricia Kane (little old lady), Sandra Voe (Mrs. Bickerdyke) | ||
| 23 | "The Errand Boy Executive" | 22 September 1985 |
|
To impress Stephanie, a young lady from the boutique, Granville claims he is an "executive" and that Arkwright is his "faithful old assistant". Featuring: Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Howell Evans (Victor the vacuum cleaner salesman), Julie Shipley (Stephanie), Sandra Voe (Mrs. Bickerdyke) | ||
| 24 | "Happy Birthday, Arkwright!" | 29 September 1985 |
|
What does Arkwright want for his birthday? Certainly not a visit from the man from the Good Shop Guide. Featuring: Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Barbara Flynn (The milk woman), Howard Lew Lewis (Byron), Tom Mennard (Cyril), John Owens (windscreen smear customer) | ||
| 25 | "The Mystical Boudoir of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel" | 6 October 1985 |
|
Arkwright will do anything to get himself into Nurse Gladys Emmanuel's bedroom, including the use of a ladder and a box of chocolates. Meanwhile, Granville takes to wearing tights on his head, and attempts to persuade his uncle to finally buy a new till. Featuring: Barbara Ashcroft (Mrs. Turnbull), Bobby Bragg (customer), Stephanie Cole (Mrs. Featherstone), Frances Cox (Mrs. Parslow), Barbara Flynn (milk woman), Eric Richard (cash register salesman) | ||
References
- "Open All Hours". BFI Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
External links
- List of Open All Hours episodes at TV.com
- List of Open All Hours episodes at British Comedy Guide
- List of Open All Hours episodes at the Internet Movie Database