The tail end of 2013 saw three of Britain's best loved sitcoms being revived - 'Rab C. Nesbitt', 'Birds Of A Feather' and 'Open All Hours'. The nation was initially in doubt when a remake of 'Open All Hours' was put to the BBC. My initial dread was relieved somewhat though when I learned that some of the original cast would be involved and that Roy Clarke would be providing the scripts. On Boxing Day 2013, a pilot entitled 'Still Open All Hours' went out on BBC1 and, contrary to all expectations, it was a ratings success.
Albert Arkwright has died and his nephew Granville has inherited the shop, as well as his tight-fistedness and knack for conning his customers. Working as his lackey is his illegitimate son Leroy, who came about as the result of a one-night stand in Blackpool. Leroy has the same relationship with his father as his father had with Arkwright, though Leroy seems to have more success with the opposite sex than Granville. Some of the original gang are still around such as the now retired Nurse Gladys Emmanuel ( Lynda Baron ), Stephanie Cole's Mrs. Featherstone ( a.k.a The Black Widow ) who seems to have softened with age as is evident by her apparent crush on Granville and Maggie Ollrenshaw ( looking better than she did in the original series ) as Mavis whose indecisiveness has not improved over the years. New characters include Wet Eric and his fiery wife Kath ( Johnny Vegas and the gorgeous Sally Lindsay ), the long suffering Gastric ( Tim Healy ), Mavis' over-protective sister Madge ( Brigit Forsyth ), gullible Cyril ( Kulvinder Ghir ) and fluttery Mrs. Hussein ( Nina Wadia ).
And, of course, ever present is the over-aggressive cash register ( the very same one used in the original series ).
David Jason is nowhere near as impressive as Barker was in the title role but then I don't think Jason was even trying to be better than his predecessor, for a start Clarke wisely chose not to have Granville inherit Arkwright's stammer. Had he tried so, the result would have been frightful. That said, he still managed to bring the same likability to his character. James Baxter was annoying as Leroy but all the same his presence was still needed. The original surviving cast members still haven't lost the knack either. Of all the new characters, my favourite was Johnny Vegas' Wet Eric whose relationship with his fearsome wife was hilarious.
Whilst unsurprisingly never comparing in terms of popularity with the original, 'Still Open All Hours' was amusing and well enough received to run to a decent three series. Another wise movie was the retaining of Ronnie Hazelhurst's brilliant theme tune.
Albert Arkwright has died and his nephew Granville has inherited the shop, as well as his tight-fistedness and knack for conning his customers. Working as his lackey is his illegitimate son Leroy, who came about as the result of a one-night stand in Blackpool. Leroy has the same relationship with his father as his father had with Arkwright, though Leroy seems to have more success with the opposite sex than Granville. Some of the original gang are still around such as the now retired Nurse Gladys Emmanuel ( Lynda Baron ), Stephanie Cole's Mrs. Featherstone ( a.k.a The Black Widow ) who seems to have softened with age as is evident by her apparent crush on Granville and Maggie Ollrenshaw ( looking better than she did in the original series ) as Mavis whose indecisiveness has not improved over the years. New characters include Wet Eric and his fiery wife Kath ( Johnny Vegas and the gorgeous Sally Lindsay ), the long suffering Gastric ( Tim Healy ), Mavis' over-protective sister Madge ( Brigit Forsyth ), gullible Cyril ( Kulvinder Ghir ) and fluttery Mrs. Hussein ( Nina Wadia ).
And, of course, ever present is the over-aggressive cash register ( the very same one used in the original series ).
David Jason is nowhere near as impressive as Barker was in the title role but then I don't think Jason was even trying to be better than his predecessor, for a start Clarke wisely chose not to have Granville inherit Arkwright's stammer. Had he tried so, the result would have been frightful. That said, he still managed to bring the same likability to his character. James Baxter was annoying as Leroy but all the same his presence was still needed. The original surviving cast members still haven't lost the knack either. Of all the new characters, my favourite was Johnny Vegas' Wet Eric whose relationship with his fearsome wife was hilarious.
Whilst unsurprisingly never comparing in terms of popularity with the original, 'Still Open All Hours' was amusing and well enough received to run to a decent three series. Another wise movie was the retaining of Ronnie Hazelhurst's brilliant theme tune.