David Jason comes back and Roy Clarke writes it
- Thread starter chris
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Philosopher Clegg
Dedicated Member
I'll certainly watch Still Open All Hours. The big attraction here is that there is the character of Granville and the name of David Jason. Throw in Nurse Gladys and only the brilliant Ronnie Barker is missing. If they were doing it with a new shop owner, perhaps a relative but no Arkwright or Granville, people might watch out of curiosity but it wouldn't be the same, there has to be that connection with the past.
This is probably the reason why there will be no future LOTSW specials. The only original major character left is Clegg and Peter Sallis isn't getting any younger, it might be difficult to build a special around him (I didn't say Ivy as she was a very good supporting character and I think it has been reported that Jane Freeman wasn't in the best of health in the final series). One off specials tend to be built around the original cast because we want to know what became of them and it is impossible to do that with LOTSW. Afraid that the trio of Hobbo, Alvin and Entwistle doesn't have the same pull as say Clegg, Compo and Foggy.
I think it really is as simple as that. Still Open All Hours will probably get 8-10 million watching because of the pull of David Jason as Granville. Without him it wouldn't get done.
This is probably the reason why there will be no future LOTSW specials. The only original major character left is Clegg and Peter Sallis isn't getting any younger, it might be difficult to build a special around him (I didn't say Ivy as she was a very good supporting character and I think it has been reported that Jane Freeman wasn't in the best of health in the final series). One off specials tend to be built around the original cast because we want to know what became of them and it is impossible to do that with LOTSW. Afraid that the trio of Hobbo, Alvin and Entwistle doesn't have the same pull as say Clegg, Compo and Foggy.
I think it really is as simple as that. Still Open All Hours will probably get 8-10 million watching because of the pull of David Jason as Granville. Without him it wouldn't get done.
amos hames
Dedicated Member
I will give it a watch. 
Philosopher Clegg
Dedicated Member
The one person we haven't mentioned yet in relation to Open All Hours is Kathy Staff who occasionally appeared in the shop and had Arkwright greeting her along the lines of "morning Mrs B..B..B..Blewett...."
This is of course very exciting news.
I had always hoped such a programme would have been made whilst Ronnie Barker was still alive - he did occasionally come out of retirement if the right project came along.
Though we reflect how LOTSW didn't have a true ending, neither did Open All Hours. Though running to just four series, it didn't necessarily need one.
But now it has.
Or is this the beginning of something else?
I understand it is to be a one off, which may be enough. They have left it a long time before making this follow up, so there isn't really any pressure for this to be a masterpiece. One could complain that it shouldn't be made without Barker, but after all this time, I look at it as just a bit of fun. Simply just to see what happened next.
I understand (according to the net) it's only 30 minutes long - which is a shame as there must be so many changes to deal with which may have needed an hour.
Anyhow, I can hardly wait to see what happens.
I had always hoped such a programme would have been made whilst Ronnie Barker was still alive - he did occasionally come out of retirement if the right project came along.
Though we reflect how LOTSW didn't have a true ending, neither did Open All Hours. Though running to just four series, it didn't necessarily need one.
But now it has.
Or is this the beginning of something else?
I understand it is to be a one off, which may be enough. They have left it a long time before making this follow up, so there isn't really any pressure for this to be a masterpiece. One could complain that it shouldn't be made without Barker, but after all this time, I look at it as just a bit of fun. Simply just to see what happened next.
I understand (according to the net) it's only 30 minutes long - which is a shame as there must be so many changes to deal with which may have needed an hour.
Anyhow, I can hardly wait to see what happens.
Philosopher Clegg
Dedicated Member
The reason why Open All Hours and for that matter Porridge only went on for a few series was because Barker himself didn't want to do anymore. They were still quality when they ended and Barker's philosophy was to go out at the top or as near to it as possible. He didn't want to see things drag on and become predictable and stale. The follow up to Porridge was a series mostly forgotten about today called Going Straight (it can be found on YouTube) and that also ended after just one series, largely out of the respect that Barker had for Richard Beckinsale who died very young. Barker later said that the series could have gone on, but it wouldn't have been the same without Beckinsale as Godber in it, so he put it to rest.
Had Barker played a character in LOTSW I doubt that he would have been in it for long, because his view was that over time quality tended to decline the longer you did something. I think he is probably right in that respect as it is so difficult to maintain the quality of something over many years, especially once you start to lose the great characters on which the success has been built.
Open All Hours and Porridge could have gone on for several more series quite easily, but getting out at the top was something that Barker did quite well.
It probably depends upon David Jason. If it's a success and he wants to do more and providing Clarke is prepared to write a series, then I could easily see it happening. For that to work though some new character to share the shop time with Granville would need to be written in.
Looks good! Class coming back to BBC. Glad they are including Maggie Ollerenshaw as Mavis. I thought that a great part for her. Plus, of course, Lynda Baron. Would like to see the lovely Barbara Flynn, the milk lady, who interestingly had the highest number of appearances apart from the three leads.
On Ronnie Barker coming out of retirement for the right project, I have recently watched both 'The Gathering Storm' where he played Churchill's butler, and 'My House in Umbria'. He really was a great actor.
On Ronnie Barker coming out of retirement for the right project, I have recently watched both 'The Gathering Storm' where he played Churchill's butler, and 'My House in Umbria'. He really was a great actor.
Philosopher Clegg
Dedicated Member
David Jason is doing the rounds right now to promote his autobiography. Should be a good read. I heard him on one radio interview where he briefly refers to Open All Hours coming back and he ended by saying that it's going to be called Granville's.
The interview is here (starts at about 48 mins, lasts about 12 minutes) and will be available for about a week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03bqp0r/MacAulay_and_Co_Susan_Calman_sits_in/
The interview is here (starts at about 48 mins, lasts about 12 minutes) and will be available for about a week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03bqp0r/MacAulay_and_Co_Susan_Calman_sits_in/
I hope the new episode will end like the old ones, only this time with Granville deep in thought as he closes the shop up at night.
Those scenes with Arkwright were absolutely perfect. I have always liked 'thought' scenes written by Roy Clarke. They did a few in LOTSW, notably Getting Sam Home, There Goes the Groom, and one of the Scarbourgh episodes with Jane Freeman reading her book.
Ronnie Barker apparently didn't like the closing sequences to Open All Hours. I think they were brilliant.
Those scenes with Arkwright were absolutely perfect. I have always liked 'thought' scenes written by Roy Clarke. They did a few in LOTSW, notably Getting Sam Home, There Goes the Groom, and one of the Scarbourgh episodes with Jane Freeman reading her book.
Ronnie Barker apparently didn't like the closing sequences to Open All Hours. I think they were brilliant.
Is that query over David Jason's son or Granville's? If the latter I would like to think it the milk lady!
Philosopher Clegg
Dedicated Member
Heard an interview with David Jason where he is asked by Richard Bacon if an Open All Hours series is offered after this one off would he do it if it works and his reply was yes. He replied that if it works and the audience loved it and the BBC wanted it he would certainly do it.
So, if this one goes down well in the Christmas ratings I think you can book a future series, assuming of course Roy Clarke wants to write it.
So, if this one goes down well in the Christmas ratings I think you can book a future series, assuming of course Roy Clarke wants to write it.
Philosopher Clegg
Dedicated Member
Even though the original Open All Hours was a Ronnie Barker comedy vehicle, it worked because of the dynamic of the main relationship between him and David Jason. The shop as the main set needed two central characters and Granville was an ideal foil for Barker's Arkwright. To make the new series work, Granville will need someone to share the shop space with him and I have wondered whether this will mean the introduction of a totally new character or whether an existing character will have their roll expanded.
The other point to remember about the original series is that the relationship between Arkwright and Granville was to some degree age v youth. Granville was relatively young, mid 30's, early 40's and had largely missed out on his youth because of Arkwright. Granville fantasized a lot about the world and was a bit of a dreamer because he wanted something better, while Arkwright was a traditionalist, pragmatic and down to earth. Arkwright undoubtedly held Granville back, but only because he thought it was in his interest to do so,(which was also in Arkwright's interest of course).
The point is will a new younger character be introduced to recreate this relationship? Granville is now in his late 60's, early 70's, he has effectively become Arkwright, who's going to play off of him? If a new younger character is introduced I hope that they are not too young. It's not that I'm against that, it's just that I'm not convinced that Roy Clarke can write that role. If you look at LOTSW, his youngest character was Babs, a total disaster because she was so formulaic. Milburn was a better character, but even he was presented as somewhat backward.
The alternative is to have Granville Married or at least like Arkwright, promised to someone. The milk woman played by Barbara Flynn would be ideal, but she would now be working in the shop with him. Perhaps he has a son, a Granville junior? Hard to imagine, but it might work. He might even be named Damian!
What about Nurse Gladys? Would she still be a nurse, she must be in her 70's and one assumes retired by now? Did she finally marry Arkwright or did he pass on before they could wed? Whatever, chances are that Gladys is now a mother figure to Granville.
The thing is that Open All Hours ended in 1985, so it's getting on for 30 years, most of the original characters will now be much older. I do wonder if introducing younger characters will be welcomed by the older audience that remembers the original, but I'm not sure that it can work if it is just the older characters, especially if it is to become more than a one off. If it is to catch a wider family audience of all ages it may well need one or two younger characters.
The other point to remember about the original series is that the relationship between Arkwright and Granville was to some degree age v youth. Granville was relatively young, mid 30's, early 40's and had largely missed out on his youth because of Arkwright. Granville fantasized a lot about the world and was a bit of a dreamer because he wanted something better, while Arkwright was a traditionalist, pragmatic and down to earth. Arkwright undoubtedly held Granville back, but only because he thought it was in his interest to do so,(which was also in Arkwright's interest of course).
The point is will a new younger character be introduced to recreate this relationship? Granville is now in his late 60's, early 70's, he has effectively become Arkwright, who's going to play off of him? If a new younger character is introduced I hope that they are not too young. It's not that I'm against that, it's just that I'm not convinced that Roy Clarke can write that role. If you look at LOTSW, his youngest character was Babs, a total disaster because she was so formulaic. Milburn was a better character, but even he was presented as somewhat backward.
The alternative is to have Granville Married or at least like Arkwright, promised to someone. The milk woman played by Barbara Flynn would be ideal, but she would now be working in the shop with him. Perhaps he has a son, a Granville junior? Hard to imagine, but it might work. He might even be named Damian!
What about Nurse Gladys? Would she still be a nurse, she must be in her 70's and one assumes retired by now? Did she finally marry Arkwright or did he pass on before they could wed? Whatever, chances are that Gladys is now a mother figure to Granville.
The thing is that Open All Hours ended in 1985, so it's getting on for 30 years, most of the original characters will now be much older. I do wonder if introducing younger characters will be welcomed by the older audience that remembers the original, but I'm not sure that it can work if it is just the older characters, especially if it is to become more than a one off. If it is to catch a wider family audience of all ages it may well need one or two younger characters.
cciaffone
Dedicated Member
Auntie Joan? Fro Doc Martin?? Joan's been off and
dead for several series I believe. Is she still alive??
On Doc, she's been replaced by another aunt.