BBC orders full series of Still Open All Hours

Thursday 30th January 2014, 10:19am

Still Open All Hours. Image shows from L to R: Leroy (James Baxter), Granville (David Jason). Copyright: BBC

The BBC has ordered a full series of Still Open All Hours.

The comedy, which derives from the 1976 to 1985 classic sitcom Open All Hours, sees Sir David Jason reprise his role as Granville Arkwright.

The show also stars original cast members Lynda Baron, Stephanie Cole and Maggie Ollerenshaw, alongside James Baxter who joins the format as Granville's son, Leroy.

Following the success of the one-off special shown at Christmas, BBC One has now confirmed it has ordered a full six part series. The half-hour episodes will be shot in Doncaster later this year.

The special, broadcast on Boxing Day, was one of the festive period's highest-rating programmes, watched live by an estimated 9.4 million viewers. Consolidated figures reveal over 12.2 million people saw the show in total, making it the most-watched comedy since The Vicar Of Dibley in 2007 and the third highest rated comedy in over a decade.

The new episodes will be written by original creator Roy Clarke, who says of the new series: "I'm delighted. It's like going back home."

David Jason adds: "I am so delighted that we are doing a series of Still Open All Hours as the feedback from our Christmas Special has been so rewarding and encouraging. We want to have more fun giving the audience the kind of show they seemed to appreciate. It goes to prove that the corner shop is still open all hours."

BBC commissioner Shane Allen comments: "The resounding success of the Christmas revival showed the huge and enduring audience affection for this much-loved classic. Roy has done a terrific job of updating the characters whilst keeping what was warm-hearted and enjoyable about the world of the original series."

Executive Producer Mark Freeland says: "We were all delighted by the response that the Christmas special received. It was so difficult to shut up shop after that. So we haven't. Granville's is well and truly open for business."

The new episodes of Still Open All Hours will be shown on BBC One later this year.

David Jason has recently also returned to another of his famous characters. Alongside Nicholas Lyndhurst, he has filmed a new Only Fools And Horses sketch for Sport Relief. The short special, which will be shown in March, features a guest appearance from David Beckham.

Below is the trailer used to promote the Still Open All Hours Christmas special:

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