Arkwright’s is still open for funny business. The Still Open All Hours TV show comedy has been renewed for a third series (season) on BBC One. The British broadcaster has also commissioned a Still Open All Hours Christmas special.
The Still Open All Hours TV series cast includes: Sir David Jason, Tim Healy, James Baxter, Stephanie Cole, and Sally Lindsay. Series regulars also include Maggie Ollerenshaw, Johnny Vegas, Kulvinder Ghir, Brigit Forsyth, Nina Wadia, and Geoffrey Whitehead. Lynda Baron is unable to return due to a scheduling conflict. Get the details from this BBC press release.
Still Open All Hours to return to BBC One for a 2016 Christmas special and third series
The series has proven a huge hit with audiences since it began in 2014, with the most recent run of episodes being the highest rated comedy series of the past 12 months. Location filming will begin in the coming weeks, with studio filming to follow from October.
On returning to one of his most famous roles, Sir David Jason (Granville) said “I can’t wait for viewers to see the scrapes Granville gets into this series, almost as much as I can’t wait to start filming them. Roy Clarke has once again written seven fantastically warm, funny and inventive scripts, full of the humour and eccentric characters that the nation has come to love over the years.”
The series opens with a Christmas special where Granville and Gastric (Tim Healy) find themselves playing marriage counsellors, whilst Leroy (James Baxter) adopts a festive disguise to avoid relationship trouble of a different kind. Meanwhile, Mrs Featherstone (Stephanie Cole) struggles to get into the Christmas spirit and Kath (Sally Lindsay) attempts to bring the street together as one harmonious choir of carollers and beat Finkle Street once and for all – but does Granville have a trick up his sleeve to help them out?
They will be joined by series regulars Maggie Ollerenshaw as the love of Granville’s life, Mavis, plus Johnny Vegas as Eric, Kulvinder Ghir as Cyril, Brigit Forsyth as Madge, Nina Wadia as Mrs Hussein and Geoffrey Whitehead as Mr Newbold.
Unfortunately, Lynda Baron is unable to join the cast for this series, saying “I was thrilled by the huge success of Still Open All Hours and was very happy to be a part of it. However this year it just isn’t possible to fit it in with my schedule. I am disappointed not least because it is beyond doubt the nicest cast and crew a girl could wish for. There are as many laughs off the set as there are on. Long may they stay Open All Hours.”
Executive Producer Gareth Edwards said: “I continue to be bowled over by the incredible audience response to Still Open All Hours, so it’s a real pleasure to welcome the series back to BBC One. The opening Christmas special is our most festive yet, and the wonderful mind of Roy Clarke has conjured up many more eccentric, classic adventures for Granville and the gang over the series.”
Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy, BBC Studios, added: “It’s brilliant for BBC Studios to keep on working with comedy legends Sir David Jason and Roy Clarke. Long may it last!”
Written by Roy Clarke, Still Open All Hours is a BBC Studios production, commissioned by Shane Allen Controller of Comedy Commissioning. It is produced by Alex Walsh-Taylor and directed by Dewi Humphreys.
What do you think? Have you watched the first two series of the Still Open All Hours TV series? Do you plan to watch the Christmas special and series three?
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