Overview

Still Open All Hours is a British television sitcom created for the BBC by writer Roy Clarke. Conceived as a continuation of the earlier series Open All Hours, it follows the later life of Granville, the shop assistant who inherits and runs his uncle's small grocer's shop. The series preserves the original show's mix of gentle comedy, character-driven plotlines and a single primary location while updating the supporting cast and situations for contemporary viewers.

Format and characteristics

The comic tone of Still Open All Hours emphasizes slow-building jokes, recurring gags and the everyday pressures of running a corner shop. Episodes typically revolve around small domestic and commercial dilemmas: price negotiations, dodgy deliveries, customers with schemes, and Granville's enduring attempts to court his love interest. Episodes mix standalone plots with ongoing subplots and make regular use of a stable ensemble of characters.

Principal cast and recurring roles

  • David Jason reprises the central role of Granville, now older and the shop's proprietor; a long-running link between the two series is his performance and presence.
  • The programme also features newer actors in regular roles and brought back several performers who appeared in the original series, including Lynda Baron, Stephanie Cole and Maggie Ollerenshaw in their earlier characters.
  • Supporting players and guest characters supply many of the situational comic beats, broadening the number of subplots compared with the original show.

History and development

Still Open All Hours grew out of a special produced to mark the 40th anniversary of the original sitcom, an event that renewed public interest in Roy Clarke's creations. The special led to a full series commission and subsequent seasons. The new programme intentionally retained the familiar shop setting and many of the series' original themes while expanding the cast and narrative scope to suit contemporary ensemble storytelling.

Reception and legacy

Critical responses to the revival were mixed: some reviewers found the special and early episodes sentimental or uneven, while audience figures were strong enough to support multiple series. The show has been discussed as an example of how classic sitcom properties can be relaunched for new generations, balancing nostalgia with fresh characters. The series has also been noted for maintaining the craft of longform British sitcom writing linked to Clarke's work.

Notable distinctions and context

As a direct sequel to Open All Hours, Still Open All Hours occupies a distinctive place among British television revivals: it continues an established character's arc rather than creating a wholly new concept. It preserves certain trademarks of the original while adopting a somewhat broader cast and more frequent subplots. For further information on the creator and the programme's production, see the writer's filmography and official broadcaster material: Roy Clarke, David Jason and the commissioning network BBC provide primary reference points for researchers and fans alike.

Further notes

  • The revival underscores the continuing appeal of character-led, location-centered sitcoms in British television.
  • It demonstrates how legacy shows can be retooled to combine nostalgia with new storytelling voices.
  • Details on episode counts, broadcast dates and cast lists are maintained in programme guides and broadcaster archives for readers seeking precise production data.