Show Notes
This is the first episode of EN9, a show in which we look at classic British sitcoms (and a few duffers) by concentrating on the ninth episode. By this point in a show's run, it has (in theory) become somewhat established, perhaps even built up a head of steam, and its characters and situations are familiar to viewers. The key thing is that it isn't tired and simply going through the motions. To kick us off, we're looking at a true classic: Open All Hours (1976–1985).
Open All Hours originated as the opening episode of Seven of One, a 1973 series of seven one-off sitcom pilots starring Ronnie Barker. While Prisoner & Escort quickly became Porridge, Open All Hours had to wait three and a half years before being commissioned as a series. Written by Roy Clarke,it starred Barker as Arkwright, a stuttering shopkeeper, close to a pound note and obsessed with his back-street general store. He is also infatuated with District Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, who lives opposite. His nephew Granville, a wistful young man whose prospects are limited by working in the shop, assists him while often bearing the brunt of Arkwright's stratagems and schemes.
The period from its original pilot to its final episode spanned twelve years, during which Open All Hours produced just 26 episodes, plus a ten-minute Christmas special filmed for an anthology programme. A feature film or feature-length television special was proposed in 1984 but never materialised. Despite attracting substantial audiences, the programme was not always highly regarded by BBC management. In the 2004 BBC Britain's Best Sitcoms poll, however, it ranked eighth.
And this month we're looking at Series 2, Episode 3, 'Fig Biscuits and Inspirational Toilet Rolls'. Arkwright finds himself with an excess of both and determines to shift them pronto. Meanwhile, the dithering Mavis believes she has received a visitation from the spirit of a long-dead Victorian shopkeeper.
With Chris Diamond and Tyler Adams.