Still Open All Hours gets series order

A UK Christmas special Still Open All Hours, which revived BBC comedy Open All Hours, will proceed to a 6 episode series.

The special pulled an average audience of 9.4 million viewers, the BBC’s most-watched comedy since The Vicar Of Dibley in 2007 and the third highest rated comedy in over a decade.

Reviving the series, which co-starred Ronnie Barker and David Jason, saw the return of Jason as ‘Granville’ running the shop he inherited the shop from Uncle Arkwright (Barker) with son Leroy.

Creator Roy Clarke remains on board for the new series.

“The resounding success of the Christmas revival showed the huge and enduring audience affection for this much-loved classic”, said Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning. “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.”

While Mark Freeland, Controller of Fiction & Entertainment, added: “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 original series ran for 26 episodes across 1976, 1981, 1982 and 1985.

Source: TV Wise