Still Open All Hours Series 3 confirmed
- The BBC has confirmed it is to film a third series of Still Open All Hours
- The comedy will return at Christmas for a special, followed by a full series
- All the regular cast - except for Lynda Baron - are due to return for the new episodes
The BBC has today confirmed it is producing a third series of Still Open All Hours.
Star David Jason revealed in January that a third series of the corner shop set sitcom was on the cards, but it is only today that producers have officially confirmed the recommission.
The news comes as no surprise as the spin-off from Ronnie Barker sitcom Open All Hours has been achieving very high viewing figures. Speaking earlier this year, Jason said: "I think we get seven million viewers and 30% of the audience. You used to get huge figures, but seven million is unbelievable..."
The BBC confirms: "The nation's most loved convenience store Arkwright's will once more open its doors to BBC One viewers for a Christmas special and third series of the hugely popular Still Open All Hours.
"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."
David Jason, who plays Granville in the show, says: "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."
However, Lynda Baron - who plays Nurse Gladys Emmanuel - will miss this series. She says: "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."
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.
Executive Producer Gareth Edwards says: "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."
Speaking in January about why the series is so popular, David Jason explained: "The thing about Still Open All Hours is that it's a show you can watch with your entire family and you're not going to be worried about too much sex, so you feel safe. It's funny and silly and daft and we all know that. You can watch it without any worry or concern about your old gran at 90 or your little baby boy at nine months. They can all watch it and have good fun."
The studio scenes will be filmed at Pinewood Studios in October and November. Apply for tickets