Still Open All Hours: The Story of a Classic Comedy

by Graham McCann

From its first episode in 1973, Open All Hours was an instant hit. Audiences around Britain loved its familiar setting, good-natured humor, and the hilarious partnership of Ronnie Barker and David Jason. While it only ran for 26 episodes, it firmly cemented itself as a British comedy classic. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the show in 2014, the BBC revived it for a one-off Christmas Special. Still Open All Hours was swamped by a tsunami of audience affection, and the BBC promptly commissioned a full series. The first episode of the fifth series is expected to air in late 2014. With recollections from David Jason, his fellow cast members, and from the scriptwriter Roy Clarke, plus never before seen BBC archive material, acclaimed popular TV historian Graham McCann tells the inside story of this very British sitcom, with wit, insight, and affection.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2014

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book charting the history of the sitcom with some of the scripts listed

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. The author, Graham McCann is clearly a huge fan of the show. This book is full of positive recollections and memories. There's lots of retellings from the cast and the writer of the show. So much research has clearly gone into this book as there's an extensive list of notes at the back of the book that link to every single fact and figure in the book. This book spans the whole journey of Open All Hours right from when it was first thought up by Ronnie Barker in the 1970's until October 2014 when the filming of Still Open All Hours would start. This book is going to enhance my watching of the original four series box set. An absolute pleasure of a book.

[Andi Garbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about the TV Comedy series "Open all hours" and the follow up show "Still open all hours". With quotes from the show and interviews from the stars

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed watching the TV Show!!!!!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really in depth insight to the show from production team to writers. You can feel the chemistry this show has. Yet still underated by critics.