Still Open all Hours - Series 1 + 2013 Christmas Special [DVD]

I read and heard some bad reviews on this series but, having loved the original, I decided to give it a go anyway and I'm glad I did. Some people have commented that David Jason now appears to be playing Arkwright, but I think they're missing the point. The point is that, after many years of trying, Arkwright finally managed to teach Granville his miserly ways and Granville has now become as tight fisted with money as Arkwright was. I've also seen some comments about David Jason stuttering in this series when he didn't in the original. Well, he only stutters when he's mimicking Arkwright, as he did many times in the original series. I think the fact that there's a photograph of Arkwright on the wall and that Granville continues to mimic him is a lovely tribute to Ronnie Barker, and is a lovely way of including him in the series.A lot of the old characters are back. Mrs Featherstone (played by the wonderful Stephanie Cole) is now making improper advances towards Granville, Nurse Gladys Emmanuel and wavy Mavis along are all back. There are also some great new characters, Tim Healy as Gastric, Johnny Vegas is great as Wet Eric and I just love James Baxter as Granvilles son Leroy. I first saw James Baxter in an episode of Red Dwarf X, I loved him in that episode and I love him even more in this, his facial expressions, delivery and comic timing are superb.It seems that you either love or hate this series and, personally, I love it.

Having caught the odd episode of this fun comedy series I thought that I would treat myself to the DVD.It is well written with Sir David Jason as Granville and James Baxter as his son, Leroy, and follows on inthe old tradition of Arkwright, the late, great Ronnie Barker. Sequels do not always work, but this one isas good as the original in my opinion and the spirit of Arkwright still haunts the shop.Granville has inherited the shop, the grocers mantle of the brown coat and runs his grocery business inthe true spirit of Arkwright, never missing a trick to fool his hapless customers.Starting with the Christmas Special from 2013 there are 7 episodes with some outstanding performancesfrom all of the cast, including Lynda Baron, Stephanie Cole, Tim Healy, Johnny Vegas et al.A good fun for all light hearted comedy, exceptionally well written.A BBC release on 1 DVD,7 episodesSubtitled in English.2015

David Jason leads a superb cast in a very funny comedy. This is a worthy successor to the original and had us all here in stitches from laughing so much. Mrs. Featherstone, sorry, Delphine is so good and she and Granville spar off each other brilliantly. The basic premise of the corner shop with its mixed bag of customers and dangerous till has been retained as has the final scene of packing up for the night and the window adverts otherwise this is all new comedy. Hope there will be a further series!The only possible negative was Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, not sure if bringing her back was such a good move or did the writers not give her the profile, lines needed? Somehow she came across as very different from the original whereas Mrs. Featherstone was just the same.

Anyone who has seen the Ronnie Barker series will love this, Nurse Gladys, Mrs, Featherstone, Mavis - all from the original series all reprise their roles almost 30 years after they last played those roles. Granville now owns Arkwright's corner store with his son Leroy. But Granville has taken on his money saving ways of his uncle and the fun starts all over again, guest stars include Johnny Vegas and Mark Williams along with Barry from the Chuckle Brothers.

I was initially apprehensive to purchase this, as I generally find that remakes of programmes or films are never as good as the original. But a friend said in his opinion it was " Not Too Bad ". I found it strange to see the same shop updated to modern products ( except the till ) and some of the original characters, Nurse Gladys and Mavis, Mrs Featherstone and of course Granville. After only a few minutes of viewing, it soon became clear to me that the Author Roy Clarke had not lost his touch in bringing out to full potential, all the old and new characters in this Remake of a Classic comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed every episode and I am now waiting to watch series 2.

Great to see David Jason backas Granville in Series 1 of "Still Open All Hours".My son like watching David in most things he's seen.Why not take the time to watch Jason in "Do Not Adjust Your Set", "Hark at Barker", "Six Dates With Barker", "Seven of One", "The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs", "Porridge", "Lucky Feller", "Open All Hours", "A Sharp Intake of Breath", "Only Fools and Horses", "The Darling Buds of May", "Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic" and "Terry Pratchett's Hogfather". All these are available to own on DVD. You will find out that he learnt from the M-mer-mer-Master. You see Jason join Ronnie Barker in some of the work he's done over the years.

Disagree with all the negative comments. I am a huge fan of the original and was prepared to hate this just because Ronnie Barker is irreplaceable. On the contrary however, I love it! Some people are suggesting that David Jason is trying to pretend to be Ronnie Barker but I disagree. He is obviously being Granville, trying to love up to Arkwright's image and that is what makes its even funnier. Overall, I love it most because they are not trying to be something they are not. They have modernized because technology has changed but the essence of Open All Hours is still there and as a big fan of Ronnie Barker and the original series, this is something that I find hugely important and loveable.

Great!!

Lovely series. A better all-round mix of characters than the Open All Hours series with Ronnie Barker - even if I am still a great Ronnie Barker fan. Still what you would call a gentle comedy.

Can only watxh on laptop, I missed the wrong region label. As good as the original.

Very funny series. Watch the original "Open All Hours" from 1973 - 1985, and this continuation will be all the more special and you'll catch a lot of the in jokes, too. I love how they got almost all the original cast. David Jason is a favorite of mine, being the voice of Danger Mouse! The DVD is region 2, so you'll need a region-free DVD player or just use your computer/laptop like we did. I can't wait for the second season to be available for purchase on Amazon.

VERY FUNNY