Doncaster Features: Famous Doncastrian TV: Open All Hours
Open All Hours
70's sitcom filmed in Helen Ibbotson's Beautique Hair Salon at 15 Lister Avenue in Balby, Arkwright (Ronnie Barker) stuttered through as green & veg shop keeper and Granville (David Jason) was his long suffering errand boy. The house where Nurse Gladys Emmanuel lived was 34 Lister Avenue, just across the road from the shop. After the first series, the owner of number 34 made changes to the exterior, so filming was switched to number 32, the house next door. The inside shots were done in a BBC studio.
Here's a video clip:
John Ramsbottom adds: "This meant that any sequences where characters were seen both inside and outside the 'shop' had to be filmed as part of two separate sessions but the characters had to be dressed in exactly the same way as it was all supposedly happening in sequence! I paid a visit to the real shop when I was in the area. It was interesting to see that the inside area is far smaller than was depicted in the programme!"
Helen Simmons adds: "The sign outside says 'Brooke Bond Tea', in black type on a white panel and is an advert, not a street sign as previously reported."
Find out more about what Ronnie Barker's take on Open All Hours was from his autobiography.
