Open All Hours - s01e05 - Well Catered Funeral

Open All Hours
Season One, Episode Five - 19 Mar. 1976
Arkwright goes with Nurse Gladys to the funeral of his friend Parsloe. He's not keen to leave Granville in charge but it does afford the opportunity to get rid of some unwanted bakery products for the wake. Having rung the shop constantly to ensure that Granville has got things under control he later tells him he should get out more - as this will give Arkwright more opportunity with Nurse Gladys.

[@Happyheretic2308]

The chapel scene with Gladys and Arkwright is a triumph of non-verbal comedy - just perfect!

[@victoriousrufus6747]

It’s a must watch for me every day! Early morning and before sleeping! Living in the fantasy world of Arkwright and Granville!

[@bazza426]

same was born in 1979 love it

[@zamiadams4343]

same here!

[@GodzBookworm]

Me too. Housekeeper caper is my favourite

[@acer4289]

Better than a bedtime story

[@slowdeath8276]

Same here

[@SamuelBlack84]

Reminds me of days past of cold, misty early mornings with the milkman outside Times that will never return, sadly

[@TheJovialBrit]

"Don't upset yourself, Lily... We'll get the buns in!" LOL.

[@xr6lad]

Yea and right under the casket as well.

[@SamuelBlack84]

​@@xr6ladKeep them warm 😂

[@The1GeeDub]

The scene with Mr Wilkinson...absolute classic 😂

[@miroslavtomic7038]

This episode marks guest appearance of John Challis as Bread Man, who later went on to play Boycie on Only Fools and Horses, which of course starred David Jason.

[@stephenduncan3605]

R. I. P. John Challis. Such a sad loss.

[@bolshevikproductions]

@@stephenduncan3605 😂

[@bolshevikproductions]

Not shit Sherlock!! Haha

[@miroslavtomic7038]

@PJ Train Not doubting that, but his appearace is so brief that there are people who barely notice it.

[@nicoler8936]

RIP Boycie

[@bquinn4533]

I’m in awe on the quality of writing, pathos and humour.

[@tim7052]

Ronnie gave us so much laughter and joy: moments when for a short time we could all forget our troubles and revel in his comic genius!! Today, with the crop of reformed drug-addicts and alcoholic "personalities" all being handed out knighoods - purely for surviving their addictions!! - I consider it a national shame that Ronnie Barker was not awarded the knighthood he so richly earned!! Just think, even a gang-land murderer has been awarded an OBE!! How disgusting!!

[@ABMultimediaDesigner]

John Challis, what a legend! So pleased to have met him!

[@pwareham61]

Me too. Lovely chap.

[@jurepotokar6218]

Boycie and Delboy

[@stephenholmes1036]

A gentleman

[@mojododo6363]

Me too. He was a really nice guy

[@davealfrey71]

I live in ohio and classic British comedy is great, are you being served, this show and many more

[@JsoldierEats]

Absolute classic this show I could watch these all over and over again

[@brianhaskard1042]

Great writing by Roy Clarke but the real magic was the Barker/Jason/Baron gel. Great stuff!

[@davebeech236]

Amazing - Boycie AND Vera Duckworth in the same episode!

[@thebrainpimp136]

I discovered this show yesterday. I'm in love

[@tim7052]

Then you'll also love "Porridge" and "Going Straight" - Ronnie Barker was a comic genius!! 30yrs later,I'd watch these shows on DVD with my 4yo old son. Though he couldn't understand complex dialogue, he understood the situation by their interactions and expressions. He always squealed with delight, laughing on cue!! THAT is the acid test of Ronnies' comic genius: it's sheer timelessness!! 👍

[@iansmith8263]

@@tim7052 Nary a thankyou from tha pimp

[@shilohbrutalis582]

And a year later the love is still strong

[@shilohbrutalis582]

@@iansmith8263 You're welcome.

[@rusty5078]

@@iansmith8263 that pimp? Hush your fkn mouth you basement clown

[@davidhewson1234]

Ark and Gran , what a combination of talent . Nurse Gladys propper apolstered. And other actors great to !. One of the gre. gre. gre. greatest series ever. Ta. Dave

[@SpeccyMan]

The word is upholstered.

[@fatumiti6663]

i will never say no if this show come on live all the time

[@lewishannah5936]

You drive like a family planner!!!!...LOL genius!!!

[@Greenpoloboy3]

Made before I was born, but beats anything made today

[@somethingbright4268]

Look at young boycie as the bread man. I love del boy. The best show there ever was.

[@lauradanyal4859]

You can’t beat pickled onions cheese and bread. The best lunch! 😋

[@luisreyes1963]

I'd rather gag on an Eccles Cake. 🤢

[@totalcontrol4205]

I think I have watched each episode a thousand times. I can't sleep without them running in the background and it can sometimes take me a couple of hours to fall asleep.

[@xr6lad]

Same. I run them on the iPad next to the bed at night.

[@ironknobsteelworks4063]

Me too.

[@stoner7144]

I love Arkwright... What a loss!! It was a family occasion to watch you on the PBS SATURDAY.. Rest well Ol Man!

[@shilohbrutalis582]

Thank you for posting these.

[@eisenhertz]

This was the real English comedy,they dont make them any more,like this!

[@Bobt98]

They don’t make programs like this it’s such a shame

[@luisreyes1963]

Far funnier than whatever crap American TV networks pass off as comedy. 😑

[@jamsdodger8970]

Look who the first customer is, Vera Duckworth from Corrie aka Elizabeth Dawn.

[@emilysgottalent4806]

Rest in peace Lynda 🥺

[@paulholley5052]

Always love this show.

[@sudrianliam1199]

That must be the only episode where we don't get an Arkwright closing monologue at the end! XD

[@heatherelliott1538]

@4:37 LITTLE GIRLS VOICE says NOW !! 🎧🎤 👧 she must have been standing by . Or it's an EVP ?? 👻😂. Loved 😍 this show since I was a little girl myself in the 1970s from down Under Australia 🦘

[@CaitlinBrooksMusic]

20:17 The tune was based on "Go To Dark Gethsemane", by James Montgomery (1771-1854). Tune was written by Richard Redhead in 1853. First published in Thomas Cotterill’s Selection of Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship, 9th ed. (London: T. Cadell, 1820 | Fig. 1)

[@sunnieelsey1817]

I wonder the same

[@fikent5252]

Well every day’s a school day !!!!!

[@SamuelBlack84]

I haven't got any change

[@raycycleit8311]

The old till behaved itself for once...🙂

[@The1GeeDub]

Mr Wilkinson cracks me up!! 😂😂😂

[@garyhamilton1688]

Eggs Granville

[@briggsfartblender788]

@@garyhamilton1688 Give 'em up, lad. Turn your back on 'em!

[@aidangamalieltayao3297]

Vis comica, the power to make people laugh.-Asterix, goscinny & uderzo RIP.

[@MsDjessa]

21:22 I forgot about this guy. A very accurate depiction of someone who tries to subdue their own urges while it shines trough same time he goes around judging others. Reminds me of what Fat Tony said in Simpsons when they were watching Itchy and Scratchy. It's funny because it's true. Also that last scene with Arkwright made me burst in laughter. Priceless expression.

[@SamuelBlack84]

With his urges referenced in his conversation, he must secretly be a randy, dirty old geezer

[@RabLavery]

We all have a Mrs Bluit who lives in our streets lol

[@SamuelBlack84]

So did I A really miserable old sow who is unfortunately still with us

[@kennethleigh6384]

Great show yes

[@7MatthewJames]

You should remember him as he was, I do, full of life, full of brown ale (mine mostly)

[@maudknuutinen3112]

Love it!😍

[@samhenwood5746]

Classic British comedy 🎭

[@claireb4259]

Don't you just miss those days when you took your pocket money to the corner shop and the shop keeper, after putting the money in the till from the previous customer, puts his bare hands into the sweets jar and weighs your boiled sweeties on the all purpose scale?

[@happycook6737]

Sounds awesome! By my childhood in the mid 70's to mid 80's things were only sold in packets

[@hana.the.writer5074]

I was only 3 when this first came out so I have no memory of it ever showing on tv but watching it now for it accidentally appeared on my screen p. Maybe because I’m hooked on watching British productions. I’d like to say that I liked it for it’s easygoing but that isn’t the case anymore since I realized it was young Inspector Frost I’m watching. 😃 Amazing how simple he looked back then only to gracefully grow older and show more interesting character and handsomeness! Lovely David Jason. 💞🍃💐

[@tonyleng4894]

Always makes m laugh after all the years. 😅

[@fikent5252]

Oh wow, Liz Dawn before Vera in Coronation Street !!!!

[@joelmontgomery4496]

God bless the bread Man

[@sophieboult310]

When food was local&fresh

[@7MatthewJames]

That’s the fight bell, it means seconds out and let’s get some money in the blue corner

[@carlnapp8673]

Now I know where Nora Batty goes shopping.

[@rorymckernan8502]

Yes. It's the only place she knows, that Compo won't find her.

[@anneroy4560]

At the beginning that sounds / looks like Vera of Jack and Vera ... then Nora Batty!

[@matthewcole1014]

Lady at the beginning was in last of the summer wine.

[@siredith8846]

0:33 Vera wasn’t too bad back then.

[@ristonbuttello8771]

Fcking hell, 😂😂😂 what a character, the church scene made me pee out of laughter

[@eilokeyes2475]

Nice load of customers in all in 1 go a 🚌came through the wall Grandville

[@geraintjones1886]

Arkwright doing a bit of Paul Hardcastle at the beginning.

[@ciaranmac646]

Boycie!!!!!😄

[@ryanmurphy6195]

that's Boyce at 9:00

[@gillius66]

holy crap that is...lol

[@michaelacoulthard3851]

gillius66 "hahahahahahahahahahahaha" , I love Boycie's laugh

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

Boycey & Del in a South Yorks cornershop eh? Who'd've thought it?

[@newhorizons2409]

thats formula 1 the bread man... you drive like a family planner........ nenenever know when you are going to pull out in the middle of the road

[@Sean.Ireland]

Brilliant show and to think Boycie used to be a breadman.

[@ABMultimediaDesigner]

Oh really? I heard that Boycie was a jaffa

[@scotleoqueen704]

Making change from collection plate 😂😂😂😂

[@shirleynitka5030]

people who stutter never do when they sing.

[@claireb4259]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@jodie4747]

You're right I've had a stutter all my life but I've never stuttered while singing.

[@7MatthewJames]

Meaning I usually look like some sort of slovenly old bag?

[@AFV85]

25.03 who noticed it? the trademark spring clip in the till they didn't loose a finger mist have been a blunder when Arkwright closes the till slowly no bother lol

[@ciarandaragh8676]

25:03

[@fjccommish]

:47 The pre recorded, generic Granville out the door.

[@irenedow5665]

All those jobs that are dead end but the store still pays the bills. Most people live like this. Be grateful for what horror could have happened.

[@paulducharme60oo]

Couldn't help but notice the bread and buns are always burnt black on top. Is that normal over there? A baker who did that here in Canada would soon be out of business.

[@NewPhone-pm5pf]

Was the baker delivering bread Boycie?

[@iamcantiaci]

“Oooh I like that blouse you’ve got on there!”

[@dodgeboy9052]

She won't marry him as he already has a wedding ring on

[@silentscreenvamp]

Dodge Boy It looks like a signet ring, which used to be quite common for men to wear, though more usually on the pinkie.

[@luisreyes1963]

A collection plate at a funeral? Must be a British thing. 🙏

[@bhadarsingh9833]

best of British

[@jameshatfield8410]

ENGLISH NOT British

[@Bear-Cohiba-1966]

@@jameshatfield8410 British 🤫

[@sandy16com]

With COVID19 going around I bet half of the state is watching this or aybs they know how do make flims then

[@markgenner1747]

That'll Be No Nine Nine Nine.

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

0:35

[@etsugradlib]

It’s Mrs. Wally Batty!

[@bexonline157]

This particular show I had to see with all the ingredients in it to see as the cast work well all together .

[@swaggerjagg22]

Does the side street to the shop (15:40) look like the intro of coronation street back in the early 70s? When the corrie name came on when the intro tune finished

[@unitedkingdom8111]

Yes it does a bit. Most towns in the UK looked similar then. Especially the residential streets. Corrie is set in Manchester and this was was filmed in Balby, Doncaster. The exterior shots were filmed in Lister Avenue. Arkwright's shop is still there too, although it was always a hairdressers.

[@bradleyhyde8975]

Boycie the breadman

[@divaden47]

Love this episode, but one thing puzzles me. I've never been to a funeral where the collection plate is handed round! Is this a Northern custom???

[@happycook6737]

I've never seen that in the USA either.

[@EditorOfSL]

It generally happens in most churches in the U.K.

[@siredith8846]

20:27 After disarming the mousetrap….

[@rudolfblaha7701]

8:20 delboy and boycey lol

[@sophieboult310]

I remember those legs lol

[@markcaruana4504]

didnt know boyce from fools and horses worked in this

[@gibbonsgriffithsinc7731]

Ahmmmmmmmen 😂

[@JINGLE896]

What is the name of the hymn,that they are singing in church called.?

[@siredith8846]

10:34 sounds like Toad

[@sunnieelsey1817]

What is the name of the hymn they are singing?

[@aubreystanley1124]

Look at that. Butter 16p.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

While I liked Mrs. Featherstone alot, they should have kept Mrs. Blewett as well.

[@reaney1977]

Name me a better comic actor other than RB, I'll wait.

[@iansmith8263]

Jeremy Irons

[@RG-qc8ub]

What was the hymn or song at the funeral

[@mikeking2539]

I never found the part were he is trying to get the tray of buns into the funeral cars funny!

[@iainclark5964]

Ronnie Barker was a great comic actor, Fletch in Porridge was one of the great comic characters. Arkright on the other gand was a thoroughly unpleasant bully, miser and hypocrite.

[@fikent5252]

Eeeee Yorkshire folk wouldn’t have a funeral courtage, they would walk !!!

[@madalinab3665]

Anyone has any suggestions of other old shows just as good as this one please?

[@madalinab3665]

@Sheila Gravely thank you so much!

[@Horsley-Green]

Have you ever had a go at Keeping Up Appearances? Same writer, it’s really good.

[@unitedkingdom8111]

Wow....too many to list, but I will anyway. This will be quite a long one but here goes.... Only Fools and Horses Porridge Fawlty Towers Rising Damp The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Blackadder (every series, although Series 1 not as good as others IMO) One Foot in the Grave Dad's Army 'Allo 'Allo Are You Being Served? Bread Last of the Summer Wine (the longest running sitcom ever I believe) Father Ted Red Dwarf Dinnerladies Steptoe and Son Some Mother's Do 'Ave 'Em My Family Keeping Up Appearances (as already suggested above) The Vicar of Dibley The Thin Blue Line By no means an exhaustive list, many more I could name, but these are some of the BEST!

[@Horsley-Green]

Like the previous poster, my list is really long and I could name more. But for now, here are some of my favourites, How about: Dear John UK (make sure it’s the UK version) Just Good Friends, Citizen Smith, The Piglet Files, Lucky Feller, A Sharp Intake Of Breath, The Green Green Grass (you have to watch Only Fools And Horses before this one), (One that’s really expensive, but good), First Of The Summer Wine, Hark At Barker, Only When I Laugh, Clarance, The Top Secret Life Of Edgar Brings, Watching, And 2 more modern ones you might like: Yonderland (the dvd of the first series is really really expensive so maybe wait until you’ve got a bit of money, series 2, 3, and the Christmas special (only available separately) are relatively cheap). Brilliant modern comedy. And finally, Ghosts (they’ve done 2 series so far, with a third announced. You’re going to love this one!)

[@madalinab3665]

@@unitedkingdom8111 thank you so much!

[@stephenholmes1036]

50/s tailor

[@aubreystanley1124]

666 likes. XD

[@jameslawson7791]

Ar m m m m m men

[@fredflintstoner596]

Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"

[@paulducharme60oo]

Couldn't help but notice the bread and buns are always burnt black on top. Is that normal over there? A baker who did that here in Canada would soon be out of business.