Open All Hours - s02e05 - Arkwright's Mobile Store

Open All Hours
Season Two, Episode Five - 29 Mar. 1981
In order to convince Nurse Gladys that he is a man of enterprise, Arkwright decides that he will invest in a mobile shop, to be driven around by Granville, but, given his customary meanness, the best that he can come up with is an old ice cream van, leading to Granville having a close encounter with some perishables.

[@wotsitjimbob2271]

Id still rather watch this from my youth than the crap on the telly now. Love this program lol

[@MrVavant]

Aye only new show i watch is supernatural or doctor who

[@davidoconnell4100]

Nostalgia is a drug.

[@brianclarke61993]

A great comedy, proper old fashioned joking and humour, they simply don't make them like this anymore, I love all these old series.

[@apexspartan8665]

I was born in 99. My father always put these old programs on TV when i was a kid. Porridge, only fools, never understood the jokes back then but years later i found these i enjoy them. Really is a shame they can't make them like these anymore. I blame the pathetic hyper sensitive morons of my generation. Thankfully my parents raised me to use common sense and my brain.

[@jakechat2716]

In my opinion Granville and Nurse Gladys have a mother and son relationship.

[@susansherlock6934]

That's a Freudian explanation of a mother and son relationship...

[@usmanehsan5943]

Zhhww

[@allangilchrist5938]

I love the line when Granville carries a huge number of boxes out of the shop, Mrs Blewett asks "Was that your Granville under all them boxes?" To which Arkwright replies "Either that or a very bold shoplifter".

[@marcblewitt7097]

its blewitt as ive got same name

[@Henry_Crun]

@@marcblewitt7097 no it's "blewett"in the show. We have people in the town here spelt with an "e"

[@tinamcleod3928]

From Australia 🇦🇺 me too ! My Pappa got me watching this and I miss him terribly… love watching this even tho I’ve seen ever episode Bless ❤

[@backupintheday9710]

These days were the best days.

[@kathleencook4674]

I'm absolutely loving re watching these again , they bring back such fond memories, thank you and keep them coming

[@guitarzan5328]

7:07 "He needs a bit of comfort." *nods head* "Here! Can't you agree without nodding?" *shakes head* 😂🤣💀

[@ARIDFooL]

the golden era of comedy

[@gregsgirl23au]

I love Mrs Bluitt......so full of joy! haha

[@MrVavant]

Even mrs bluitt went through it

[@marcblewitt7097]

@@MrVavant its blewitt

[@Henry_Crun]

@@marcblewitt7097 Blewett not blewitt

[@ericadavenport2039]

​@@Henry_CrunHow about Blueitt?

[@SamuelBlack84]

She blew it 😂

[@BlackAce-zr2ms]

2:38! Lol! There's a double deckbeberr there's a double derder, there's a double debeberr, there's a derdouble oh don't worry it would have gone... 😑 🤣🤣🤣

[@thenerdytiger9306]

But there'll be another one along in a minute

[@martalopez8929]

The chemistry between those two is beyond any comedy I have seen!!!

[@Sean.Ireland]

Absolutely brilliant we always watched this in our house in Ireland, what has happened to UK tv that they can't make comedy gold like this anymore?

[@mickdunne981]

I'm from Ireland also well said 😊

[@np100]

I just found this. I am an American who is a huge fan of British comedy. Please keep them coming. It is often impossible to buy videos that will play in this country.

[@rickwidener7133]

I'm in New York myself, and just like you I love British comedy

[@theculturedthug6609]

Do you mean VHS videos?

[@nigelkthomas9501]

VHS videos are virtually finished with in the UK. DVDs are more common, but the region is a major stumbling block. In the US you need region 1, the UK and most of Europe it’s 2. Beyond that I’ve no idea; but what I do know is that if one region was produced that played everywhere in the world life would so much easier. It’s called common sense and is sadly lacking these days!

[@christineandrews253]

@@nigelkthomas9501 Usually, you can find a method on google to unlock your dvd player, so it will play all regions of dvds. May be a special sequence with the buttons on the remote.

[@infernalstan886]

@@nigelkthomas9501 how is it common sense for companies to sell fewer DVDs than they can as it stands with different regions?

[@montyzumazoom1337]

For me the funniest part is from 10:38 to 12:48. The doorway scene, great acting and timing, I really laughed out loud when she dropped the tea tray then hit him with it!!!

[@GJP1169]

What a great comedy

[@mickdunne981]

David Jason is brilliant 😅😅😅😅

[@thomasdarker2373]

My funniest bit is where arkwright says hey close your mouth there's a double decker bus coming (stuttering the words) then says oh don't bother it'll have gone by now

[@nickphillips3799]

But there’ll be another one along in a minute.

[@SBCBears]

12:44 Neighbor in an upstairs window watching the arrival of the latest addition to the Arkwright Empire.

[@francesbernard2445]

I like that episode of the BBC "Open All Hours" too.

[@johnbarker924]

The burnt out van 😄🤣🤣good little runner 😍😍😍 hilarious

[@Bear-Cohiba-1966]

Love this show

[@bryanmccollum210]

this what comedy is supposed to be. funny.

[@breannamckee4005]

nurse gladys:"arkwright what are you doing you fool?"

[@rbartynh]

Think I've decided after watching these for I don't how many years - this episode is my favourite. But they're all great though. - "You should be able to do it in the dare-dare-dark" - "I'm doing it in the dare-dare-dark" =D

[@lauravevers98]

Who’d have thought Granville and Mavis getting it together and falling in love years later! Lol 💖😁

[@soundcreeps5371]

@Samuel Black would you like a ber ber big diamond or a small der der diamond

[@colin-bp5jd]

😂

[@keemahkeemah5514]

I love all characters good old days 🤔

[@WalterJoergLangbein]

....and the well written scripts, of course!

[@MrVavant]

Bam arkwright: are you sposed to do that. Without a anaesthetic

[@lorithomas4868]

“I’m a non-smoker myself but I smoke them”😂

[@YorkshireNutte]

"That's no place to p-poke a shopkeeper!"

[@spookygirl7761]

As a Native American. I am sorry. But this I am still learning, you might say. I do really like the show I came across. I am enthrall with the Scottish already. Man, what a wonderful landscape & way of life, and the accent. I love it from here (NM). 😌💖

[@fikent5252]

This is Yorkshire, north of England. Not Scotland !!!!

[@spookygirl7761]

@@fikent5252 sorry. 😐

[@fikent5252]

@@spookygirl7761 oh please don’t apologise, we have many different accents in England !!!!!!

[@spookygirl7761]

@@fikent5252 cool. We do here as well. Navajo accent. I have it. I have my American language but as I talk, my acquaintances, notice a difference. In my speech. Lol. And know I am Navajo. haha. I get no push overs. My Tribe and the Pueblo Indians dominate this area. ( I am sorry. I'll search the Great Britain AND Scots or Scottish people. Accurately). Good day. 👋😊

[@lizharris9019]

GREAT show Love It

[@stoner7144]

Poor Granville!!!💔😎

[@hana.the.writer5074]

Awe.. poor POOR lad! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Thank goodness it ain’t real! 😅 But honestly, I laughed my soul out! 😆😆😆

[@mohammaddavoudian7897]

I think the first customer with cigarettes appeared in one of the Rising Damp episodes as Rigsby's brother. The one episode where Rigsby and Miss Jones almost married ( come on in, the water's lovely ). I hope I'm not wrong.

[@lauradanyal4859]

Granville and mavis are right for each other!💖❤️

[@SamuelBlack84]

Imagine Mavis at the wedding when the vicar asks if she'll take Granville 😂

[@MegaBau3r]

My what a weapon in unscrupulous hands hahaha priceless

[@MillwallDave75]

I love the acting abilities of sir David Jason in all of his rolls, but Granville is the best in my opinion as you start to see the Brilliant Career unfolding...

[@hana.the.writer5074]

Orders to be delivered at that time of the morning?? That is strange! Did they place orders in the last hour of the night? 🤭 Come to think of it, I would’ve done it if I needed a few things for breakfast! 🤭🤭

[@davebournemouth]

I hope Granville took his 11p back out of the till when Arkwright wasn't looking.as Granville paid for it and Arkwright ate it. !

[@brentjarrett6829]

Granville get ya cloth 😂

[@lauradanyal4859]

You can’t blame nurse Gladys for not marrying Arkwright, he has a good heart 💓 but he is to tight with money 💰 and she would just off been stuck in that shop!

[@cov9290]

Samuel Black y but he’s too tight with his money

[@danw1374]

Arkwright is so tight you would need a spanner to get a 50p piece out of his hand lol

[@loucazin543]

23:19 hand pushes c-c-comestible out the w-w-w-window

[@neilhamilton2621]

Can't beat this

[@FredPilcher]

Every time I watch these I think how much better they'd be without the canned laughter.

[@yakk13]

25:28 mavis: you’re a nice person Granville Granville: are you sure? Lol

[@annescholey6546]

Donnys not changed that much at the Balby end apart from the disappearance of Yorkshire Main from the horizon.

[@Captain1diot]

I feel there's a continuity error at 23:00. As Granville is driving the van around for a second time to show Nurse Gladys, the headlights change whilst he's driving it.

[@Tony-hx2fj]

good catch

[@redacted629]

£3.29 for a bag of groceries back then. Damn near £30.29 now!

[@BritishComedyUK69]

genius

[@malkycampbell5390]

Pizzazz Incorperated Yeah his name is Albert E Arkwright.

[@crabbyoldgamer3028]

Ah, the canned opening footage.

[@francesbernard2445]

😀Well at least poor 'Granville' only had to paint letters on the window at the time on that set instead of actually climbing the ladder while experiencing sleep deprivation. Good thing he wasn't having to prune a very tall tree at the time instead eh? Something which a lot of people in mature downtown neighborhoods end up doing for a living. Like a poor soul who almost lost his life after he had climbed up her very tall tall tree according to the next arborist a neighbor of mine had hired to do so. He said that she was terrified the same thing might happen to him too next. So funny the character Granville in this BBC comedy series wasn't behaving more grateful to the character Arkwright; who was having to experience sleep deprivation too; for that.

[@gmatthews737]

Great comedy!n

[@Peter-pv8xx]

It just dawned on me, did the writer Roy Clarke have wardrobe save or purchase several of those ugly sweaters like Granville is wearing? I knew I'd seen it elsewhere, Onslow wears the same one in keeping up appearances and come to think of it, I think Compo or Cleggy or one of the characters in last of the summer wine also wore one if I'm not mistaken.

[@jonahlevin67]

I've always been a little confused about something. Each episode begins with either Granville or Arkwright up a ladder cleaning or writing on the shop front glass. The second scene is the Milk being delivered in the pre-dawn morning. Does that mean that the opening scene on every episode is taking place in the late afternoon of the preceding day? When I was younger, I thought the opening scene was early in the morning, but the next scene, with the milk float, is actually the real morning, right? The ending scenes (dark, P.M.), with Arkwright considering the day's trading and storyline, must take place after 8pm when the shop shuts from 8pm to 6am. Is that correct? I'm thinking so hard that I just spilt my coffee. "Granville, fffetch yer cloth".

[@MegalodonNZ]

The opening scene takes place the previous day before Granville's collection of the milk bottles the following morning. And you're correct, the end scene is when Arkwright's closing up at 9pm. Granville is usually out on the town at the time or in bed.

[@jonahlevin67]

@@MegalodonNZ Ah, thank you for clearing that up for me. I'm a tad thick at times. Now I can just enjoy this great show.

[@muskndusk]

I've always thought all the opening scenes: the window signage and the milk delivery, took place on the morning of the day the episode is about. Otherwise, what Granville is painting on the windows doesn't make sense. ?

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

But they do have breakfast later on after the early morning rush probably and they could be doing it after breakfast. The thing I've wondered is since Arkwright wants to sell more, why when Mavis can't decide between things he never thought of telling her to just buy both.

[@xr6lad]

I really wish now Granville had gotten on with one off those girls. In retrospect he does start to come across as a suppressed personality.

[@Medietos]

Yes, but being so positive, healthy and imaginative, all he needs is a good self-help group like AA, or a good coach. And of course it is not entirely realistic; living with the elderly stingy miser and being motherless should have made him more subdued and unsure of himself. Arkright is also not believable for his joviality and humour, heshould be more anxious and unsure too. And a real Gladys would never get engaged with him. I find it all a bit exxaggerated, and althoughthis is one of the very best episodes I-ve seen , it gets boring that they never develop an change.It is more a farce than comedy, even thogh it has depth.

[@john-iy3tr]

This is what's wrong with the country if only there where more shops like this left the single shop owner can not compete with the monopolisation of shops today

[@ishtiaqrazamushtaq6363]

MichaelKingsfordGray I think the comment was geared to shops like Tesco’s pricing out the small person.

[@Medietos]

Yes, but if the shop-keeper was not interested in or dependent on making a lot of profit, it'd work. And/or if (s)he would offer something extra, like a cafë corner? I'm sure that many people of today who miss that jovial personal touch humanity would gladly shop there for the atmosphere and well-being it gave.

[@milaz4380]

I love that fuckng till!

[@excelents]

20:06 Which part of the street is Arkwright looking up as he's stood outside the front of the shop as in many other episodes it shows that end of the street to be something of a dead end / industrial unit.

[@versacegang4140]

Excelsior Entertainments the opposite side (that Nurse Gladys lives on) to the right. I think you are thinking of to the left.

[@excelents]

It could be but Arkwright turns his head to his left when he pulls the cord indicating he and Granville are looking that way etc.

[@Tony-hx2fj]

what is fun , check out google earth and see the building . 15 Lister Avenue, Doncaster England.

[@johnskelton3674]

can anyone tell me what kind of van that is. year and make and model would be very much helpful

[@jontisdall6248]

@johnskelton3674. Bedford CA van circa 1960, the ice cream bodywork was most likely coachbuilt for the purpose. There were many traditional coachbuilders at the time. Most likely aluminium panels fixed to a wooden frame, likely ash. I'm no expert and am happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

[@Classictv90s]

hahaha 2:40-2:45

[@SamuelBlack84]

No woke, no cancel culture, no social media, no trans culture, nobody staring at their phones and complaining that everything offends them I would give ANYTHING to go back to those days and return to happier times 😢

[@robertdonnelly385]

am i wrong or in the very early episodes mrs blewits husband was dead?

[@arbjful]

Why is there a separate bell for night emergencies??

[@Roulandus-le-Fartere]

That bell rings upstairs in her bedroom to ensure she is awakened.

[@Medietos]

Bcz such are the only ones allowed to disturb her sleep.

[@andrewcao6111]

Bang crash killed I am borken eggs

[@Sjmby95]

That's a typical 50s street

[@christianaspel3857]

True Blood comedy

[@Medietos]

No wonder the dog got nervous sickness from such silly, disrespectful, sick handling. Arkwright is surprisingly honest about Mrs Blewit about her ways though. maybe he senses who can and who can't take it, and keeping his customers coming is his 1st priority.

[@fikent5252]

That might make sense to you, but it doesn’t to me ? What exactly are you trying to say ?

[@mickdunne981]

A very mean man

[@greasy9]

H purchased Ikea later in life

[@martinharris1840]

I never get how the windows in the back room work. Given that it's an end of terrace house, aren't they looking into next door's room?

[@spongebobsquaretits]

not all terraces are back to back, the window might look onto the neighbours garden. If it was real that is, it is a tv show after all

[@jamiesonfamily1201]

Agreed

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

20:19 🎵🎵🎵

[@oraclex2976]

Political correctness has killed comedy.

[@irishboy_pa]

This person some 🧀 for his whine

[@joedent3323]

​@@irishboy_patw@ t.

[@LeftIsBest001]

No, old conservatives whinging has.

[@jasonwright7969]

Does he ever find out who his father is

[@Tony-hx2fj]

no

[@teresabullman4511]

Do you have any more like these videos like are you being served

[@suspensiondude]

This brilliant comedy would never fly in this woke world! When women were women and men were men....now you can identify as pretty much ANYTHING.

[@peterktori4957]

MAKE OXFORD’ STREET. ONE. GAINT. ARKWRIGHTS. 24hr. SUPERSTORE

[@pizzazzincorporated4583]

Notice we never know Arkwright’s first name...

[@composimonite8505]

I think it was Albert. Could be wrong but think it has been mentioned.

[@WalterJoergLangbein]

Albert. It's Albert.

[@WalterJoergLangbein]

Albert it is.

[@johnrider3749]

Loved open all hours but not keen on the new series because it just simply doesn't work without Ronnie Barker, ,

[@joedent3323]

😮

[@keepgoing1973]

Mavis lol

[@joedent3323]

13:29

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

No more these days... Long bygone true british high class comedy....

[@leslievincent7607]

Watch Disney was your night late again

[@fjccommish]

How could Granville's last name be Arkwright?

[@twinsonic]

His mother was not married and Arkwright's sister..simple

[@antcobain772]

I hate nosy old sh..ts every were you go always there even in 2019 too bord in there old age

[@mickdunne981]

Sorry but women can be nasty too

[@cinemadics5722]

Love this but I hate David Jason in this so not funny in this but I love everything else he did

[@gkewley42]

Even back then it was anachronistic. All the corner shops in England were Indian. The English shopkeeper was the first to be replaced.

[@Zootsuit1]

Do gooders changed it all. Because they didnt like it