Sir David Jason pleads with BBC bosses to bring back hit sitcom and insists ‘the show is written’
SIR David Jason issued a plea to BBC bosses to bring back his hit sitcom despite it being off screen for years because the script is written and the cast are “ready to go.”
Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, Sir David said there is one show he’d like to revisit so he could “tie up” loose ends.
David, 84, is best known for playing Derek “Del Boy” Trotter in the hit BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses – and although David admitted that sometimes it feels like viewers only remember him as the iconic wheeler dealer, he has played a number of memorable characters. One being Granville in Open All Hours and its spin-off series Still Open All Hours.
This is one of his favourite roles in his career, but it remains unfinished.
While speaking to Jon Kay for a segment of BBC Breakfast, which aired this morning (Tuesday 8 October), David shared his hopes of returning Still Open All Hours for one more series.
In 2019, the BBC commissioned a seventh series of the comedy, but it ended up being shelved because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Then, in 2023, it was announced that the series had been officially cancelled, but David still hopes it will still return as the prep work has already been done.
The sitcom’s premise focuses on the life of a much older Granville, who now runs his late uncle’s grocery shop with the assistance of his son, continuing to sell products at higher prices alongside seeking to be with his love interest.
“Roy Clarke who was the original writer of Still Open All Hour and Open all hours, by the way, had already half-written or three-quarters-written the whole series for the last series because it’s the one where Granville and Mavis – wavy Mavi – they get married and all of the other characters complete their storylines,” David explained.
This series would be the ultimate payoff to long-time fans of the Open All Hours franchise, which began back in 1976.
The original series ended in 1985, but returned in the form of sequel series Still Open All Hours in 2013. Six series of the show aired on the BBC before it was shelved.
Speaking to Jon, David added: “Because a lot of storylines were left a bit open. It was cancelled originally, as you said, because of Covid, and they thought this would really be lovely to wind it all up.
“We all gave it the green light, it went off to the BBC, and we’re still waiting.”
Issuing a plea to BBC bosses, he added: “So if anybody’s at the BBC wanting a series that audiences like, we’ve got it ready – ready to go and it’s off and running. It would be great.”
David admitted to Jon that he really wants to finish the series off and tie it all together.
“It’s also lovely to get back with the cast that we had such good fun with,” he concluded.
Only Fools and Horses' most memorable episodes
The beloved sitcom only aired for seven series but is still adored to this date - here are fans' most memorable scenes from the BBC hit...
- Jolly Boys’ Outing – The humorous episode was filled with disaster and also romance. It saw Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad leave Peckham for a day trip to Margate. However, their coach explodes, Rodney is arrested and Del Boy reunites with Raquel.
- Time on their Hands – The episode sees the Trotters reflect on their life in South London after finally becoming millionaires. Airing in 1996, it pulled in an incredible 24million viewers.
- A Touch of Glass – This unforgettable episode sees Del Boy and his chandelier cleaning service. In hilarious scenes, he and Rodney accidentally drop a chandelier, sending it crashing to the floor.
- Stage Fright – Raquel performs with Tony Angelino while pregnant to perform a duet – but she’s unaware he has a speech impediment.
- Yuppy Love – Derek attempts to transform himself into a high-flyer, wearing a stripped shirt and red braces. It also sees Del fall through the bar, while Rodney meets Cassandra for the first time.
- Mother Nature’s Son – Del Boy inherits an allotment from his grandad, but it’s contaminated by a yellow substance. The Peckham Spring Water business is then born – but it’s actually just tap water from Nelson Mandela House.
- Heroes and Villains – Del Boy and Rodney dress up as Batman and Robin for Harry Malcolm’s party. However, Boycie forgot to mention Harry died, and it had become a wake!
- To Hull and Back – Del Boy is convinced to smuggle diamonds from The Netherlands. PC Roy Slater intercepts them before he’s later arrested for corruption. It ends with Del throwing his £15k over the balcony thinking it was fake – when it was in fact real!
- The Russians are Coming – The threat of nuclear war looms over Peckham so the Trotters decide to batten down the hatches. They build a DIY war shelter – on the top of Mandela House.
- The Unlucky Winner Is – Rodney wins a holiday abroad after Del Boy entered him into a painting competition. However, when he lands in Spain Rodney discovers it’s a prize for children and must pretend he’s a 14-year-old child.
During his interview on Breakfast, David also spoke about his upcoming memoir, This Time Next Year, which among many topics chronicles his relationship with his adult daughter Abi, who only recently entered his life.
He explained that he received a letter that took him completely by surprise.
“It was from a daughter that I didn’t know I had,” he said.
David continued: “It was a tremendous shock and we’ve since been meeting and getting together.
“We’re fine, we’re lovely. We’re getting to know each other, which takes a bit of time, no she’s great and it’s very rewarding.
David has been enjoying getting to know his long-lost daughter, explaining that he never knew about her until recently.
He said: “It was a girlfriend and that part, I never knew about it.
“I went to work in the theatre and the girlfriend went off to work in her theatre and that was the end of it.”
Meanwhile, David revealed the support he’d received since the revelation.
He added: “My wife has been a tremendous help in this direction and she’s been extremely supportive and without that I don’t think I could have managed.
“Because of Gill’s reaction and her ability to understand it’s been a remarkable achievement on all our behalves. It’s positive,” he added.
Still Open All Hours is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.