Granville set to reopen all hours

He will be reunited with actress Lynda Baron, who played unlikely sex symbol nurse Gladys Emmanuel, in the half-hour Christmas special set in the small grocer’s shop, based at Balby, Doncaster.

Sir David starred with the late comic Ronnie Barker – who played stammering Albert Arkwright – in the much-loved show that ran from 1973 to 1985.

The script has been written by Roy Clarke, who penned the original as well as Last Of The Summer Wine and Keeping Up Appearances.

In this one-off, an older Granville has taken over the corner shop which is still Still Open All Hours

Sir David, 73, said: “I am sure there is an audience out there who would like to see what Granville has been getting up to in the corner shop. It will be a great family show for Christmas and a fitting tribute to the legacy of Arkwright.”

Clarke said: “This has been fun – a great opportunity to work with David Jason again and to suggest how things at that corner shop might look today.”

Maggie Ollerenshaw will reprise her role as Mavis, whom she played in seven of the original 26 episodes.

Then, Sir David played the put-upon helper and delivery boy, called the “young lad”, despite being 30 when he first appeared.