Winning ways of TV grocer Arkwright

Grocer Arkwright in Open All Hours is the nation's favourite TV shopkeeper, a survey has found.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th May 2010, 00:23 BST
Updated 14th May 2010, 00:23 BST

The miserly Arkwright, played by Ronnie Barker, won over viewers with his "old-fashioned values" and the way he knew his customers, according to the poll for consumer watchdog Which?

Ronnie Corbett took second place for his portrayal of the hardware shopkeeper in the Two Ronnies Four Candles sketch.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, from The Simpsons, beat Coronation Street's Norris Cole and Mrs Slocombe and Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served? to come third.

The poll also found that customers were most irritated by staff talking to each other instead of serving (70 per cent), long queues (68 per cent) and unknowledgeable staff (61 per cent).

Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: "We know people hate poor service and we always encourage shoppers to vote with their feet and take their money elsewhere if businesses don't treat them well."