A former Doctor will be ‘in the house’ as Peter Davison joins cast of ‘Darling Buds of May’ reboot

When production begins on The Larkins, the ITV reboot of the classic early 90s comedy drama series, The Darling Buds of May, it will do so with the addition of a former Doctor, Peter Davison to the cast. Davison will play the village vicar alongside Bradley Walsh (Doctor Who) as wheeler dealer Pop Larkin and Joanna Scanlan (Jane Eyre, The Thick […]

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Leaving the world with a lifetime of laughter to enjoy forever, legendary comedy producer/director, Sydney Lotterby, dies at 93

While we never had the good fortune to speak with Sydney for our any of our PBS specials that featured not only the stars of some of the all-time great British comedy series but also focused on the writers and creators of some of the classics of British comedy, it was through the words of John Cleese, Dame Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Jenny Funnell, Moira Brooker, Philip Bretherton, Richard Briers, Michael Crawford, Roy Clarke, David Jason, Karl Howman, Bob Larbey and Frank Thornton that we were immediately schooled on the greatness that was Sydney Lotterby.

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Real-life Arkwright’s in danger of ‘calling it a day’ after 90 years

After 90 years of serving the community of Thornbury in Gloucestershire, the shop that is credited as being the inspiration for the classic British comedy series, Open All Hours, could be forced to shut after complaints that their outdoor display is a health and safety risk for mobility scooters (i.e. goods stacked outside to entice passerby’s to come inside […]

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Arkwright’s to remain open as BBC confirms 5th series

Some 45 years after Sir David Jason first set foot into Arkwright’s convenience store, Still Open All Hours has been commissioned for a 5th series which will air later this year on BBC One. Jason will return in the role of Granville who inherited the shop from the miserly Arkwright, played by Ronnie Barker. Granville was […]

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From the Vault: The 1973 ‘Open All Hours’ pilot

I may be in the minority here, but one of my most favorite British situation comedies of all-time is Open All Hours. Written by Roy Clarke (Last of the Summer Wine, Keeping Up Appearances) and starring comedy legends Ronnie Barker and David Jason, Open All Hours ‘premiered’ in 1973 as a last-minute addition to Barker’s comedy anthology series, Seven […]

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‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ re-boot cast announced

Of all the one-off programs that the BBC has lined up to celebrate the 60th anniversary of comedy on the BBC, Goodnight Sweetheart has to the one I’m most excited about. I thought the original was brilliant. With the original writers and virtually all of the original cast involved, this has potential much like Still Open […]

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List of classic Britcom 21st century reboots continues to grow as part of BBC’s Landmark Sitcom Season

In addition to the previously announced re-makes of Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances and Porridge, the BBC has announced plans to add 21st century versions of Up Pompeii, Hancock’s Half Hour, Steptoe and Son and Till Death Us Do Part. Marking 60 years since Hancock’s Half Hour started on July 6, 1956 on BBC Television, the Landmark Sitcom Season will […]

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