SIR David Jason has reprised one of his most iconic roles for the final time – after begging TV bosses to revive the show.
The actor, 85, has played multiple beloved characters over his decades-long career.
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He notably starred as Derek “Del Boy” Trotter in Only Fools and Horses.
Another notable performance was as Granville in Open All Hours and sequel, Still Open All Hours.
Sir David reportedly reprised Granville to film a scene earlier this year – which is said to be his final outing as the character.
Written by show creator Roy Clarke, it features Granville back in the familiar setting of Arkwright’s shop.
Sir David said: “It’s so good to be back. I played Granville for over half my life and so this show holds a very special place in my heart.”
The scene will be part of Open All Hours: Inside Out, a 90 minute feature-length retrospective celebrating the beloved sitcom.
Open All Hours starred Ronnie Barker as miserly Arkwright, with Granville being his more gentle nephew.
The programme ran for four series on the BBC, spanning 1976 to 1985.
Sequel show Still Open All Hours ran from 2013 to 2019, with Sir David returning as Granville.
In 2023, it was announced that the series had been officially cancelled.
However, Sir David still hoped it could still return as the prep work was already done.
He said on BBC Breakfast last year: “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.”
The legendary actor continued by issuing a plea to bosses to bring back Still Open All Hours.
Sir David explained: “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.”
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 Kay 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.
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