Sir David Jason has expressed his sorrow over the decline of the British high street, lamenting that 'small shops are hanging on by the skin of their teeth' as delivery apps and online shopping continue to rise. The actor, best known for his role as Del Boy in the hit BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, criticised the proliferation of 'blokes on pushbikes' who have even 'outmanoeuvred' supermarkets as consumers increasingly shift to digital purchasing.
Reflections on a Bygone Era
Jason, now 86, was reminiscing about his time playing Granville Arkwright, the corner shop assistant in the classic series Open All Hours alongside the late Ronnie Barker during the 1970s and 1980s. In those days, he noted, Britain was more community-oriented, and life often revolved around the local shop. However, he warned that we are now 'slowly moving away from the shop in the high street – and that's very sad.'
The Impact of Delivery Apps
The Only Fools and Horses star elaborated: 'Small shops are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. [The rise of delivery apps] has changed the way we shop. Even supermarkets are beginning to be outmanoeuvred by it. These days you can have a meal for half a dozen people delivered by some bloke on a pushbike. You can have beds delivered to your door overnight. You can phone it up and it's there in the morning. The whole dynamic is slowly moving away from the shop in the high street. And that's very sad.'
Return to Open All Hours
In September of last year, it was announced that Sir David would reprise his role as Granville Arkwright for a special television episode. Titled Open All Hours: Inside Out, the 90-minute programme is scheduled to air at 8pm on Thursday, May 7. The actor will appear in a short scene written by original creator Roy Clarke.
Speaking about the new show, 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. There are countless memories and stories about this show, and I am thrilled to be able to share those with everyone.'
The Legacy of Open All Hours
Open All Hours first aired on the BBC in 1973 as a pilot episode before being commissioned for a full series. It went on to produce four full series, and despite only 26 episodes being made, they continue to be enjoyed by fans today. Sir David is the only actor to have appeared in every episode. In 2013, the show was revived under the new title Still Open All Hours, with Granville Arkwright taking over the shop. It ran for six years before being cancelled in 2019.
Del Boy Makes a Surprise Return
In May of last year, Sir David delighted fans by unexpectedly reprising his role as Del Boy during an appearance on Chris Moyles's Radio X show. While discussing how he used to get into character as the brash South London market trader, he cheekily adopted Del Boy's iconic voice once again. The host eagerly asked: 'Can I say hello to Del Boy?' In Del Boy's accent, Sir David humorously responded: 'Yeah, go on then, pal.' The studio erupted in excitement as Chris Moyles replied: 'That is just amazing!'
