How Old Was David Jason In Open All Hours

Let’s talk about a question that’s been keeping the nation’s nanas up at night: How old was David Jason in Open All Hours? Spoiler alert: it’s weirder and funnier than you think. This isn’t just a boring fact check—it’s a time-traveling, wig-wearing mystery.

The Surprising Start

When that iconic theme music first kicked off in 1976, David Jason was 36 years old. Yes, really. He played Granville, the put-upon nephew, who was meant to be a young, awkward lad. So the actor was pushing forty, playing a guy who still lived with his uncle.

And his uncle? That was the legendary Ronnie Barker as Arkwright. Barker was 47 at the time—only 11 years older than his on-screen nephew. In real life, they were practically brothers. On screen, they felt like two generations apart.

The Magic of Make-Believe

David Jason’s secret weapon? A bowl haircut and a permanently worried expression. He looked like a boy who’d just been told he’d have to work for free until the 1990s. That haircut aged him down by a decade, at least.

He also hunched his shoulders and spoke in a nervous mumble. It’s amazing what a bad posture and a tragic cardigan can do. By the time the credits rolled, you’d swear he was 26, not 36.

The Time Warp of the Corner Shop

Here’s where it gets bonkers. The show ran for just three series between 1976 and 1985. But each episode felt like it existed in a frozen, dusty timeline. Granville never seemed to age, while the rest of Britain got punk music and mobile phones.

David Jason on the Open All Hours special - BBC News

By the final episode in 1985, David Jason was 45 years old. He was still playing the same frazzled shop assistant. Meanwhile, real 45-year-olds were managing banks and driving Volvos. Granville was still scraping cornflakes off the floor.

The Grand Return

Then came the resurrection in 2013: Still Open All Hours. David Jason was 73 years old. He’d gone from a nervous young man to a grandfatherly figure—without ever actually leaving the shop. Talk about a career in retail.

The new show played with the joke. Granville was now the boss, running the shop like his uncle did. It was like watching your dad try to imitate your granddad. Delightfully weird.

Open All Hours - BBC1 sitcom - British Comedy Guide

Why Do We Care So Much?

Because it’s a time capsule. Open All Hours isn’t about ages; it’s about timelessness. The show is a warm, biscuit-tin escape, where nothing changes except the price of Trebor mints. David Jason’s age became irrelevant.

And honestly, isn’t it fun to imagine a 36-year-old man pretending to be a teenaged shop boy? It’s the same energy as when 30-year-olds play high schoolers in American TV. Except with more Yorkshire accents and less acne.

One Last Quirky Fact

David Jason actually broke his finger during one episode. Did he complain? Nope. He just bandaged it and kept stacking tins of beans. That’s the spirit of Granville: stoic, slightly sad, and oddly inspiring.

So next time you watch an episode, do the math. He’s older than your dad, yet younger than your nan’s spice rack. And that’s what makes it absolutely brilliant. Now go make a cup of tea and marvel at the magic of TV.