Tim Healy joins Still Open All Hours

Tim Healy has joined the cast of Still Open All Hours, as production starts on the first series.

Healy, probably best known for his portrayal of Dennis in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, will play love sick Gastric.

Principal photography has begun at a converted hair salon in Balby in Doncaster, with interior scenes scheduled to be filmed in front of a live studio audience at London’s Teddington Studios in October and November.

Sir David Jason returns as Granville, the role he played alongside Ronnie Barker in the original sitcom which ran between 1976 and 1985.

Barker died in 2005, but Jason and writer Roy Clarke decided to reunite for a special show, which was broadcast on Boxing Day last year.

When the show was generally positively received, and attracted over 9 million viewers, the BBC commissioned a series of six episodes.

James Baxter will reprise his role as Granville’s son Leroy, with veterans Lynda Baron and Maggie Ollerenshaw returning as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel and Mavis.

Johnny Vegas will reprise his role as pessimist Eric.

The transmission date is yet to be confirmed, but is expected to start in November.