Sir David Jason’s Open All Hours halted after sickness bug hits cast
Filming was forced to be cancelled after cast and crew were struck down
FILMING of hit TV show Open All Hours was forced to be cancelled after the cast and crew were hit by a sickness bug.
It being reported producers had to put the new series on hold after the cast, including its main star Sir David Jason, became ill.
Two scheduled evenings of recording with a live studio audience had to be cancelled due to the bug.
A TV source told The Mirror Online: “It’s very rare to have to cancel a TV recording because there are so many logistical issues - and even more so to cancel twice - but something has been doing the rounds and it was affecting a number of key cast and staff on the show.
“It just wasn’t possible to go ahead without those affected. Obviously the meant rejigging the recording sessions, but the series will still be airing over Christmas and New Year.
“The Christmas special episode is already finished and ready for viewers to enjoy on Boxing Day.
“The rest of the scenes have been caught up on too with the final scenes shot this week after everyone made a full recovery.”
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It’s understood Sir David, 76, was amongst those hit by the winter bug, but that all those affected have now made a full recovery and have returned to finish the series.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Two evening recordings for Still Open All Hours did not take place due to cast illness, and on those days all the required filming happened in the afternoon instead.
“Filming remained on schedule throughout the run and it had no impact on the delivery of the series.”
Cast members Johnny Vegas, Sally Lindsay and Tim Healy are currently working on the third series of Still Open All Hours - a remake of the classic 1970s and 80s show.
They are not believed to have been affected.
The show will be back again on BBC1 over the festive period.
Sir David announced the show’s comeback in September, saying: “I can’t wait for viewers to see the scrapes Granville gets into this series, almost as much as I can’t wait to start filming them.
“Roy Clarke has once again written seven fantastically warm, funny and inventive scripts, full of the humour and eccentric characters that the nation has come to love over the years.”
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