10 Reasons Why Open All Hours Is Fantastically Funny

5. 'Your Mum' Jokes

Was Granville's father a Hungarian? It's one of the few things he thinks he knows about his dad. Orphaned when his mother died, he gets little sympathy from his wicked uncle Arkwright either. Open All Hours is packed to the rafters with gags about the libidinous activities that resulted in the conception of one of its leading characters. "I'd like to have known my father," says Granville in one episode. "Yes, s-s-so would your mother," is the rapier sharp response given by Arkwright. These and similar one-liners are a mainstay of the series. Clarke gave his own explanation for how his unmarried mother jokes were a surprise source of comedy:

"Cold on paper and reading the scripts, some of the comments you think are brutal, but somehow they are in a context and delivered in a manner which takes all the pain out of them and makes you laugh."

And that context, whatever it is, is key to this particular part of the show. It reveals an irreverent side to Arkwright's character as he speaks ill of his deceased half-sister. This also evokes playground humour. Adult viewers may think this a little childish, but we dare you to try not to laugh.