Ronnie Barker same year, determined not to be remembered only as Fletcher, Barker opted to end "Porridge" after three series and instead focused on the second pilot "Open All Hours", alongside David Jason. Barker starred as Arkwright, a money-grabbing, stuttering shopkeeper. Arkwright's stutter was not in the script; Barker was inspired to use it by Melvyn's performance and use of a stutter in a 1955 play the two performed at the Palace Theatre called "Hot Water". "Open All Hours" aired one series in 1976 on BBC Two but was not renewed due to low ratings. As a result, Barker backtracked on his
David Jason his sense of timing. The programme ended in 1969, and the character then appeared for a time in the Thames Television children's programme "Magpie". Jason was going to be cast in the role of Lance Corporal Jones in the Jimmy Perry and David Croft BBC comedy "Dad's Army". Croft had been very impressed with the actor and knew that he had the ability to play a man much older than his real age. However, Bill Cotton over-ruled him, casting Clive Dunn. Jason appeared in the BBC comedy series "Hugh and I", which starred Hugh Lloyd and Terry Scott as two