A former director general of the BBC has praised Doncaster sitcom writer Sir Roy Clarke after a two year campaign to see him knighted paid off in this year’s New Year’s Honours list.

Sir Roy, who penned Doncaster-based sitcom Open All Hours as well as Last of The Summer Wine and Keeping Up Appearances, was bestowed the honour by King Charles.

It followed a campaign launched by fans of the writer who also wrote corner shop sitcom follow-up Still Open All Hours, which like its predecessor, starred Sir David Jason and was filmed in Balby.

Lord Birt, Director-General of the BBC between 1992 and 2000 and a seconder of the nomination, said: “Roy gave us great joy and laughter for decades, and it is wonderful to see his extraordinary contribution recognised. Bravo!”

Doncaster sitcom writing legend Sir Roy Clarke.

placeholder image — Doncaster sitcom writing legend Sir Roy Clarke.

Sir Roy received his knighthood for services to entertainment, including the 1970s and 80s cornershop sitcom classic, which also featured comedy legend Ronnie Barker as penny-pinching shopkeeper Albert Arkwright.

Sir Roy, born in 1930 and now 95, was born in Austerfield and before becoming a writer, he was a teacher, a policeman, a taxi driver and a salesman, in addition to being a soldier in the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army.

In the late 1960s, Clarke wrote thrillers for BBC Radio. The first in January 1968, The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb, featured Peter Coke, Ben Kingsley, Bob Grant and Anne Stallybrass.

A couple of months later, Clarke wrote The Events at Black Tor, which was a police thriller which also featured Bob Grant, along with James Beck.

Clarke was the sole writer of the long-running Last of the Summer Wine, which at its peak had an audience of over 18 million viewers. It featured Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Brian Wilde, Kathy Staff and Dame Thora Hird in leading roles.

While Clarke was not involved in casting, he wrote the character named Clegg with Sallis specifically in mind.

He created the sitcom Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt from an idea by its star Bill Maynard and wrote the pilot episode, but left to be replaced by Alan Plater when the programme went to series.

In 1994, he was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Doncaster; the highest honour the Council can bestow. In 2002, he received an OBE for his contribution to British comedy and was awarded the lifetime achievement award at the 2010 British Comedy Awards.