Don't talk to him. He doesn't even work here.

[Roger]

Two years before Eli's first appearance in LOTSW, this old lady was doing a good Eli impression in Open All Hours episode The Housekeeper Caper, stumbling about, bumping into things and talking to a mop.

 

[captain clutterbuck]

Customer!!! I'm not a Customer I'm here on behalf of Mrs Dowdsall who is sadly confined to her bed and will only require one small brown loaf [ Panic ensues on Arkwright's face knowing fine well he is now down on his sales of small brown loaves!] priceless . When I first saw this the lady has a look of a more mature Joan Sims .