Are You Being Served?

This article is about the original British sitcom. For other uses, see Are You Being Served? (disambiguation).

Are You Being Served?
Title card of pilot (2010)
Genre	Sitcom
Running time	30 minutes
Creator(s)	Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft
Producer(s)	David Croft Harold Snoad Bob Spiers Martin Shardlow
Executive producer(s)	David Croft
Starring	Mollie Sugden John Inman Trevor Bannister Frank Thornton Arthur Brough Wendy Richard Nicholas Smith Larry Martyn Harold Bennett Arthur English Penny Irving Vivienne Johnson James Hayter Alfie Bass Mike Berry Kenneth Waller Doremy Vernon Candy Davis
Theme music composer	Ronnie Hazlehurst
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
Original channel	BBC1
Original run	8 September 1972 – 1 April 1985
No. of series	10
No. of episodes	69 (List of episodes)
Related shows	Are You Being Served? (film) Are You Being Served? (Australian TV series) Beane's of Boston Grace & Favour

Are You Being Served? is a British sitcom broadcast from 1972 to 1985. It was set in the ladies' and gentlemen's clothing departments of Grace Brothers, a large, fictional London department store. It was written mainly by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, with contributions by Michael Knowles and John Chapman. The idea for the show came from Lloyd's brief period in the early 1950s working at Simpsons of Piccadilly, a clothing store which traded for over 60 years until 1999.

The inspiration for the store has also been credited to Rossiters of Paignton department store from the time Lloyd and Croft spent there, and the former Clements of Watford.

Over the course of its 13-year run, only Frank Thornton, Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Wendy Richard and Nicholas Smith appeared in all 69 episodes, and all later featured in the sequel television series, Grace & Favour (also known as Are You Being Served? Again!). In 2004, Are You Being Served? came twentieth in "Britain's Best Sitcom".

In January 2010 the BBC screened the show's pilot programme (seen in colour for the first time since the early 1970s) alongside several tribute shows to the late actors who appeared in the series with BBC2 dedicating an entire night to the show.

Characteristics

Are You Being Served? featured humour based on sexual innuendo, misunderstandings, mistaken identity and occasional slapstick. In addition, there were sight gags generated by outrageous costumes which the characters were sometimes required to wear for store promotions, and gaudy store displays frequently featuring malfunctioning robotic mannequins. The show is remembered for its prolific use of double entendres.

The main humorous base of the series was a merciless parody of the British class system. This permeated almost every interaction and was especially evident in the conversations between the maintenance men and the ostensibly higher-class store personnel. The episodes rarely left the store, and to parody the stereotype of the British class system, characters rarely addressed each other by their first names, even after work, opting for their formal titled names ("Mr", "Mrs", "Miss", or even "Captain"). When they did address each other by their first names, it was almost always for a comical effect.

Main characters

Main article: List of Are You Being Served? characters

• Mrs. Betty Slocombe, head of the ladies' department. She is known for her changing hair colour and conversations about her cat, which she always refers to as her pussy.
• Mr. Wilberforce Claybourne Humphries, an effeminate, mincing, camp man who lives with his mother.
• Captain Stephen Peacock, the haughty floorwalker who purportedly fought in the North Africa Campaign of World War II but was actually in the Service Corps and never saw combat.
• Miss Shirley Brahms, a young, attractive, working-class, cockney-speaking junior assistant to Mrs. Slocombe.
• Mr. Ernest Grainger, a 40-year veteran of Grace Brothers who often fell asleep on the job.
• Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold, the autocratic, obsequious (to Young Mr. Grace), easily confused department manager.
• Mr. Dick Lucas, the young, penniless, womanising junior salesman.
• Young Mr. Grace, the very old, rich but stingy store owner, surrounded by attractive young women.
• Old Mr. Grace, Young Mr. Grace's older brother who eventually replaced him at the store, when Young Mr. Grace retired.
• Mr. Beverly Harman and Mr. Mash, the maintenance men who installed mechanised display units in store and were often scolded by Captain Peacock for being on the floor during opening hours.
• Mr. Percival Tebbs, Mr Grainger's replacement. He retired after only one year in the men's department.
• Mr. Harry Goldberg, Mr Tebb's replacement. Originally the junior salesman he was promoted after showing to be a master salesman.
• Mr. Grossman, an expert shoe salesman, who replaced Mr. Goldberg as head of the men's department.
• Mr. Klein, head of the men's department after Mr. Grossman.
• Mr. Bert Spooner, replaced Mr. Lucas and was similar to him in many ways.

Cast

Cast of Are You Being Served?

Original cast of 1972-75. (From left): Mollie Sugden, Wendy Richard, Trevor Bannister, Nicholas Smith, Larry Martyn, Arthur Brough, John Inman, and Frank Thornton.

Cast of late 1981. (left to right): (top) Arthur English, Wendy Richard, Benny Lee, Mike Berry; (bottom) Nicholas Smith, Frank Thornton, Mollie Sugden, Vivienne Johnson, John Inman, Kenneth Waller, Louise Burton

Actor / actress — Character — Duration

Main characters

• Frank Thornton — Captain Stephen Peacock — Pilot–Series 10
• Mollie Sugden — Mrs. Betty Slocombe — Pilot–Series 10
• John Inman — Mr. Wilberforce Claybourne Humphries & Mrs Humphries — Pilot–Series 10
• Wendy Richard — Miss Shirley Brahms — Pilot–Series 10
• Nicholas Smith — Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold — Pilot–Series 10
• Arthur Brough — Mr. Ernest Grainger — Pilot–Series 5
• Trevor Bannister — Mr. Dick/James Lucas — Pilot–Series 7
• Larry Martyn — Mr. Mash — Pilot–Series 3
• Arthur English — Mr. Beverley/Harry Harman — Series 4–Series 10
• James Hayter — Mr. Percival Tebbs — Series 6 and The 1978 Special
• Alfie Bass — Mr. Harry Goldberg — Series 7–The 1979 Special
• Mike Berry — Mr. Bert Spooner — Series 8–Series 10

Secondary characters

• Harold Bennett — Young Mr. Grace — Pilot–Series 8 Episode 1 and the 1981 Special
• Stephanie Gathercole — Mr. Rumbold's Secretary — Pilot–Series 2
• Nina Francis — Miss Ainsworth — Series 2–Series 3
• Moira Foot — Miss Thorpe — Series 3
• Penny Irving — Miss Bakewell/Miss Nickelson (Movie) — Series 4–The 1979 Special
• Vivienne Johnson — Nurse — Series 6–The 1981 Special
• Milo Sperber — Mr. Grossman — Series 8 Episodes 1–Episode 4
• Benny Lee — Mr. Klein — Series 8 Episodes 5–Episode 7 & The 1981 Special
• Kenneth Waller — Old Mr. Grace — Series 8 and The 1981 Special
• Debbie Linden — Secretary — Series 8 Episodes 1–Episode 4
• Louise Burton — Secretary — Series 8 Episodes 4–The 1981 Special
• Candy Davis — Miss Belfridge — Series 9–Series 10
• Diana King and Diana Lambert — Mrs. Peacock — Series 4, 8 and 9 (King); Series 10 (Lambert)
• Doremy Vernon — Canteen Manageress — 1975 Special–Series 10
• Keith Hodiak — Seymour — Series Ten
• Pat Astley — Mr. Grace's Nurse — Series 5 Uncredited

^1 Arthur Brough died just before filming of series 6 commenced.

Episodes

Main article: List of Are You Being Served? episodes

Are You Being Served? was first broadcast on 8 September 1972 on the BBC, in the form of a pilot for the series Comedy Playhouse. It only aired when it did because of free airtime created by the Munich massacre during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The pilot was reshown at the beginning of the first series on 14 March 1973. That first series was aired in the same timeslot as Coronation Street on ITV, and consequently received relatively little attention. However, repeats shown later in the year were much more successful.

Although the pilot was produced in colour, the videotape was wiped in the 1970s leaving only a 16mm black-and-white film telerecording. In 2009 the pilot episode was restored to full colour using the colour recovery technique previously used for the Dad's Army episode Room at the Bottom. The restored version was first shown on BBC2 on 1 January 2010 as part of an 'Are You Being Served' special night. It is not currently available on any DVD release yet.

The show went on to receive huge audiences, with later episodes attracting up to 22 million viewers. After 10 series, 69 episodes and a 13-year run, Are You Being Served? came to an end on 1 April 1985.

In addition, the cast performed in character for a stage sketch on the BBC1 programme Variety on 19 June 1976.

Goofs

1. Throughout the series, the entire staff of the floor takes breaks together. That would mean that the entire floor would be closed due to lack of employees during break times. Indeed, one episode specifically deals with this problem. Mr. Grace feels that they are losing too much business during this hour, and pushes the lunch break back to later in the afternoon, leading the staff to hit the roof. Many stores have quiet periods in mid morning and mid afternoon, which would allow staff to have coffee breaks. Besides which, these breaks were not always taken at the same time, as shown in the episode Coffee Break, When Mr Lucas and Mr Humphries are at the counter, but Mr Grainger is on his break.
2. Throughout the series Mrs. Slocombe's first name changes numerous times. It is Betty in some, Margaret in another, Mary Elizabeth in one and finally Rachel in a few. As far as is known, her name actually only changed once (Margaret), but officially her name is as follows: Mary Elizabeth Jennifer Rachel Yiddel Abergavenny Slocombe, thereby the Betty (nickname for Elizabeth), Rachel, and Mary Elizabeth. Her full name is sung in an episode where they celebrate what is thought to be her 50th birthday, but according to her, she is only 46.
3. How is it that EVERYBODY on the floor gets to have lunch at the same time? Many stores close for lunch time (a half hour, or full hour). This is particularly true for stores that have a "canteen". They don't want to cook all day, so they serve all meals at once.
4. Constantly changing which floor the department store is located on - This occurs several times throughout the series. It is one of many inconsistencies in the show, and becomes a fun bit of trivia for astute fans. #1 - In the "Are You Being Served" movie, Mr. Rumbold says they are located on the 2nd floor when speaking to Mr. Grace. #2 - In S5E3 "Founder's Day", Mr. Lucas says it's located on the 1st floor while introducing Mr. Grainger. #3 - In S5E5 "The Takeover", Captain Peacock says they are located on the 3rd floor while in Mr. Rumbold's office.

Theme song

The theme song, written by the show's co-writer David Croft and composer Ronnie Hazlehurst, consists of a lift girl (whose voice was provided by Stephanie Gathercole) announcing each floor over the musique concrète sounds of a cash register (which basically serves as the only percussion instrument) and a simple musical accompaniment.

A remix of the theme was released in 1996 by a dance act calling itself "Grace Brothers", and featured samples of John Inman and Frank Thornton.

There is a homage to the theme song in the Ladytron song "Paco!" from the album "604", and New Zealand band Minuit's "I hate guns". A version of the theme song is featured on the album The Ape Of Naples by the experimental music group Coil. The theme song has also been covered by Australian band Regurgitator on their 1999 album ...art. Pop singer Jamelia's song "Window Shopping" (from her 2006 album Walk with Me) begins with a sample of the familiar cash register sound effect as well as Mrs. Slocombe's voice inquiring, "Good morning, Mr Grainger; are you free?".

Reception

During its run, the series attracted some mild criticism for its reliance on sexual stereotypes and double entendres, including jokes about Mrs. Slocombe's "pussy" (cat) e.g. Mrs. Slocombe: "Animals are very psychic; the least sign of danger and my pussy's hair stands on end". John Inman's camp portrayal of Mr. Humphries as an effeminate man could easily be misinterpreted by viewers. Inman pointed out that Mr. Humphries' true sexual orientation was never explicitly stated in the series, and David Croft said in an interview that the character was not homosexual, but "just a mother's boy". With a broad mixture of stereotypical gay characteristics, some apparent heterosexual attractions, and always picking up on ambiguous words such as queen, gay, and camp, viewers were left wondering about Mr. Humphries' sexual orientation. In an episode of the spin-off Grace & Favour, the character is further described as neither a "woman's man" nor a "man's man" and as being "in limbo".

The characters (Mr. Humphries especially) sometimes broke the fourth wall for comical effect.

Film

Main article: Are You Being Served? (film)

In 1977, an Are You Being Served? film was released using the same characters and cast. It was set in the fictional resort of Costa Plonka, in Spain. The film was an adaptation of the very successful stage version of the show, which played at the Winter Gardens Theatre, Blackpool over the summer of 1976.

Other countries

The series has become very popular in the United States on PBS stations and on BBC America, as well as in many Commonwealth nations around the world. A US adaptation pilot episode called Beane's of Boston aired on 5 May 1979 on CBS, but it didn't make it through a full season. An Australian version, also called Are You Being Served?, ran for sixteen episodes from 1980 to 1981. It starred John Inman as Mr. Humphries, June Bronhill as a character similar to Mrs. Slocombe, and Shane Bourne. The store's name was changed to Bone Brothers, as Grace Brothers was the name of an actual department store chain in Australia. The show was aired in Canada during the late night on YTV.

Grace & Favour

Main article: Grace & Favour

In 1992, most of the original cast reunited for a spin-off show called Grace & Favour. This series was called Are You Being Served? Again! in the United States and Canada.

Merchandise

Seven early episodes were novelised for a book, written by Jeremy Lloyd, called Are You Being Served? – Camping In and other Fiascos. This was written in 1976, and republished in 1997 by KQED Books. The seven episodes featured are Camping In, Up Captain Peacock, Wedding Bells, His and Hers, Coffee Morning, The Hand of Fate and The Clock.

In 1995, KQED Books published Are You Being Served – The Inside Story by Adrian Rigelsford, Anthony Brown, and Geoff Tibbals, with a foreword by Jeremy Lloyd, and sub-titled: "The Inside Story of Britain's Funniest – and Public Television's Favorite – Comedy Series". In 212 pages, the book's six chapters cover: The Cast of Characters, Behind the Scenes, The Episodes, The Spin-offs, Trivia Quiz, and Glossary. ISBN 0-912333-04-9.

In 1999, I'm Free! The Complete Are You Being Served?, a guide to the series, was published by Orion Books. It was written by Richard Webber, with contributions from David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd.

A board game was also produced in the 1970s. Players moved round a board resembling the shop floor to purchase one item from each of the four counters and leave the store, before their opponents and without going over budget.

DVD releases

All Ten Series, including both the black & white and colour versions of the pilot episode and all five Christmas specials from those years, are now available on DVD in the UK (Region 2). Are You Being Served: the Movie was released in 2002.

All ten series, as well as both series of Grace & Favour (in packaging titled Are You Being Served? Again!) and the film are available on DVD in Region 1 (North America).

All ten series, as well as both series of Grace & Favour (in correctly-titled packaging) and the film have been released in Australia (Region 4).

A DVD titled Are You Being Served? – Best of The Early Years and Are You Being Served? Christmas Specials have also been released.

DVD title		Discs	Year	Ep. #	DVD release			Special episodes
					Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
	Complete Series 1	1	1972–1973	6	27 August 2002	25 July 2005	2 March 2006	The Pilot B&W version
	Complete Series 2	1	1974	5	27 August 2002	19 September 2005	8 June 2006	—
	Complete Series 3	2	1975	9	27 August 2002	30 January 2006	5 October 2006	1975 Christmas Special
	Complete Series 4	1	1976	7	27 August 2002	27 March 2006	7 March 2007	1976 Christmas Special
	Complete Series 5	1	1977	7	27 August 2002	5 June 2006	6 June 2007	—
	Complete Series 6	1	1978	6	30 September 2003	28 August 2006	3 October 2007	1978 Christmas Special
	Complete Series 7	1	1979	8	30 September 2003	25 August 2008	6 March 2008	1979 Christmas Special
	Complete Series 8	1	1981	8	30 September 2003	7 September 2009	7 August 2008	1981 Christmas Special
	Complete Series 9	1	1983	6	30 September 2003	24 May 2010	2 October 2008	—
	Complete Series 10	1	1984	7	30 September 2003	13 September 2010	5 March 2009	—
	Complete Series 1–5	6	1972–1977	34	27 August 2002	2 October 2006	TBA	Same as individual releases
	Complete Series 6–10	5	1978–1985	35	30 September 2003	TBA	TBA	Same as individual releases
	Complete Series 1–10	11	1972–1985	69	7 September 2003 11 August 2009	13 September 2010	1 April 2010	Extra Disc with Profile Specials on Molly Sugden, Wendy Richards etc.

See also

• List of films based on British sitcoms

External links

• Are You Being Served? at BBC Online
• Are You Being Served? at the British Film Institute
• Are You Being Served? at the British Comedy Guide
• Are You Being Served? at the BFI's Screenonline
• Are You Being Served? at the Internet Movie Database
• Are You Being Served? Virtual Video Vault
• Are You Being Served? Forever
• The Grace Brothers' Multimedia Department
• Are You Being Served? Central