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 in colour alongside several tribute shows with BBC2 dedicating a night to the show with the only few remaining actors appearing in the episode.
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.
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.
Actor / actress !! Character !! Duration | ||
Frank Thornton 1921- | Captain Stephen Peacock | Pilot – ''Series 10 |
Mollie Sugden 1922-2009 | Mrs. Betty Slocombe | |
John Inman 1935-2007 | Mr. Wilberforce Claybourne Humphries & Mrs Humphries | |
Wendy Richard 1943-2009 | Miss Shirley Brahms | |
Nicholas Smith (actor) | Nicholas Smith 1934- | Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold |
Arthur Brough 1905-1978 | Mr. Ernest Grainger | |
Trevor Bannister 1934-2011 | Mr. Dick/James Lucas | |
Harold Bennett 1899-1981 | Young Mr. Grace | |
Larry Martyn 1934-1994 | Mr. Mash | |
Stephanie Reeve | Stephanie Gathercole | Mr. Rumbold's Secretary |
Nina Francis | Miss Ainsworth | |
Moira Foot | Miss Thorpe | |
Arthur English 1919-1995 | Mr. Beverley/Harry Harman | |
Penny Irving 1955- | Miss Bakewell/Miss Nickelson (Movie) | |
James Hayter (actor) | James Hayter 1907-1983 | Mr. Percival Tebbs |
Vivienne Johnson | Nurse | |
Alfie Bass 1916-1987 | Mr. Harry Goldberg | |
Mike Berry (actor) | Mike Berry 1942- | Mr. Bert Spooner |
Milo Sperber 1911-1992 | Mr. Grossman | |
Benny Lee 1916-1995 | Mr. Klein | |
Kenneth Waller 1927-2000 | Old Mr. Grace | |
Debbie Linden 1961-1997 | Secretary | |
Louise Burton | Secretary | |
Candy Davis 1962- | Miss Belfridge | |
Diana King (actress) | Diana King 1918-1986Diana Lambert | Mrs. Peacock |
Doremy Vernon | Canteen Manageress | |
Keith Hodiak | Seymour | |
Pat Astley | Mr. Grace's Nurse |
Arthur Brough died just before filming of series 6 commenced. Between 2007–2011, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden and Trevor Bannister all died.
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.
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?".
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.
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 | |||
DVD region code>Region 1 | DVD region code>Region 2 | DVD region code>Region 4 | ||||||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 1 (1973)>Complete Series 1 | 1 | 1972 in British television | 6 | 27 August 2002 | 25 July 2005 | 2 March 2006 | ||
Complete Series 2 | 1 | 5 | 27 August 2002 | 19 September 2005 | 8 June 2006 | — | ||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 3 (1975)>Complete Series 3 | 2 | 9 | 27 August 2002 | 30 January 2006 | 5 October 2006 | |||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 4 (1976)>Complete Series 4 | 1 | 7 | 27 August 2002 | 27 March 2006 | 7 March 2007 | |||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 5 (1977)>Complete Series 5 | 1 | 7 | 27 August 2002 | 5 June 2006 | 6 June 2007 | — | ||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 6 (1978)>Complete Series 6 | 1 | 6 | 30 September 2003 | 28 August 2006 | 3 October 2007 | |||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 7 (1979)>Complete Series 7 | 1 | 8 | 30 September 2003 | 25 August 2008 | 6 March 2008 | |||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 8 (1981)>Complete Series 8 | 1 | 8 | 30 September 2003 | 7 September 2009 | 7 August 2008 | |||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 9 (1983)>Complete Series 9 | 1 | 6 | 30 September 2003 | 24 May 2010 | 2 October 2008 | — | ||
List of Are You Being Served? episodes#Series 10 (1985)>Complete Series 10 | 1 | 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 200311 August 2009 | 13 September 2010 | 1 April 2010 | Extra Disc with Profile Specials on Molly Sugden, Wendy Richards etc. |
Category:1972 in British television Category:1972 British television programme debuts Category:1985 British television programme endings Category:1970s British television series Category:1980s British television series * Category:BBC television sitcoms Category:British LGBT-related television programmes Category:Comedy Playhouse Category:David Croft sitcoms Category:English-language television series Category:Television shows set in London
cs:Are You Being Served? de:Are You Being Served? he:מישהו מטפל בך? nl:Are You Being Served? pl:Are You Being Served? sh:Are You Being Served?This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.
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