Are You Being Served? (1972–1985) User Reviews

One of my favorite British comedies

[buddhadan-1 · 9/10 · 11 September 2006]

Another poster here managed to remember in more detail than I probably could had I seen an episode yesterday, but I shall strive to provide you my opinion with the fuzzy memory that serves me still.

Let me start by saying that as an avid fan of British comedies for as far back as I can remember, 'Are you being served?' counts to me as one of the best ever created.

As a young child, I would sneak from my room late at night to enjoy the ribald comedy of Benny Hill, then later in life the silliness of Monty Python and then even later, the more serious humor of Good neighbors and butterflies.

Are you being served is by far one of the funniest overall continued series that I've ever seen, whether it's American or British, mostly due to the nature of the characters and the unique situation in which they all work. The one liners and the double entendres help to make this better than most other shows of it's time and even now.

If you've never seen this series, give a few of them a try and I'm sure that you'll fall instantly in love as I did.

One of the best

[studioAT · 8/10 · 17 December 2010]

Are You Being Served is one of the best sitcoms of all time. From fabulous actors to the great lines each series of this show has at least one magic moment.

It's pure pantomime humour that can be enjoyed by the whole family and it is because of this that the show is timeless.

The catchphrases come thick and fast and the exploits of Mr Humphries and co continue to bring smiles to peoples faces across the world.

It was about the sixth series when this show started to fade with the numerous cast changes not helping. The major loss was Trevor Bannister as Mr Lucas who was just fantastic in this show. After he left the show began to sink.

Overall a great show that is well worth watching.

If you happen to be "free", spend some time at Grace Brothers! And I am unanimous in that!

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 20 March 2015]

Twenty five years ago, a former roommate (who was from London) introduced me to this classic British sitcom which he happened to discover was on PBS. Being in customer service at the time, I loved its sometimes acidic view of life behind the counter. It was also a crash course in British slang which became a part of my lingo and over the years has made me seem a bit of an eccentric. The regular characters here were certainly all a bit eccentric, but in quite different ways. From store owner Young Mr. Grace (the delightfully adorable and seemingly much older Harold Bennett) all the way down to the cockney handymen who were constantly being ordered off the floor by the imperious Captain Peacock, resulting in a delightful insult at his expense, these characters became a part of my TV history memories, as memorable to me as Lucy and Ethel, Laverne and Shirley, all the Golden Girls & Designing Women, and many, many others.

The heart and soul of the show and oft' scene stealers were Mollie Sugden's Mrs. Betty Slocum, the "Get Stuffed!" spouting senior clerk "for the ladies' department" who was always complaining about something in regards to her "cat" (utilizing a word which gave quite a different impression of what she was talking about) and John Inman's very gay Mr. Humphries who would answer the phone in a very butch manner ("Men's Wear") then respond to Captain Peacock's "Are You Free?" with a very high pitched "I'm Free!". The characters argued quite a bit as most co-workers who work together for a long time do, but it is obvious that they couldn't imagine working with anybody else. Wendy Richard's Miss Brahams is a "dead common" working class girl anxious to be a little more high class, but when she took elocution lessons, she ended up sounding like she was making fun of an upper class customer. Mr. Lucas over in Men's Wear had fun flirting with Miss Brahams in a very un-PC way and insulting Mrs. Slocum in an even more delicious manner. The gay references from the other characters towards Mr. Humphreys were never homophobic, and came off often as endearing like a friendly little slap on the butt rather than something you'd compare to a hate crime.

Then, there was "Jug Ears", Mr. Rumbolt, the prim and proper department manager who often got confused as to the on floor misunderstandings and usually made it out to be something more than it was. Trying to be a peacemaker, he usually ended up causing more trouble. Then, when Mr. Grace made suggestions for the department, "Jug Ears" would turn the suggestion into a big production which usually put the staff in campy costumes and over the top situations that kept the audiences in stitches. One example was a store commercial with Mrs. Slocum wearing over-sized eye lashes that kept getting stuck and Mr. Rumbolt wearing the wrong wig which seemed more appropriate for Liza Minnelli than the character he was playing. The show did utilize American references so that when it did come to American T.V., it ended up being as acceptable to them as it was to the BBC audiences.

Replacements for various actors were necessary (usually due to the older cast member's sudden deaths) but they weren't as successful as the original. "Old Mr. Grace" didn't have the cute quality of "Young Mr. Grace", and Mr. Spooner just seemed a pale imitation of Trevor Bannister's Mr. Lucas. Fortunately, the majority of the cast remained the same and the quality of the writing never changed its patterns. 40 years later, the series is as fresh as ever and proves to us American audiences that the humor of the British doesn't have to be droll or "stiff upper lip" and that they can get as down and dirty (in fact even dirtier) than the unfortunate political correctness of American TV has taken over the years. Censorship didn't stop this show from being delightfully witty and even with its slightly obscene insinuations, there is absolutely nothing to offend anybody.

What can I Say, I LOVE this show!

[jdarryls · 16 June 2001]

I love this show so very much! Ever since I first had the honour of viewing this show for the first time, I have loved it. I have seen each episode more times then I can remember, and yet still every night I watch them again. I have grown to know ALL the characters personally, and feel like I am a part of what feels very much like real life at Grace Brother's Department Store. What the characters said, and everything that happened, I know as a very pleasant dream. Dive into the joy of the working staff of this wonderful series, and you will not want to leave. Listen, and you can almost hear the wonderful Mr. Humpries's saying "I'm Free!"

On another note, I must just give a huge thank you to everybody was ever involved in Are You Being Served?, and Are You Being Served, Again?. Because of this show, I grew to love many other wonderful BritComs (British comedies). Thank you to all cast members, crew, the very men who brought the show to TV, extras, etc. To those who have passed on, rest in peace brothers and sisters. You may have departed this world, but I for one will never forget you, and the wonderful contributions you made. To the fictional staff of Grace Bros., thank you for allowing us a just a peek into you lives. I just wish I did not have to leave. Thanks all, your work is remembered certainly by me, and millions of fans past, present and definately future. Grace Bros. will continue to be open, as long as someone keeps watching and remembers.

Wonderful show!

[bravesfan35 · 10/10 · 23 March 2009]

I don't understand how anyone could bash this show. Yeah, there were a lot of sexual references in it, but it's not near as bad as some of the shows we see on TV these days. There are other Brit-coms like Monty Python that show actual nudity. AYBS does not. I could never get tired of this show. Frankly, I've been a fan of it for years and I hate that it's not currently on our local PBS station. Thankfully, I have taped episodes from when it did air so that if I feel like watching a real comedy, I can just pop in a videotape of AYBS and laugh away. This is an outstanding comedy and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a good laugh. To all the people who have left nice comments about the show, all I can say to you is "You've all done very well."

When Britain did make the best sitcoms!!!

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 12 April 2011]

I'm now 30 years of age and grew up watching Allo Allo, 2.4 Children, Only Fools and Horses, One foot in the Grave etc, all of which I have wonderful nostalgic feelings for. I've always felt Brits make the funniest sitcoms, maybe i have an inbuilt British humour. Only in the last 2 years i bought series one of this to see what all the fuss was about, without any shadow of a doubt this is the funniest sitcom ever, no matter what mood i'm in i can put one of these on and laugh out loud, to the people who moan that the jokes were repeated i'd like to remind them of how many years this ran for and just how successful it was and still is. The movie was horrible, why did they make it!! However the sitcom all the way through was hilarious, Mollie and John i think made the series but all the cast were wonderful, especially young Mr Grace. There was an innocence about the series hidden deep amongst all the double entendres. High points for me were from the episodes Camping in, Oh what a tangled web and Friends and Neighbours. Maybe the show dipped a bit at series 9, but series 10 was a class act.

"Are You Being Served?" Serves!

[keepthemagic · 10/10 · 18 November 2008]

"Are You Being Served?" is one of the best British comedies to hit American television screens! The show is about workers in a department store and their everyday lives. Every show the workers have adventures from being stuck in the store due to bad weather to one of them becoming a Pop Star for a day. "Are You Being Served" does not have any hidden messages like the average comedy it just tells about life in a plain old department store. What makes the show unique is the personalities of the workers; where in this store the customer is not always right. While the show ended in 1982 the show remains an icon due to the simple story lines which lead to hilarious side-splitting misunderstandings. "Are You Being Served?" is a must see for people who enjoy comedy. If you are looking for laughter, the search is over with "Are You Being Served."

THE British Comedy

[joliefille411 · 10/10 · 7 February 2010]

I was pondering which review would be worthy of being my 50th IMDb review and AYBS won by a landslide. Not only is it the definitive field guide to the world of double entendres, it's my personal favourite TV show- British or otherwise. If you are looking for your first foray into British comedy, you'll find no better, and if you only see one, this had better be it.

Despite its long run and casting changes, not always for the better mind you, AYBS was one show I can never say outran it's welcome. It remains as fresh and hilarious as the first day of taping, capturing perfectly the working atmosphere (in no small ways can I pick out similarities to my own stint in retail) while seamlessly introducing the absurdly hilarious. Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft were BRILLIANT writers for the show.

The original lineup will always remain the favorite. In that time, I felt the characters were more equally favored, and I loved the caustic Mr. Mash. As changes ensued, there were highlights and detriments, including Miss Brahms coming more into her own, and the most obvious unwanted replacements of Mr. Grainger and Mr. Lucas. I never was a fan of Mr. Spooner, but I don't think he killed the show as more rabid purists may attest. Either way, I was never presented with an episode that couldn't make me laugh and forget the oppressions of real life.

One last note, the musique concrete theme song was really outstanding as a hallmark of the show: very iconic.

So this is my poor tribute to a fantastic show. If anything, I hope the very least I can do is inspire someone to look it up and become a new fan of this brilliant classic

Are You Free?

[deanofrpps · 7/10 · 12 August 2007]

Synopsis: The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a major department store.

Welcome to Grace Brothers an old fashioned department store with mature, career commissioned salespeople and outdated manners on the High Street in London. The pilot opens from the perspective of a new person on staff Dick Lucas (Trevor Bannister) watches in amazement at the rites of a store struggling in its adherence to flimsy pretenses and outworn rituals of a full service department store.

As Mr Lucas strives to maintain a passable level, the store's archaic pretenses are crumbling around him. The need to economize sales space has forced the Gentlemen's department to yield space to the Ladies. A bitter civil war is fought across the sales floor as ladies and gents fight to control the center display. Standing in the middle is Captain Peacock (Frank Thornton) who tries to moderate disputes while he keeps an eye on Miss Brahms (Wendy Richards), a comely lass despite her cockney background. Struggling to learn the ropes against the background of the civil war, Mr Lucas also has his eyes on Miss Brahms.

The original concept of the show was centered around handsome Trevor Bannister who plays the crude but lovable Dick Lucas. Perpetually late for work, Lucas invents the most curious excuses with an almost American sounding hum-a-hum-a in his voice. Whatever ingenuity Lucas has he devotes to avoiding work.

Supervisors might have given Lucas the sack, but a discharge for Lucas might bring down the plutocrats themselves. Mr Rumboldt (Nicholas Smith) tells the pompous floorwalker Captain Peacock (Frank Thorton), that upper management will question the strata of overseers. Old fashioned stores ran on bureaucratic inertia through sub-fiefdoms within the store's structure. Instead of cutting away unnecessary pencil pushers, stores like Grace Brothers held ridiculous meetings on sales strategies and silly sales pitches like dressing staffs up - - in one episode as Germans and in another as --- gasp --- Americans. Said Mr Granger(Arthur Borough), the staid Churchwellian senior man, "My wife accused me of playing - - hokey."

Insight into the life of a salesperson was a major factor in the popularity of Are You Being Served in Long Island's mall culture where many come of age working in shops. Many of the episodes parody the life of a department store clerk (shop's assistant): The Junior Grace Brothers advertisement for a junior brings in Mr. Goldberg the former proprietor of a small tailor shop; Mrs. Slocombe, Sr. Person Mrs Slocombe wins appointment as Department chief Mr. Rumbold's temporary replacement but finds once she is given the position, she prefers the sales floor; Forward Mr. Grainger Mr. Grainger, as a temporary substitute for Mr. Rumbold, turns into an intolerable tyrant; No Sale The staff sabotages a plan to give the store earlier hours; The Clock Mr. Grainger at age 65 faces forced retirement; Up Captain Peacock Mr Granger bristles with envy when Captain Peacock is awarded executive privileges in lieu of a promotion.

As the series developed Bannister's character the devilishly charming slouch Mr. Lucas lost ground to the simple direct appeal of Humphries played by John Inman. In the pilot John Inman played Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries, with an aloofness bordering upon snooty arrogance. While Mr. Humphries prefers to leave his private life in a haze, he is never ambivalent in his loyalty to the store and his co-workers, often finding expression in the husky voice of a sharp, but sensitive wit. On the floor, Mr Humphreys is smartly attired, but off duty he encourages continued speculation by assuming the most outrageous costumes.

John Inman was so identified with the character of Mr Humphreys that when put on display for doting Long Island matrons Inman had to remind his adoring interviewer that though like Mr Humphreys he had once worked in a shop, he was not Mr Humphreys. A bit taken aback by American familiarity, Mr Inman cautioned the interviewer, "I am the happily married father of two boys."

In a sequel never shown in America: "Are you being served in Australia" John Inman continues the antics as head of the mens-wear department at Bone Brothers of Australia.

But while Are You Being Served may strike a responsive chord in Long Island's mall culture, Are You Being Served belongs to an England where in the words of Mr Humphreys "the red on the map is not the countries we own but the countries we owe." It's an England plagued by labor unrest, particularly transport strikes which leave employees stranded at work. Yet the English, Captain Peacock reassuringly counsels, all remain stalwart even when they have to compromise.

Now which of the characters could be Americans?

The decision on this surprises even me: the cockney lass Miss Brahms played by Wendy Richards, the slouch Mr Lucas played by Trevor Bannister, and the maintenance man Mr Harmon played by Arthur English sufficiently display certain American qualities: seeking to better oneself (Miss Brahms), evading personal responsibility (Mr Lucas), and raking in unnecessary OT (Mr Harmon). However Mr Harry Goldberg (Alfie Bass) is the real American. We could move him from the High Street in London to any American town without the slightest change.

Why not Mr Humphreys? Mr Humphreys (John Inman) simply has too much class.

One of the best

[josephsanders33 · 10/10 · 22 March 2009]

I have to say that this has to be one of the best British Comedies I have ever seen. The humor is fascinating and yet so down to earth. I enjoy watching Ms. Slocumb just to see what color her hair is going to be next, which was one of the claim to fame of the show. Also the innuendos that Mr. Humphries may or may not be gay, is he or isn't he? There are so many good things to say about this series. I am currently in the process of buying the complete series on DVD along with Are You Being Served Again and Are you Being Served: The Movie. Though I have watched this series often and for a long time, the one's I watched were usually on PBS in the United States and I know that it is impossible for me to have seen every single episode. I also watched many of the episodes of Are You Being Served Again and thought they too were great, I only wish it had lasted much longer than 3 seasons. I can hardly wait to own all of them on DVD so that I can continue to watch them anytime I choose and actually see "every" episode. If you haven't seen these yet, they are well worth the watch and the purchase. I suggest you buy the DVD's so that you and future generations can enjoy a fun filled, clean, and wonderful British Comedy.

Other British Sitcoms I enjoy and that I would suggest checking out...

Keeping up Appearances, Open All Hours, The Vicar of Dibley, Waiting for God, As Time Goes By, and Fawlty Towers

Sort of funny, but for the most part it's outdated

[tiffanie_says_stay_in_your_lane · 6/10 · 5 August 2022]

As much of a fan as I am of British humor, I honestly could never get into this show. I usually watched if it happened to be on TV, but it never actually made me laugh. The premise is a group of people, mixture of young and old, who work in a London department store. Except for Mr. Humphries and Mrs. Slocumb, none of the other characters are humorous. The jokes mostly revolved around sex. Every episode had a female mannequin who did some kind of obscene trick. Mr. Lucas was always saying something off-color to Miss Brahms about her appearance (it was portrayed as funny, but would be considered sexual harassment in this day and age). The other women often had on short, tight dresses. Maybe that's why it didn't make me laugh all that much. I like British comedies that are sarcastic and witty. Are You Being Served is just sophomoric humor and women are treated like objects. Somewhat mediocre if you ask me. Plus I'm not interested in shows about people at work. Like The Office and Superstore. Nothing in the show happens outside of the characters' workplace. How boring! And they're always working a job that's relatively low on the totem pole. But the focus of the show isn't the job, it's the characters' quirky personalities. Whatever, I still find those types of shows to be dull. I used to work in a library. A day never went by without drama and bizarre situations thanks to the customers. Now that would make for an entertaining show.

Things are not always what they seem...

[bakerd1-1 · 10/10 · 30 January 2008]

And this show goes to prove that. Now you know that a sitcom is bound to have a fair share of oddball characters. This one has plenty of them. Enter, the staff of Great Britain's "Grace Brother's" Department store--perhaps the wackiest lot on the isle. Grace Brothers spares no expense to bring you goofy promotions, mucked-up display units, and bizarre situations. Then there are the employees--they aren't as normal as they seem either. For example there's the aloof Captain Peacock, who has quite the practice on the side-often with secretaries. Then there is Mrs. Slocomb, senior saleswoman, who has a cat, which she refers to constantly by another name. Mr. Humphreys, by most accounts swings two directions. The dopey Mr. Rumbold and Young Mr. Grace, who run the company spend more time in confusion than any real managment work. Other odd birds like stocky Mr. Tebbs, insinuating Mr. Maash, cockney-ditz Miss Brahams, cranky Mr. Grainger, jolly Mr. Harmon, and the ever nasty canteen manageress. These characters manage to get themselves into ever oddball situation percievable with humor that is comparable to All in the Family, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. A definite A+. So serve yourself...Grace Brothers is waiting...just beware of the disply units bearing steel wool...

Are You Free? I'm unanimous in that.

[Sylviastel · 7/10 · 9 September 2021]

The classic British comedy is set at a fictional posh London department store names Grace Brothers. The ladies department joins the gentlemen department on the same floor. It is brilliantly casted with Wendy Richard MBE, John Inman, Trevor Bannister, Frank Thornton, Mollie Sugden and Roger Brough. This series was brilliant and one of the top British comedies to air around the world especially in the United States when it aired in the nineties. I enjoyed the camaraderie among the cast. They seemed to have as much as the audience.

The worst remnants of a bad time

[g-pala · 1/10 · 9 April 2015]

Awful, truly awful. As a little boy in the 1970's there was very little on TV, but we had to endure this. Even before the concept of political correctness had emerged I found the relentless smutty innuendo and gay suggestion dull, repetitive and predictable.

What a waste- and all this from a time when Fawlty Towers was being produced. There was other stuff on TV to keep an eight-year old entertained.

How this ran for a decade is beyond comprehension. I guess it's Americans giving this show great reviews- just what must they think of us Brits?

Double Entendre!

[adaiello · 31 October 2000]

Are You Being Served is a fantastic example of British humor at its finest. Granted, with almost 30 years since the telecast of the first episode, some of the humor has become dated. However, the cast and script-writers took the concept of double entendre to a whole new level with the jokes in the show (the best one I think being about Mrs. Slocum's cat, if you get my drift!). The thing that makes the show stand the test of time is that they did not have to resort to outright obscenity and crudity to get the humor across. It requires a little bit of thought to follow some of the jokes, which while base, are veiled in "false propriety". It is something that I would have no problem letting my children watch because they would not get the jokes until they were old enough to understand and deal with the humor. What comedy today can we say the same about? The show also has the ability to pull you in, make you privy to the "secret jokes" and make you feel part of the club. You become bound up in the inside jokes and personalities, and can identify with the characters (within reason: who can understand the concept of Mrs. Slocum's changing hair-colors?!). Overall, it is a great series and well worth watching, even 27 years later!

British Comedy at it's height

[atomius · 10/10 · 16 June 2007]

What makes this better than most modern britcoms is that it isn't so obsessed with good camera-work, graphics and movie style acting that really adds nothing to the humour itself. The style and culture involved reflects upper class British culture of the 1900s with hilarious, though now far outdated, satire on the British cast system. With an amusing cast of workers in the womens and mens departments at Grace Bros comes with it characters that have become stereotypes more than they poked fun at the original inspiration. The jokes, however repetitive, don't tire, more they relax, and it is easy to see why so much references to this show have been made. I would tell recommend it to anyone interested in 1900s culture, and it is an important part of television history, as are many 70s comedies. The simple theme intro with a equally simple guitar tune is quite interesting. Most humour is taken from outrageous costumes, hilarious backfirings of 'schemes' and devices and the coming together of all the workers despite their differences to fight longer working hours, bad meals, and other such conditions. The funniest jokes are when casts collide, often upsetting a high set person or upraising a lower one. All in all a brilliant comedy, well worth watching repeats of.

"You've all done very well!"

[ShadeGrenade · 9/10 · 3 November 2008]

I recently came across a comment on another forum which made my teeth itch. It went as follows: "The '70's were a time when 'Are You Being Served: The Movie' was considered the ultimate in side-splitting hilarity.'. I wanted to throttle the twit who made it. Nobody thought it the ultimate in anything, most people of my generation were more interested in seeing the latest Mel Brooks or Monty Python picture.

I have to say that I was not a big fan of 'Are You Being Served?' when it first aired. I did not dislike it, it was just that there were far better shows around then, such as 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', 'Dad's Army', 'The Goodies' and 'Porridge'. It is only in recent years that I have come to fully appreciate its charms ( compared to Miranda Hart's appalling show, its 'Porridge'! )

Set in the clothing department of the London department store of Grace Brothers, the staff are a right bunch of eccentrics such as bewigged harridan Mrs.Slocombe ( Mollie Sugden ), her sexy assistant Miss Brahms ( Wendy Richard ), effeminate Mr.Humphries ( John Inman ), grumpy Mr.Grainger ( Arthur Borough ), and ladies' man Mr.Lucas ( Trevor Bannister ). Presiding over this crack team was floorwalker Captain Peacock ( Frank Thornton ), and jug-eared Mr.Rumbold ( Nicholas Smith ). One of the store's owners was Young Mr.Grace ( Harold Bennett ), who despite being older than Methuselah was a randy old goat ( I hope I'm like that when I reach his age ). The plots were basically an excuse to get the cast into silly costumes. Mrs.Slocombe's frequent references to her 'pussy' made the studio audience hysterical with laughter, as did Mr.Humphries' oblique references to his homosexuality.

Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft's scripts trod a careful line between family entertainment and 'Carry On' style smut. It was only rude if you wanted it to be. Among the numerous catchphrases spawned were: "Men's Wear!" ( spoken by Mr.Humphries in a butch voice ), "And I am unanimous in this!", "You've all done very well!" ( delivered by Young Mr.Grace ), and, of course, the classic "I'm free!". The show was a massive hit, leading to the aforementioned infamous film in 1977, and running well into the alternative comedy '80's.

It was good-natured fun, but not for everyone. The L.W.T. sketch show 'End Of Part One' did an excellent spoof called 'Are You Being Stereotyped?' which subverted the show's theme tune, turning it into a critique. Yes, the characters were stereotypes, no-one will deny that, but they were strong stereotypes, instantly recognisable from one another. And performed by a more than competent cast.

When John Inman passed away a few years ago, Stuart Jefferies wrote a article in 'The Guardian', the thrust of which was that 'A.Y.B.S.' was representative of a style of humour that was ( in his view ) thankfully gone. Well, gone it certainly has, but I do not find that something to be cheer about. We have now reached the stage where bullying can pass for comedy. Pushing the boundaries of comedy? As Sid James used to say: "Knickers!". The comedy boundaries have been pushed far enough as it is. When John Cleese and Connie Booth created 'Fawlty Towers', they could not give two hoots about redefining comedy, they just wanted to make a funny show. And did. I'm sure Lloyd and Croft felt the same way when they wrote 'A.Y.B.S'. The real comedy geniuses are not the people who push boundaries, but those who work well within them.

Like Benny Hill, 'A.Y.B.S.' was a hit in America. I suppose the Americans liked the very Britishness of the thing. It was McGill seaside postcard stuff really. John Inman was spot on when he said: "Don't say rude words, let the audience think them!".

Great Humor & Sensibility

[Johnny_West · 10/10 · 1 March 2022]

This TV series was awesome in its day. It made humor out of everyday moments that could happen to any working person. It was funny in a sweet and positive manner.

Unfortunately, in the current age, it is hard to imagine such a show ever existing or getting made. For that reason, it is even more precious to be able to watch the old shows, and to feel a sentimental attachment to actors and writers who are gone, but who tried their best to give positive moments of fun to their audiences, and who succeeded. Thank you!

If Ever I Need A Laugh, This Is The One To Watch

[TondaCoolwal · 10/10 · 29 January 2020]

If you like your humour subtle, sophisticated or avant garde, then don't watch Are You Being Served. Written by David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd who between them were also responsible for the likes of 'Allo allo and It Ain't Half Hot Mum, this is British humour designed for a British audience. That means infantile situations overloaded with telegraphed jokes both visual and verbal, overt gender and racial stereotyping involving underdressed bimbos and silly foreigners and, lashings of suggestive innuendo. And we love it. Whether it's Mrs Slocombe's hair colour variations or concerns about her "pussy", Mr Humphries' camp remarks and mincing gait or Miss Belfridge asking Captain Peacock if he thinks her new bra is too small. It's like a wedding list. Mostly old, little new, everything borrowed and frequently blue! Think about it; the series ended in 1985, all of the main cast are dead and it's still being shown on T V to appreciative audiences in January 2020. Doubt we'll be able to say that about Better Things or Mum in 35 years time!

Nudge nudge wink wink

[gb901 · 8/10 · 7 March 2023]

I was shocked to learn that the actor, Felipe Izquierdo, who played the school boy in the penultimate episode of the final series in early 1985 was actually 20 years old when it was filmed: he looks barely 12 or 13!

Anyways, I have fond memories of AYBS and remember watching it as a youngster. Obviously the early series are far superior to the latter with the replacement actors and characters not being a patch on the original imo.

These were the days before political correctness when comedy allowed people to have a laugh without fear of a minority of perpetually offended making complaints.

Sadly comedy is so much more anodyne and bland today.

Definitely in the Top Five Finest British Comedies

[hammondjh-00479 · 9/10 · 23 February 2019]

Quality comedy we no longer have the pleasure of enjoying since the toxicity of political correctness poisoned our fun!

The worst of British

[winstonfg · 1/10 · 24 January 2008]

In my opinion this is, quite simply, the worst sit-com ever made ... ANYWHERE ... and if I could give it a zero, I would.

How it even has the nerve to call itself comedy is beyond me. Maybe, to get swans like Fawlty and Python, you have to go through ugly ducklings like this, but I sure wish we'd never heard of Grace Brothers.

It was part of an unfortunate trend in the UK for shows where you always knew what the first words out of a character's mouth would be, followed by an explosion of canned laughter from what I can only assume was a lobotomized audience. Some have compared it to the 'Carry On' movies and, while there is a superficial resemblance to the worst of them, this show outstrips them all by a country mile for sheer unfunniness.

Unbelievably, it was the most popular comedy series on British TV at one time, and ran for a mind-boggling 10 seasons. Eleven too many for me.

Hilarious Mollie Sugden and John Inman... Priceless

[drednm · 15 April 2010]

ARE YOU BEING SERVED had a long run on British TV, from 1972 to 1985. This groundbreaking series paved the way for many other famous Brticoms. But this one was the first to feature a gay character and delighted audiences with its naughty and unending double entendres.

Set in a dismal department store, Grace Brothers, the basic plot revolves around the sales people in the ladies' and gents' departments, forced to share floor space. Of course there are other store employees and many hapless customers. This basic structure saw something like 69 episodes filmed over 13 years as well as many cast changes.

The series was first seen as a starring vehicle for the swinging bachelor, Mr. Lucas, played by Trevor Bannister. As the junior sales clerk in the men's department, Lucas was always short of money and anxious to get out of the store to chase "birds." But after a few episodes two other characters emerged from the pack as audience favorites.

The blowzy Mrs. Slocombe, played by Mollie Sugden, was a middle-aged woman with an ever-changing hair color. She could switch between Cockney and Posh accents in a heartbeat and was often the butt of Lucas' crude jokes. Mrs. Slocombe had an alarming habit of referring to her "pussy" but was always blithely unaware of how these stories were taken by others.

The character of Mr. Humphries, played by John Inman, embraced many gay stereotypes but at heart he was a sweet and non-threatening character. Like Mrs. Slocombe, he had his own set of double entendres, but he winkingly made it known he knew exactly what he was saying.

Other main characters included the pompous floorwalker, Captain Peacock, played by Frank Thornton; the busty sales girl Miss Brahms, played by Wendy Richard, the crusty senior sales clerk, Mr. Grainger, played by Arthur Brough, the dim manager, Mr. Rumbold, played by Nicholas Smith, and the ancient store owner, Young Mr. Grace, played by Harold Bennett.

There were also crude maintenance men, Mr. Mash, played by Larry Martyn, who was succeeded by Mr. Harman, played by Arthur English, and a series of busty-but-dumb secretaries.

After Bannister left the series and Brough passed away, there was a series of replacements for these characters but none were terribly successful. Pop star Mike Berry had a decent run as Mr. Spooner, "the junior," and a series of actors had turns replacing Brough as "the senior." Alfie Bass, James Hayter, Benny Lee, and Milo Sperber all had short runs.

Over all the years, however, the hearts of the series were Mollie Sugden and John Inman. Both were superb comic actors who were game for just about anything. Anything here meant outlandish costumes (Inman often in drag), musical numbers, dances, and knock-about slapstick comedy that was done live and apparently in front of an audience. Sugden was often asked to wear ridiculous costumes, ranging from rompers to lederhosen. Inman even appeared as his own mother.

The bottom line is that this series was silly but sweet. Its crude language and situations were easily forgiven because the actors were so damned good. Like a handful of other TV classics, ARE YOU BEING SERVED has never stopped running. This was a famous import for PBS) along with other Britcoms) and became a staple of that network.

The show was so popular, it spawned a 1977 movie in which the gang all go on holiday together. There was also a sequel series called GRAVE AND FAVOUR or ARE YOU BEING SERVED AGAIN? In which Sugden, Inman, Thornton, Richard, and Smith all retire to the country and run a hotel (owned by Grace Brothers) in exchange for free board.

Classic British comedy still treasured by many in the UK

[andrewjohn-watson · 9/10 · 12 May 2013]

Reading some of the previous reviews, I'd just like to say something about the series' popularity and some of the perceived stereotypes.

The goings-on at Grace Bros aren't a favourite with everyone. Coming 20th in a 2004 'Britain's best sitcom' poll (beating many contenders with the advantage of having been made more recently) nevertheless is a reminder of how popular this comedy remains.

I find nothing sinister or offensive about 'Are You Being Served?' Some things done and said would be frowned upon today. This also goes for other excellent comedies of the past like 'Fawlty Towers'. However a modern audience understands there is no underlying prejudice directed singularly towards any particular section of society. Everyone is made to look a laughing stock; all manners and personalities are ridiculed.

Perhaps the show is watched today because we haven't changed much since the 70s: workplaces still abound with gossip; colleagues still jostle for power and put on airs; bumbling managers and difficult customers are common.

As for John Inman, I don't think his portrayal of an openly camp figure - hilarious, at ease and unafraid to be himself - was a negative put-down for homosexual people. If anything his benevolent persona did some good. England and Wales legalised consensual homosexual activity in 1967 - 5 years before AYBS was first broadcast. Arguably, making someone's effeminate traits a subject of good-natured laughter was a good way of removing hostility towards gay people. Just as 'The Vicar Of Dibley' convinced people that female vicars could be a good thing, the charisma and likeableness of Mr Humphries at least showed audiences that, gay or not, such a person was a welcome personality to have around.

This kind of humour does not belong to the past alone. Both amateur and professional contemporary comedies owe much to (or could learn from) the comic timing, expressions and double entendre-laden scripts typical of 'Are You Being Served?'

So this show is lots of fun and plenty of us Brits like it too.

The Show That Worked Despite Everything

[bigverybadtom · 8/10 · 1 September 2013]

And what do I mean by "everything"? The show's history:

Originally the protagonist was supposed to be Mr. Lucas getting a job in the men's department at a department store, he has trouble with his job but somehow manages to survive. In the meantime, he is also a womanizer who tries to hit upon the younger female employee of the women's department. In trouble on his first day, he redeems himself when he was able to sell the senile store owner his own coat and impress his colleagues. Mr. Lucas, in short, was supposed to be the show's star.

But as the show continued, Mr. Lucas ended up being just a side character, and the actor who played him was unhappy about that. Still, the show worked because the comedy involved the employees' interactions with the various customers as well as each other, malfunctioning automated store displays, having to sell inferior merchandise to customers ("It will ride up with wear!"), and so on. Some sexual innuendo features into this, but most of the humor involves the social systems of the various employees and customers.

Problems did crop up as the show progressed. Mr. Lucas left the show, and his place was taken by an inferior character before his spot was simply eliminated. The same was true of the eldest men's department employee, with two replacements who also failed. Presumably the show had to be canceled before the remaining actors would die off.