ARE YOU BEING SERVED?
Official Are You Being Served? Website

'Are You Being Served?' was a long running half hour BBC sitcom, which ran for 13 years from 1972 to 1985. The show began on September 8th, 1972, with its pilot episode being part of the 'Comedy Playhouse' series.

Created by Jeremy Lloyd, David Croft, and Ray Butt, 'Are You Being Served?' was set in a fictional London department store called Grace Brothers.

The humour could get quite risqué, with John Inman's Mr. Humphries suggestive quips, and Mollie Sugden's Mrs. Slocombe's character often referring to her "pussy", innocently meaning her cat. But these were more innocent times. Also, Mr. Humphries camp cry of "I'm free" became one of British sitcoms most famous catchphrases.

The final episode of 'Are You Being Served?' was on April 1st, 1985, but there was a 1992 BBC TV series spin-off, entitled 'Grace & Favour' (US title: 'Are You Being Served? Again!'), which featured most of the original cast. There was also the 1977 movie, 'Are You Being Served?, using the characters and cast of the period.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.

Are You Being Served? Regular Cast List (actors listed first)

John Inman - Mr. Humphries
Mollie Sugden - Mrs. Slocombe
Frank Thornton - Captain Peacock
Wendy Richard - Miss Brahms
Nicholas Smith - Mr. Rumbold
Trevor Bannister - Mr. Lucas (1972-79)
Mike Berry - Mr. Spooner (1981-85, replaced the Mr. Lucas character)
Larry Martyn - Mr. Mash (1972-75)
Arthur English - Mr. Harman (1976-1985, replaced the Mr. Nash character)
Harold Bennett - Young Mr. Grace (1972-1981)
Kenneth Waller - Old Mr. Grace (1981, replaced the Young Mr. Grace character)
Arthur Brough - Mr. Grainger (1972-77)
Arthur Brough's Mr. Grainger was replaced by:
James Hayter - Mr. Tebbs (1978)
Alfie Bass - Mr. Goldberg (1979)
Milo Sperber - Mr. Grossman (1981)
Benny Lee - Mr. Klein (1981)

Are You Being Served? DVDs available from booksmusicfilmstv.com - in association with Amazon.co.uk

Are You Being Served? - The Complete Series One to Five ~ John Inman, Frank Thornton

Are You Being Served? - The Movie [1977] ~ Mollie Sugden, John Inman

Are You Being Served Star John Inman Obituary
Written by Paul Rance
Tuesday, 24 April 2007

John Inman, who died on March 8th, was one of the most popular TV comedy actors of the 1970s and 1980s, when starring as the very camp Mr. Humphries in the hit BBC comedy 'Are You Being Served?' He won the 1976 BBC TV Personality Of The Year, and his catchphrase, "I'm free!", from 'Are You Being Served?', remains one of most famous in comedy.

John was born in Preston, Lancs, on June 28th, 1935, and began appearing on stage in Blackpool in his early teens. He was also renowned as one of the best pantomime dames.

After suffering from hepatitis A for several years, John Inman was finally defeated by the disease, and passed away in St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, West London. He is survived by partner Ron Lynch.