Are You Being Served?

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BBC (ended 1985)
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Show Summary

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Are You Being Served? is a British Sitcom that ran from 1972-1985. The show revolved around "Grace Brothers Department Store" and in particular the goings on within the "Gentlemen's Ready-To-Wear" and "Ladies' Separates and Underwear" Departments. A store reorganization forced these two departments to share floor space, and the conflicts that this created set the tone for most episodes. ''''Are You Being Served? showcases a bygone period of time in which the class structure was still very much alive. There was a strict heirarchy within Grace Brothers. Everyone knew their "places" and remained in them, unless, of course, there was a chance for advancement and then it was every man and woman for themselves.''''A spin-off series of Are You Being Served? was released, called Grace and Favour. Although in the U.S, it was named Are You Being Served? Again!moreless
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Episode Guide

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S 10 :  Ep 7 Aired 4/1/85
S 10 :  Ep 6 Aired 3/25/85
S 10 :  Ep 5 Aired 3/18/85
S 10 :  Ep 4 Aired 3/11/85
S 10 :  Ep 3 Aired 3/4/85

Are You Being Served? News

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  • Top 10: Classic Sitcoms 7

    Top 10: Classic Sitcoms

    By Adam Beresford, Nov 07, 2010

    Compiling a list of Britain's top 10 classic sitcoms isn't as easy as it sounds. We all broadly agree on recent shows that are great examples of British comedy, but when it comes to casting our minds further back it… more

  • Blog Spotlight: Mollie Sugden Dies at 86 0

    Blog Spotlight: Mollie Sugden Dies at 86

    By TV.com Staff, Jul 02, 2009

    Mollie Sugden, the actress beloved by gays for her portrayal as the daft Mrs. Slocombe in the Britcom Are You Being Served? has died at age 86. Sugden found early TV success with comedy series Hugh and I in 1962… more

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Fan Reviews (23)

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  • This is one of my top ten favorite Brit sitcoms lavish cast of characters and great comedic talent,what more could you ask for in a show.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Devilman1210, Nov 14, 2011 Report Abuse

    Are You Being Served? ran for 13 years on the BBC and found its American audience on PBS.
    Its patented mix of vibrant characters the stuffy Captain Peacock (Frank Thornton), the flamboyant Mr. Humphries (John Inman), the womanizing Mr. Lucas (Trevor Bannister), the dimwitted Mr. Grainger (Arthur Brough), the oblivious Mr. Rumbold (Nicholas Smith), the bubble headed Miss Brahms (Wendy Richard), the multi-coifed Mrs. Slocombe (Mollie Sugden), the unassuming Mr. Harman (Arthur English), the lecherous Young Mr. Grace (Harold Bennett) and screwball situations made the weekly visit to Grace Brothers department store an anticipatory treat.
    Part Benny Hill and part Oscar Wilde, the show continually found new ways to make us laugh at our own proclivities.moreless

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    2 0

  • Welcome to "Grace Brother's"

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Gotal_LCP, Apr 28, 2009 Report Abuse
    Anybody who has never seen this sitcom should really watch it. The cast of characters is excellent. John Inman is the best. "Mr. Humphries" is one the first gay characters on tv. 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, they relax you. The fights between the two clothing departments (Men's and Women's) were hilarious. Humour is also taken from outrageous costumes, hilarious backfirings of schemes and devices. You can't say you don't love this show even after watching only one episode.moreless

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    0 0

  • Ask me if I'm free to watch an AYBS DVD, my answer: "IM FREE!"

    10
    "Perfect"
    By AngelDNTN, Dec 04, 2008 Report Abuse
    The very first time I watched this show, a friend had it on at his house. Strangely, not being a fan of Monty Python, I thought it would be a program that I wouldn't find funny.

    Boy was I wrong.

    The producers chose the perfect actors/actresses for their roles. Mrs. Slocumbe (Molly Sugden) is the British Lucille Ball, IMO. Mr. Humprhies (the late John Inman) the perfect cross dressing ginger fairy cakes (or is he?), etc. The scripts' humor were on the edge of obscene, yet at the same time, not. I made sure to acquire the whole series on DVD so that I may watch them at my leisure as many times as I want.

    Ask me if I'm free to watch an AYBS DVD, my answer: "IM FREE!"moreless

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    1 0

  • Taking place in an old fashioned department store, the staff are very hilarious and I will always enjoy watching this show.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ElvisRocks13, Jul 13, 2008 Report Abuse
    This show takes place in a department store. The ladies and gentlemens apparell is on the same floor. the whole department is called Grace Brothers. The staff on that floor includes Mrs.Slocombe, Ms.Brahms, Mr.Humphries, Captain Peacock, Mr.Lucas, Mr.Spooner, Mr.Rumbold, Mr. Grainger, Young Mr.Grace, Old Mr.Grace, Mr.Tebbs, and Mr.Goldberg. I love all these characters because they are so hilarious and so are all the spots of trouble they get into and out of. I recomend this show to all who enjoy British Comedy and hilarious dialogue. This show is on at ten thirty p.m. usually PBS. It used to play on YTV but sadly they took it off because it wasn't liked enough, even though I loved it!moreless

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  • A BritCom without peer

    8.0
    "Great"
    By DojinFan_2K, Apr 12, 2008 Report Abuse
    Are You Being Served is the British sitcom about the everyday doings of the staff & management of Grace Brothers, a London department store. The staff consists of stern (yet approachable) "Captain" Stephen Peacock, the floor walker (boss), Ernest Grainger (the doddering old fart), Wilberforce Humphries (the oh-so-friendly gay guy) & Dick Lucas (ladies' man/wiseguy). The women members are Mrs. Slocombe (the target of Lucas' insults) & Shirley Brahms (the pretty salesgal). There's also Cuthbert Rumbold, the manager of both Men's & Women's departments, Mr. Grace, the wizened, skirtchasing owner of the store & Mash, the vulgar dustman (maintenance man).

    The stories usually involve most of the staff in some comic misadventure (& sometimes an occasional musical number) that usually end in a happy ending or they wind up getting deeper into the mess they made.

    Later on in the series some cast changes were made, but the premise remains the same & it still remains 1 of the best BritComs ever made. I should know since i became a huge fan of the show back in 2000 when i first saw it on a Chicago PBS station.

    The comedy may not be to everyone's liking but as they say, "Don't worry, it'll ride up with wear".moreless

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