With its innuendo-laden comedy, penchant for slapstick and panto-type characters, Are You Being Served? had something for everyone and became a juggernaut of 1970s television.
With their very overdue 100 pound bonuses, the staff are eager to gain some more and bet all their money on a horse that Mr.Harman assures them will win. Watching the race on the newly installed television they all hold their breath to either win their fortunes, or lose it all.
- After more than 30 years off the air, Are You Being Served is coming back – and it’s serving up a brand new cast too. From faithful sitcom servants to Bafta-winning actors and soap favourites.
- Are You Being Served - S 10 E 4 - Gambling Fever -+ Dailymotion. For You Explore. Do you want to remove all your recent searches? All recent searches will be deleted. Cancel Remove. Watch fullscreen. Are You Being Served - S 10 E 4 - Gambling Fever. Are You Being Served (1973) 3 years ago 878 views. Are You Being Served - S 10 E 4.
While appearing in It's Awfully Bad For Your Eyes, Darling, writer and performer Jeremy Lloyd met comedy producer David Croft and touting for work, mentioned his idea for a new sitcom based upon his experience in the 1950s working in department store Simpson of Piccadilly.
Recognising the idea's potential, Croft insisted he be brought in as co-writer and a pilot edition was created for Comedy Playhouse in 1972. This lead to a full run, kicking off the following year.
Set in the antiquated Grace Brothers department store, the show followed the OTT antics of its staff.
Leading the troops was the dowdy Captain Peacock (Frank Thornton), a city gent with a penchant for pomposity.
Head of ladies fashion, Mrs Slocombe (Mollie Sugden) sported a different hair colour every week and continually harped on about her 'pussy', while assistant, Miss Brahms (Wendy Richard) was the literal butt of a slew of bottom-pinching antics.
Meanwhile fussing manager Mr Rumbold (Nicholas Smith) watched on in bemusement.
The stand out character, however, was Mr Humphries (John Inman), a camp, senior assistant in the menswear department, who became infamous for trilling his catchphrase, 'I'm free!'.
Although clearly a laboured parody of an effeminate gay man, both Inman and Croft were resolute he was just 'a mummy's boy'.
Although the show was often criticised for its bawdy content, it was a family favourite, often attracting audiences of over 20 million.
When it finally came to an end in 1985, it did feel a little past its best, but that didn't stop Croft and Perry returning to the format for a 1992 spin-off series: Grace and Favour.
Cast
- Frank Thornton
- Captain Peacock
- John Inman
- Mr Humphries
- Mollie Sugden
- Mrs Slocombe
- Wendy Richard
- Miss Brahms
- Nicholas Smith
- Mr Cuthbert Rumbold
- Harold Bennett
- Young Mr Grace
- Trevor Bannister
- Mr Lucas
- Arthur Brough
- Mr Grainger
- Arthur English
- Mr Harmen
- Larry Martyn
- Mr Mash
- Mike Berry
- Mr Spooner
- Kenneth Waller
- Old Mr Grace
- Penny Irving
- Miss Bakewell (secretary)
- Vivienne Johnson
- Nurse
Crew
Are You Being Served Video
- Jeremy Lloyd
- writer
- David Croft
- writer
- Michael Knowles
- writer
- John Chapman
- writer
- Ray Butt
- director
- Harold Snoad
- director
- Bob Spiers
- director
- John Kilby
- director
- Gordon Elsbury
- director
- Martin Shardlow
- director
- David Croft
- producer
- Martin Shardlow
- producer
- Bob Spiers
- producer
- Harold Snoad
- producer