I really wish you'd get your facts right. Every single video you post has errors. You say every leading cast member has passed away. This is not true, Mike Berry is still alive!
If they're anything as inaccurate as this one, then I'd rather chew off my left gonad thank you very much. Why don't those who put these videos together actually spend the time to actually watch the series, rather than trawling the net for inaccurate twaddle?
As an American, Are You Being Served was the first British sitcom I watched and positively loved it. I saw the series countless times and laughed every time. All the actors were terrific, but I shall always remember most Molly and John. RIP to all and enjoy your coffee break with St. Peter.
@@jimmiles1315 I think its like music. It has its own rhythms and patterns. Once you become familiar with them, then you spot the jokes more easily. And remember, they only did like 6 episodes a year so you were less likely to get tired if the repetitiveness.
There was an American Version of AYBS. The Beans of Boston. The pilot episode was a copy of GERMAN WEEK. It totally sucked! Thank God it wasn't picked up or AYBS never would have flown in the US.
@@jph0917 Its funny what succeeds and what doesn't. The I.T. Crowd comes to mind. Brilliant British show fell flat in America even with one of the key actors participating. That really surprised me. But consider "Three's Company". The original version was British but mediocre at best and Threes Company comes along and blows the lid off. The Ropers and Sanford and Son were all British shows first that were later remade as American sitcoms and were all very popular. I think far more popular than their original British counterparts. And who can forget The Office. It's first 6 seasons were some of the best TV we ever done. But it too started as a British sitcom.
He was a regular in the Bacon arms in Newbury, Berkshire. I've heard some funny stories from other regulars there at the time. Apparently he would tell long anecdotes and stories that would entertain small groups drinking at the time.
The sitcom was meant to be a vehicle to promote Trevor Bannister (Mr Lucas), but due to John Inman's comic timing, they started to focus on him more. Interesting fact: Although Mr Lucas is supposed to be junior to Mr Humphries, Trevor Bannister was actually a year or two older than John Inman.
When it originally started an executive at the BBC didn't like the character of Mr Humphries, and he told the creators to (and I quote) "Get rid of the poof!" One of the creators said "If the poof goes I go!" Imagine the show without Mr Humphries (John Inman even went abroad a couple of times to help launch foreign versions of the show).
As of 2023 of the regular cast only Mike Berry (former pop singer) is still alive but only played Mr Spooner, whose character replaced Trevor Bannister in the 1980s series. In the later episodes John Inman's "I'm free" catchphrase no longer raised a laugh Other occasional cast members such as Joanna Lumley are still alive as well as the (then) young actresses who played the secretaries of "Young" Mr Grace.
Whenever I am in a lift where it announces "Ground floor" I can never resist adding "Perfumery and leather goods, going up." You can usually tell the age of the other passengers by those who smile or laugh in recognition of the reference!
Indeed. Who could forget the episode where they were all "rotated" into the toy department (where Mr Grainger wanted to remain so he could play all day with the train sets).
@@Krzyszczynski That one was a classic... Especially Mr. Humphries playing with "Funtime Freddy" and the "Wibbly Wobblies" Then there was Mrs. Slocumb's bride doll who announced, "I want to go to the potty"!🤣🤣
@@FactsVerseUK There is a episode, where the staff brain-storms, and they have to share their middle names, one favorite episodes. If anyone person had been cast by someone else, I think, Are you being served, would have fallen short. But also, credit has to go to the producers and directors, and writers, that were able to keep churning out funny scripts. Oddly enough, the "Are you being served" movies are terrible, and the characters falls flat and seem almost mean and angry.
I met Nicholas Smith once, quite by accident. He was touring the US, making appearances at local PBS stations to help in fundraising. He was at our local PBS station when he heard that our County Fair was going on. Being a big fan of country fairs, he insisted on attending. I was an employee of the fair at the time, and got to meet him as he strolled around. He was a humble, genuinely warm gentleman.
They had both John Inman and Molly Sugden at different times, doing pledge drives on PBS here in the Buffalo area in the 90s. I remember for a large amount of money, you could have tea with John Inman. I would have loved to go to that, if I could have afforded it. Still, it was cool they came to this area at all!
Definitely makes you think about the passage of time when familiar faces are all passed. As mentioned, the actor who played “Young” Mr Grace was born in 1896 - Queen Victoria was on the British throne and had 5 more years to reign.
My father absolutely adored this show. He was quite ill when he began watching the DVDs, and he lived to see every episode, including the Christmas reunion. That series brightened the final days of his life, and I'm grateful that he found joy in the characters and their zany antics.
I met John Inman in Michigan. He looked just like he did on TV (many years had passed since the show aired) and was very nice to all the people who greeted him. They are all missed.
Mollie Suden as Mrs Slocum was wonderful. I even laughed at her stories when I had seen the episode many times. All of the actors were perfectly cast. It was a unique and great series.
All of those beloved characters hold a special place in my heart. My parents and I never missed watching episodes on Saturday nights on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), along with Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By. It was the highlight of my week spending those times with my elderly parents, who have since passed away. Wonderful memories.
@@dwightbutler2221 my absolute fave! most brilliant acting (like Marion LMAO 😂!) writing, and ad - libbing I know of ... so happy to have the DVD set! 😁. Tom: Diana what's wrong with your face? Diana: I'm smiling. Tom: well don't ... you look like a giant clam! 😆😆
I live in Texas USA and I absolutely loved that show. Mrs. Slocombe was my favorite. It's really sad that they are all gone. Each and every one of them will live in my heart and may they all RIP.
Original cast member not mentioned was Larry Martyn,who played Mr mash.. the warehouse man..later replaced by Arthur english..who played Mr harman..great show..wonderful collection of actors/actresses.
@@richardphillips6281 After some quick research..she was married to fellow actor Simon Moore,whom she had twin sons by,they married in 1958 and remained together up to his death in the year 2000..no mention of Arthur English.
I still remember the episode where he had set up a Chrismas display and the automated Father Christmas worked like a "flasher" with his back to the camera.
This series was unheard of in America until one of the PBS stations in the San Francisco Bay area began airing them in 1991 and it became a big hit with audiences! So much so, some of the cast, Inman and Thornton made guest appearances at the stations fund drives in San Francisco, talking about the series and cast members. Inman said because of the success of the series in America, a spin off was started called "Are you being served Again." But it was short lived. PBS aired that series too in the 1990's.
Mr. Humphreys and Mr. Lucas came to Memphis (WKNO) at different times for fund drives. Mr. Humphreys took the city by storm, as expected, but Mr.Lucas, not so much! He was totally unimpressed with Graceland and commented that it was very small!
KQED (San Francisco PBS) had many stunning British imports, back in the 70''s and 80's. We were so spoiled! There were literally dozens, including the wonderful original Masterpiece Theatre, and the Friday night Mystery theatre, which included wonderful series like Lord Peter Wimsey, and Dorothy Sayers mysteries: I especially enjoyed "Gaudy Night". All of them excelled in excellent period correct clothing, scenery and cars!
They were all my favourites!!! Loved every one of them and I was just thinking (before I saw this). Why doesn't vision or public television show repeats of Are You Being Served. I for o n e would watch every single repeat (again). Thanks so much for showing this on utube. I just loved it.
As someone who still works in the luxury sales business, I loved this show and empathized with each of the characters and what they did throughout the series. God bless them all!
I have watched this series countless times and never tire of it. I don't have a cast favorite as the ensemble was what was so special about the series. What a treasure!
They were all wonderful. Even their facial expressions made me laugh out loud. But if I had to choose, it would be Mr. Humphries. The walk, the delivery, and the gestures, created a completely comedic character.
Singer and actor Mike Berry appeared in the final series of the show, in the role previously played by Trevor Bannister as Mr Lucas. Mike had a long and successful career as a pop singer from the early 1960s and is still alive, aged 81.
One of the best British comedies I was able to watch on PBS for many years. I saw so many BBC shows on PBS and I must say this is at the top of my list.
I ( and my hubby)have loved this show and still do use some of their tag lines to this day , I hope the loved ones of these incredible actors know that the performances have left an indelible mark upon millions of people to this day. It’s still one of my go to cerise that I watch when I want to feel happy and content
Mike Berry (Mr Spooner), who replaced Trevor Bannister, is still with us. I think that makes him the last surviving cast member, but, of course, he was not with the show from the beginning.
Although Mike Berry was not an original member of AYBS, he was nonetheless very much part of the show when he replaced Trevor Bannister in 1981. He turned 80 on September 24th of last year
"Ground floor perfumery, stationery and leather goods, wigs and haberdashery, kitchenware and food, going up! First floor telephones, Gents readymade suits, shirts, socks, ties, hats, underwear and shoes, going up!" Didn't need to research the lyrics, I've been watching "Are you being Served" all my life and watch it to this day 🧡
My dad (an American) at the age of 88 discover this show on RUclips and it made him laugh so hard. it was a comfort and a moment of joy for this aged widower. As his 60’something kids, we now have the dvds.
The joy and laughter they bought to thousands. A great period for UK comedy before the world would decades later become so incredibly precious and serious. I might sound like an old fart and maybe I am, but the world was a better place then as this show exemplifies. Fun was a big part of life and not every individual feeling like they are victim. Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft wrote the best television comedies of all time. We are in debt to them for the wonderful times they gave us viewers and the memories we still hold dear.
My dad and I watched this every Saturday night for years! Whenever I message someone on our internal network at work, I always start with, “Are you free?” I love this show and this cast!
They were ALL so wonderful, sad their lives ended too early. I have watched most of the reruns and they always have me rolling with laughter. What a special team of highly talented and funny actors. I loved watching them in the 80's and continue to do so even now. Thank you!
I grew up in the UK and Rember watching the original run of" Are You Being Served." I was thrilled when later I found it on my local PBS station and now have the whole series on box set. Even after all these years and despite knowing all the lines by heart, I still love the show.
@@FactsVerseUK It HAS to be German Week!! How could you not like... "Bustenhalters!!!" and the German dance with Mr. Humphries in those small tight lederhosen?🤣🤣🤣🤣
Honestly-I LOVED them ALL! So many BRITCOMS have made my viewing experiences SO much more enjoyable than I could ever have hoped for. I’m an American Anglophile who could rarely relate to any American comedy. When I discovered the dry wit of BRITCOMS I found my home so to speak and watched most every one presented on my public television stations. Thank You for this info! 👏😊
Need to point out that Grace Brothers was not a clothing store It was a full blown department store selling furnishings, electrical goods, etc etc, as alluded to in the opening credits listing the goods available on each floor in the title song.
As an aside, there was also a chain of department stores in Sydney, Australia, called Grace Brothers. I'm unsure what the owners thought of Are You Being Served.
@@normandiebryant6989 I always thought they missed a trick by not at least getting John to do a promo when he was doing are you being served Australia , even better imagine if Grace Bothers Australia had hired the cast to come out here and have them in character doing a store promotion.
I loved this show. My favourite was Mrs. Slocombe (I am unanimous in that), as she often said in each episodes. My second favourite was Mr. Humphries, he always made me laugh. Everyone will be sadly missed.
I was introduced to "Are You Being Served" in the early '90s by my steady. We laughed or rolled our eyes at the antics. My late mother worked at a department store at the time and she said some of those scenarios weren't far off from her experiences. She referred to the often zany ideas from management and the customer behaviors. I have seen very little of "Grace and Favour" but was nice to see the principals move onto another life stage .
yes, where I worked we had our own share of eccentrics and downright 'mad' types. A lot of the staff had never worked anywhere else since leaving school, and like myself slowly became institutionalised. When I joined the firm, there were staff who had already completed at least three decades of service. I, along with many of the 'old guard' witnessed the slow decline of the company as it slowly moved from a family business, to just another small cog of a soulless corporate leviathan.
Just a small segue regarding department store personnel and grumpy customers. A grumpy old lady approached one of the large appliance salesmen in our large store. "Young man! Young man!" "Yes mam?" Where is the nearest drinking fountain in this store," she said in an irritated voice. "Well mam. If you walk down this aisle to the next corner, make a right and continue your walk until you reach the staircase on your right. Then walk down the stairs and upon taking the last step, the fountain will be directly on your right, next to the stairs.," The lady sniffed and ejected the obviously irritated question. "And just how far do you expect me to walk." "All the way mam. All the way."😊
This was fantastic thank you! I am an American living in Taiwan now and for the last 30 years I’ve been watching all the reruns almost every day whenever I’m doing the dishes or just walking around the house. The show keeps me company when I’m alone in the house like a family member would. Are you being served is a show that keeps me happy, no matter what the circumstances of my life surrounds me. My wife says she’s going to play the theme song for my funeral someday! . Oh my gosh.
Few shows have come together and left a warm spot on their audience’s heart as did this one. I thank them for the many pleasant hours of entertainment they gave to me. Bravo to them all.
This show is so nostalgic for me. I used to watch this with my mom as well as "Keeping up appearances" and "The Vicor of Dibley". I watch it alot when I'm Missing her❤
All of them have a place in my heart and fond memories of watching the each and every episode with my papà after dinner then into our study/family room, furnished in with an accent on English Country club style with wood ceiling, leather armchairs, leather couch charming backdrop of English cutlery, tea cups and our VHS recorded episode of another Are You Being Served... the cast fit right into our relaxed evenings together as family... oh how I still vividly recall being at ease, relaxed, and happy in my childhood there having our tea together ❤️ I knew places and shopped together with family and friends at just that type of department store with sales representatives like all the cast members in Are You Being Served... absolutely lovely and everyone was always so helpful and caring not only in our purchases, also about how we were getting along in our new community in the southern state, being that we were all Connecticut Yankees stereotypical family kind of folks, so we stood out with our manner and accent from New England country folks... loved every minute of their attention, mind ya I am of a Swedish abstract, so were not typically known for liking unwarranted uninvited attention upon ourself and🤌 being a jew always 🤏bit guarded with sales reps. etc... 🙃✍️😉🙏📚✒️📖👨💻🫣😇 God Blesses everyone Shalom Aleichem Peace be upon y'all 🤦cawfee tawk ☕️&⚾️🌄🏃♂️w/🥮✍️📖📚😏✡️😉🤦♀️✌️👌😏😎🫡😇
I used to watch Are You Being Served as well as Keeping up Appearances with my Dad. Now whenever I think of the show, I think of my Dad. I miss him as well as all these wonderful actors.
"I'm FREE!! I'm FREE!!" I have to admit, when I first discovered AYBS, I enjoyed the crazy antics of How ALL the characters took there hilarious cues from each other. However, John Inman's Mr. Humphries, was quickly becoming my FAVORITE! I absolutely fell in Love with his ability to make everyone Laugh so much, that at times I noticed some of the cast mates TRYING SO hard to NOT BREAK CHARACTER!!! :) They ALL were absolutely Brilliant!! as was AYBS.
What an excellent show! Loved all the cast members, especially Molly Sudgen & John Inman. A true English treasure - often imitated, but never duplicated - & timeless classic comedy., far superior to anything produced for TV today. 😘
I think he is talking about the original cast but he didn't list all of the people who replaced Mr. Grainger. No mention of Mr. Harman or Mr. Mash. They were very important parts of the show.
Mrs Slocombe was my favourite character although like Dad's Army, it was a great ensemble cast and each show needed all these wonderful actors and characters to make it such a hit and give them such a long lasting legacy. They will always remain comedy classics, as funny today as when first broadcast.
I am a latecomer to this series viewing it recently though the miracle of DVD. Though decades after the end of this series it still gets laughs from family viewers. Saddened to hear of the passing of this very talented cast but they will live for as long as people enjoy great comedy. RIP all you wonderful beautiful people.
Just watching this makes me want to re watch "Are you being served" again. I watched it as a kid and loved it so much, my favourite characters were Mrs. Slocombe and Captain Peacock.
It's being reshown on Freeview,can't remember the channel,but I've been spending a bit of time staying with my mum and stepdad and they've been recording an episode each weekday night and watching them with me,and the same with the earliest series of New Tricks.
I believe that Mr. Peacock was in the Last of the Summer Wine also. They don't make shows like that anymore. One Foot in the Grave was a classic also. They all will be missed.
Mike Berry who played the character of Mr Spooner is the only cast member of Are You Being Served to be still alive, admittedly he isn't an original cast member.
One of the funniest comedy shows of all time!, even now it is still repeated and still just as funny as it always was, the jokes never get old!, the whole cast worked so well together, sad to think they are now all gone.
MY WIFE AND I REALLY ENJOY THE SHOW; "ARE YOU BEING SERVED" - IT IS HARD TO PICK A FAVORITE FROM THAT CAST, THEY WERE ALL WONDERFUL AND VERY TALENTED PEOPLE, RIP TO THEM ALL - GOOD VIDEO, THANKS FOR POSTING, *BRAVO!!!!!!!*
PBS started showing this series in the late 1980s in the USA and I loved it. I taped them all with my VHS player and watched them over and over. Arthur Brough and Molly Sugden were my two favorites on the show. It would have never been funny without Mrs Slocombe. And that saying "old Mr Grace doesn't get about much" still cracks me up.
It wasn't a clothing store, it was a department store. The show, Grace and Favour was also known as Are You Being Served Again?. Just going through another watch through of all ten seasons at the moment. Sad they all passed. Such a talented cast.
@@muziklvr7776 Good interesting, Grace Bros was based on a real boutique department store called Simpsons on Picadilly. One of the writers had worked in the window dressing department there. That connection was how I became a dresser on the set. The director wanted the set to look like a real department store so he asked the manager of the window dressing dept if we would be interested in dressing the set. It meant that we had to be at the BBC studios at 4.30am to dress the set and be ready for the first rehearsal at 8am. They would rehearse till about 10am and then the audience would be admitted. We got to watch the whole process plus we had to be on hand to fix any problems that came up. The pay was very good because there was a wage freeze on. It was in the days when Unions had a lot of power, so how we were employed became a problem. Eventually we were employed as extras, we had to join Actors Equity. As an aside John Inman lived about 3 streets away from where I was living in Notting Hill Gate. We would see him but never spoke, actors didn't mix with the workers. Simpsons on Picadilly is now a Waterstones book shop. The building is heritage listed as an example of 30s architecture. I was back in London in 2018 and somehow a taxi driver was talking about Are you being served. He was so excited when I told him that I worked on the set.
Back in 1996, I saw Frank Thornton in a West End production of a comedy called Cash on Delivery, a British farce which was truly wonderful and gut wrenching funny from end to end. Frank was extremely funny as a NHS fraud inspector and I’ll never forget, he forgot a line and momentarily broke the 4th wall and said “It’s bound to happen one night”. The stage actors and the audience were in stitches. Frank seamlessly replayed the scene and the show went on. It was a wonderful moment and demonstrated Frank’s utter professionalism. The flub even added to the show
This was my absolute favourite show. The characters were all so funny. My favourite was Mr Humphries. It was all the funnier to me because my mum worked in a department store just like that in the seventies, in the mens department. The staff called each other Mr, Miss or Mrs just as in the programme. One day a woman brought her grandson into the mens department to buy him some new underwear. My mum served them. He took the underpants into the changing room and tried them on. Then his grandmother said that he didn't want them because the hole was in the wrong place😂. It would have been perfect for an episode for the show. Happy days.
🤔I started watching it here in Dallas on our PBS station decades ago and they were like family to me. A welcome change from some of our boring TV back then. Still love it. So, Hello to all of you wherever you are from Texas.🤣🥳🥰
I loved this show as a child in the 90's along with Some Mothers Do Ave 'Em and Fawlty Towers. My nanna lived with us and she introduced me to 70's/80's British sitcoms. I loved them then and still love them now.
this program was shown *for years* on educational tv in the USA. during fund raising weeks, some of the cast members (John Inman and Mollie Sugden, for example) attended in person in different studios across the states to help raise funds.
I used to work for House of Fraser in one of their dated department stores, in the north of England. And it was just like a sitcom. We all wore badges with our names on them, and in front of customers addressed one another by our surname. There was no ageism, nobody looked down on anyone, we were all different age groups, and different walks of life, like a big family. Those years were some of the happiest years of my life.
being now 71 I grew up with this lot, and at one time, I loved Mike Yarwood, and took up amateur acting at my dept store, doing Frank Spencer impersonations. My staff friends sent off to Opportunity Knocks without me knowing for an audition. I was knocked off my feet to get a letter about it. sadly In those days, I was suffering severe panic and anxiety disorders. I would never have go on a train to London. As far as Grace Brothers go, it was so 1970s, Snow cropped up many times in the South east where I lived, people forget we had bitterly cold winters then. Strikes, the weather was what we lived through as young teens. Your first car, your first date, The dressing up was simply sublime and so funny. Those mechanical point of of sale things were simply so funny. Jug ears was really my favourite, he would do anything to save his hide from Young Mr Grace. I loved the episode where they had to go work in the toy dept. As a model train user, I was so happy to see Mr Granger and staff playing with that train set end of the show!! The lady who played the cafeteria boss was epic too. I always laughed at "Stephens" Reference to the "Executive Dining Room"!! The most cute episode for me was "Mrs Slocombe Expects"!!! Mr Lucas has a field day with it!!!, but of course at the end, In comes a basket of gorgeous Kittens that Mrs Slocomb's Pussy just gave birth to....very clever, just perfect..Lots of later actors turned up quite often. Now its a matter of spotting the celebrity guest appearance. Sad they have all gone. Time waits for no one, and we should have a good laugh more while we can.
You ask who was my favorite character. I say, how can I choose? I like each and every one of them. They made the show great, and it just wouldn't have been the same without them 😸
Mr. Mash (and later, Mr. Harmon) deserve a little mention, though neither one got the same amount of spotlight, they both were valuable members of the show. Speaking as one who has worked in a similar job, I can honestly say that stuff doesn't get done if you f with maintenance.
A shame. My wife and I love both shows and have seen all the episodes many times. Our thanks to all the people who put them together. Others have mentioned favorite characters, but I don't think I can. Every time I think of a favorite character, another character sneaks in. It was truly an ensemble cast.
I loved this show in America as a child. It ran on pbs public television, usually with doctor who and red dwarf on Sunday nights, I was sleeping in class on Mondays because I would stay up late to watch .
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I really wish you'd get your facts right. Every single video you post has errors. You say every leading cast member has passed away. This is not true, Mike Berry is still alive!
If they're anything as inaccurate as this one, then I'd rather chew off my left gonad thank you very much.
Why don't those who put these videos together actually spend the time to actually watch the series, rather than trawling the net for inaccurate twaddle?
not from you I dont
Your videos are inaccurate
It's hard to choose which character is my favorite but I'm going to go with Mr humphries because he's well really😂
Who did this relative unknown man play?
One of the funniest and well played British sitcoms. In this I am unanimous. 😉
Ha ha brilliant!
😂😂
Loved this show!watched every sunday night.was very funny and never a dull moment!very sorry all have passed.
Love this, and indeed you are!
Well said!👏😂
It is currently March 2023 and Mike Berry (Mr Spooner) is currently 80 years old and very much still alive.
good catch
Still is May 18, 2024.
Still is alive May 24 2024
There are a lot of mistakes. Good catch.
Not an original cast member, he replaced Trevor Bannister. Which is why his batteries are still running.
As an American, Are You Being Served was the first British sitcom I watched and positively loved it. I saw the series countless times and laughed every time. All the actors were terrific, but I shall always remember most Molly and John. RIP to all and enjoy your coffee break with St. Peter.
I think my first "exposure" (if you'll pardon the pun) was the Benny Hill Show.
The first two times I saw "Are You Being Served?" , I thought "God, this is stupid". But, by the third time I was a fan!
@@jimmiles1315 I think its like music. It has its own rhythms and patterns. Once you become familiar with them, then you spot the jokes more easily. And remember, they only did like 6 episodes a year so you were less likely to get tired if the repetitiveness.
There was an American Version of AYBS. The Beans of Boston. The pilot episode was a copy of GERMAN WEEK. It totally sucked! Thank God it wasn't picked up or AYBS never would have flown in the US.
@@jph0917 Its funny what succeeds and what doesn't. The I.T. Crowd comes to mind. Brilliant British show fell flat in America even with one of the key actors participating. That really surprised me. But consider "Three's Company". The original version was British but mediocre at best and Threes Company comes along and blows the lid off. The Ropers and Sanford and Son were all British shows first that were later remade as American sitcoms and were all very popular. I think far more popular than their original British counterparts. And who can forget The Office. It's first 6 seasons were some of the best TV we ever done. But it too started as a British sitcom.
Everyone on the show was funny but John Inman's hilarious over the top antics and stories was pure comedy gold.
Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?
He was a regular in the Bacon arms in Newbury, Berkshire. I've heard some funny stories from other regulars there at the time. Apparently he would tell long anecdotes and stories that would entertain small groups drinking at the time.
The sitcom was meant to be a vehicle to promote Trevor Bannister (Mr Lucas), but due to John Inman's comic timing, they started to focus on him more.
Interesting fact: Although Mr Lucas is supposed to be junior to Mr Humphries, Trevor Bannister was actually a year or two older than John Inman.
When it originally started an executive at the BBC didn't like the character of Mr Humphries, and he told the creators to (and I quote) "Get rid of the poof!" One of the creators said "If the poof goes I go!"
Imagine the show without Mr Humphries (John Inman even went abroad a couple of times to help launch foreign versions of the show).
As of 2023 of the regular cast only Mike Berry (former pop singer) is still alive but only played Mr Spooner, whose character replaced Trevor Bannister in the 1980s series. In the later episodes John Inman's "I'm free" catchphrase no longer raised a laugh Other occasional cast members such as Joanna Lumley are still alive as well as the (then) young actresses who played the secretaries of "Young" Mr Grace.
Whenever I am in a lift where it announces "Ground floor" I can never resist adding "Perfumery and leather goods, going up." You can usually tell the age of the other passengers by those who smile or laugh in recognition of the reference!
You are not on your own...
"Ground Floor. Perfumery, Stationery and Leather Goods, Brigs and Haberdashery, Kitchenware and Food. Going up!" :)
'First floor telephones, gents ready made suits, shirts, socks ,ties, hats, underwear and shoes going up! 😁
Grand, just grand!
Second Floor. Carpets, Travel Goods and Bedding, Material, Soft Furnishings, Restaurant and teas, Going Down!
The shop was not a Clothing Chain Store.....it was representing an old fashioned DEPARTMENT STORE with many departments on several floors.
Ah yes.. good old "Bathroom Fittings" 🤣
Just what I said.
Indeed. Who could forget the episode where they were all "rotated" into the toy department (where Mr Grainger wanted to remain so he could play all day with the train sets).
As the theme music for every single episode makes perfectly clear.
@@Krzyszczynski That one was a classic... Especially Mr. Humphries playing with "Funtime Freddy" and the "Wibbly Wobblies"
Then there was Mrs. Slocumb's bride doll who announced, "I want to go to the potty"!🤣🤣
Frank Thornton did not disappear from acting in 2001. He did some of his best work in Last Of The Summer Wine all the way through to 2010.
That’s what I also thought 👍👍👍👍😻
What do you expect - this video was obviously made by some clueless Yank.
Exactly, another fantastic comedy.
Yes
My aunt had died, but my mother and I loved that show as well.
One of the most genuine and lovable television sitcoms ever.
Couldn't agree more! Thank you for sharing your views on this. Which episode appealed to you the most?
@@FactsVerseUK There is a episode, where the staff brain-storms, and they have to share their middle names, one favorite episodes. If anyone person had been cast by someone else, I think, Are you being served, would have fallen short. But also, credit has to go to the producers and directors, and writers, that were able to keep churning out funny scripts. Oddly enough, the "Are you being served" movies are terrible, and the characters falls flat and seem almost mean and angry.
The magic that was Croft and Perry.
I met Nicholas Smith once, quite by accident. He was touring the US, making appearances at local PBS stations to help in fundraising. He was at our local PBS station when he heard that our County Fair was going on. Being a big fan of country fairs, he insisted on attending. I was an employee of the fair at the time, and got to meet him as he strolled around. He was a humble, genuinely warm gentleman.
Aka....."Jug ears" ! 😁
Quite unlike the other "jug-eared" Pommie toff? 😜🤔🤣🤣
They had both John Inman and Molly Sugden at different times, doing pledge drives on PBS here in the Buffalo area in the 90s. I remember for a large amount of money, you could have tea with John Inman. I would have loved to go to that, if I could have afforded it. Still, it was cool they came to this area at all!
sweet story, thanks!
@@ammo8713 where’s your photo? Let’s mock your looks.
Definitely makes you think about the passage of time when familiar faces are all passed. As mentioned, the actor who played “Young” Mr Grace was born in 1896 - Queen Victoria was on the British throne and had 5 more years to reign.
Old Mr. Grace doesn't get about much, anymore.
You’ve all done very well.
@@wolver73 [grabs chest and nurse checks on him]
@@specialk9424 I still laugh thinking about that line, LOL.
I use this line with my collegues. None are the wiser.@@wolver73
My father absolutely adored this show. He was quite ill when he began watching the DVDs, and he lived to see every episode, including the Christmas reunion. That series brightened the final days of his life, and I'm grateful that he found joy in the characters and their zany antics.
Glad to know that your father is a fan, thanks for sharing! How about you?
I met John Inman in Michigan. He looked just like he did on TV (many years had passed since the show aired) and was very nice to all the people who greeted him. They are all missed.
Such a Brilliant show. How can one choose a favourite character..they were all so good. Rest in Peace 🌟
Capt. Peacock.
As a teenager at the time it was definitely Miss Brahms.
@@mickm6309 Ha! i can see why, i think she was the first of them to pass away.
@@mickm6309 She was very very attractive! I was about 28 and married at the time but fancied her rotten. Died far too soon. R.I.P.
I loved John Inman. He was fabulous! Are You Being Served was a great show. God bless all the actors who made it such a success!
That's when BBC comedy WAS king.
With his catch phrase "I'm Free"
He also had an uncredited role in Shakespeare in Love as Lady Capulet in the stage play of Romeo and Juliet.
@@doogle2822 Still use it for fun on occasions
A workmate of mine actually met him one time and im happy to report he was a lovely, down to earth gentleman
Mollie Suden as Mrs Slocum was wonderful. I even laughed at her stories when I had seen the episode many times. All of the actors were perfectly cast. It was a unique and great series.
Slocombe
I grew up in 70s UK, I remember seeing the black n white pilot at age 11 ... still laughing! 🤣
Yes, they were all of them perfect for their roles.
@@MsWilliam99 Even her name was hilarious
Sugden/Slocombe
All of those beloved characters hold a special place in my heart. My parents and I never missed watching episodes on Saturday nights on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), along with Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By. It was the highlight of my week spending those times with my elderly parents, who have since passed away. Wonderful memories.
same 3 Britcoms still airing weekly Sat nite in Miami!
Agreed. I like the show Waiting for God too.
@@dwightbutler2221 my absolute fave! most brilliant acting (like Marion LMAO 😂!) writing, and ad - libbing I know of ... so happy to have the DVD set! 😁. Tom: Diana what's wrong with your face? Diana: I'm smiling. Tom: well don't ... you look like a giant clam! 😆😆
I live in Texas USA and I absolutely loved that show. Mrs. Slocombe was my favorite. It's really sad that they are all gone. Each and every one of them will live in my heart and may they all RIP.
Original cast member not mentioned was Larry Martyn,who played Mr mash.. the warehouse man..later replaced by Arthur english..who played Mr harman..great show..wonderful collection of actors/actresses.
Wasn't Arthur English married to Molly Sugden?
@@richardphillips6281 After some quick research..she was married to fellow actor Simon Moore,whom she had twin sons by,they married in 1958 and remained together up to his death in the year 2000..no mention of Arthur English.
Thank you Matthew. My recollection of conversations at work about this at that time obviously wrong.
I still remember the episode where he had set up a Chrismas display and the automated Father Christmas worked like a "flasher" with his back to the camera.
Both of them were awesome and had MANY funny lines.
This series was unheard of in America until one of the PBS stations in the San Francisco Bay area began airing them in 1991 and it became a big hit with audiences! So much so, some of the cast, Inman and Thornton made guest appearances at the stations fund drives in San Francisco, talking about the series and cast members. Inman said because of the success of the series in America, a spin off was started called "Are you being served Again." But it was short lived. PBS aired that series too in the 1990's.
That's so interesting, thankyou for that info 👍
Mr. Humphreys and Mr. Lucas came to Memphis (WKNO) at different times for fund drives. Mr. Humphreys took the city by storm, as expected, but Mr.Lucas, not so much! He was totally unimpressed with Graceland and commented that it was very small!
Yes indeed, the show was huge here for sure.
PBS in western New York state started showing it in 1989.
KQED (San Francisco PBS) had many stunning British imports, back in the 70''s and 80's. We were so spoiled! There were literally dozens, including the wonderful original Masterpiece Theatre, and the Friday night Mystery theatre, which included wonderful series like Lord Peter Wimsey, and Dorothy Sayers mysteries: I especially enjoyed "Gaudy Night". All of them excelled in excellent period correct clothing, scenery and cars!
They were all my favourites!!! Loved every one of them and I was just thinking (before I saw this). Why doesn't vision or public television show repeats of Are You Being Served. I for o n e would watch every single repeat (again). Thanks so much for showing this on utube. I just loved it.
As someone who still works in the luxury sales business, I loved this show and empathized with each of the characters and what they did throughout the series. God bless them all!
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
@@FactsVerseUK I don't recall which episode exactly but l like the ones where Mr. Humphries crossed dressed or wore something very flamboyant.
I adored all these characters so much I can't pick just one!!
Do stores like this still exist in the UK?
@@davido6684 I think Harrod's?
I have watched this series countless times and never tire of it. I don't have a cast favorite as the ensemble was what was so special about the series. What a treasure!
They were all wonderful. Even their facial expressions made me laugh out loud. But if I had to choose, it would be Mr. Humphries. The walk, the delivery, and the gestures, created a completely comedic character.
Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?
Singer and actor Mike Berry appeared in the final series of the show, in the role previously played by Trevor Bannister as Mr Lucas. Mike had a long and successful career as a pop singer from the early 1960s and is still alive, aged 81.
One of the best British comedies I was able to watch on PBS for many years. I saw so many BBC shows on PBS and I must say this is at the top of my list.
the BBC used to make the best comedy there was but now it's sterile woke crap
I started watching when I was 9, still one of my favorite shows that PBS showed next to Dr who
I ( and my hubby)have loved this show and still do use some of their tag lines to this day , I hope the loved ones of these incredible actors know that the performances have left an indelible mark upon millions of people to this day. It’s still one of my go to cerise that I watch when I want to feel happy and content
Very nicely put! 😃
It will ride up with wear
@@raulduke6105 lol yes !!
Are you free?
(If not, how much do you charge?)
I’m free!
I loved them all. This was a great sitcom. They still pop up on BBC from time to time and I make it a point to watch the reruns.
I watched this show on PBS every week! Loved it! Thank you for put together this compilation.
Mike Berry (Mr Spooner), who replaced Trevor Bannister, is still with us. I think that makes him the last surviving cast member, but, of course, he was not with the show from the beginning.
And the nurse she still with us
@@nfj72 Penny Irving.
Miss Belfridge?
@@sharksport01yes, Candy Davis is still alive at 62
Although Mike Berry was not an original member of AYBS, he was nonetheless very much part of the show when he replaced Trevor Bannister in 1981. He turned 80 on September 24th of last year
"Ground floor perfumery, stationery and leather goods, wigs and haberdashery, kitchenware and food, going up!
First floor telephones, Gents readymade suits, shirts, socks, ties, hats, underwear and shoes, going up!"
Didn't need to research the lyrics, I've been watching "Are you being Served" all my life and watch it to this day 🧡
My dad (an American) at the age of 88 discover this show on RUclips and it made him laugh so hard. it was a comfort and a moment of joy for this aged widower. As his 60’something kids, we now have the dvds.
The joy and laughter they bought to thousands. A great period for UK comedy before the world would decades later become so incredibly precious and serious. I might sound like an old fart and maybe I am, but the world was a better place then as this show exemplifies. Fun was a big part of life and not every individual feeling like they are victim. Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft wrote the best television comedies of all time. We are in debt to them for the wonderful times they gave us viewers and the memories we still hold dear.
My dad and I watched this every Saturday night for years! Whenever I message someone on our internal network at work, I always start with, “Are you free?” I love this show and this cast!
Could always make my mother laugh.
My mother in law introduced me to this show 31 years ago. Absolutely loved it as well as keeping up appearances🥰
Mrs Bucket was hilarious 😂 poor old Geoffrey 🤣
That's another great show!
A brilliant show with a wonderful ensemble cast who appeared to spark effortlessly off of one another. Pure joy.
Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. Who is your favorite cast member?
@@FactsVerseUK That is hard. Probably has to be John Inman
They were ALL so wonderful, sad their lives ended too early. I have watched most of the reruns and they always have me rolling with laughter. What a special team of highly talented and funny actors. I loved watching them in the 80's and continue to do so even now. Thank you!
Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?
@@FactsVerseUK Keeping Up Appearances was hilarious as well.
A few of the cast lived well past eighty.
I've found myself back again watching and laughing all over again. Keeping up Appearances , as someone wrote, was also great fun.@@FactsVerseUK
This sitcom was Pure Gold
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
no mension of debbie lyndon
@@roywatson8133 was that one of mister grace's fancy?
And Mr Harmon (if I've spelt it correctly,) was it? The gadget man/ repairer?
I grew up in the UK and Rember watching the original run of" Are You Being Served." I was thrilled when later I found it on my local PBS station and now have the whole series on box set. Even after all these years and despite knowing all the lines by heart, I still love the show.
@@FactsVerseUK It HAS to be German Week!! How could you not like... "Bustenhalters!!!" and the German dance with Mr. Humphries in those small tight lederhosen?🤣🤣🤣🤣
Pure Comedy Gold. The concept, the characters and most of the episodes are well written and the casting is perfect. Love this show to pieces.
100% agree.
The best of the best! Undoubtedly. "I'm free".
Love this show. Amazing humor with an amazing cast. They shall be missed, but they will live on forever.
Honestly-I LOVED them ALL! So many BRITCOMS have made my viewing experiences SO much more enjoyable than I could ever have hoped for. I’m an American Anglophile who could rarely relate to any American comedy. When I discovered the dry wit of BRITCOMS I found my home so to speak and watched most every one presented on my public television stations. Thank You for this info! 👏😊
Need to point out that Grace Brothers was not a clothing store It was a full blown department store selling furnishings, electrical goods, etc etc, as alluded to in the opening credits listing the goods available on each floor in the title song.
Right!
As an aside, there was also a chain of department stores in Sydney, Australia, called Grace Brothers. I'm unsure what the owners thought of Are You Being Served.
@@normandiebryant6989 I always thought they missed a trick by not at least getting John to do a promo when he was doing are you being served Australia , even better imagine if Grace Bothers Australia had hired the cast to come out here and have them in character doing a store promotion.
@@mjk45 They couldn't do that; Mr Humphries was free, but Mrs Slocombe's pussy would have had to have been quarantined.
I met John Inman once at an autograph signing. He was a perfect gentleman and so pleasant. A true talent!
I loved this show. My favourite was Mrs. Slocombe (I am unanimous in that), as she often said in each episodes. My second favourite was Mr. Humphries, he always made me laugh. Everyone will be sadly missed.
I am unanimous in that as well. I say it often!
me too!
They were both wonderful actors and both hilarious!
I agree with the favorites you have, although I loved them all. My husband also really enjoyed the show.
I was introduced to "Are You Being Served" in the early '90s by my steady. We laughed or rolled our eyes at the antics. My late mother worked at a department store at the time and she said some of those scenarios weren't far off from her experiences. She referred to the often zany ideas from management and the customer behaviors. I have seen very little of "Grace and Favour" but was nice to see the principals move onto another life stage .
Fun stuff, thank you so much for sharing your life story. Which episode is the most memorable for you?
yes, where I worked we had our own share of eccentrics and downright 'mad' types. A lot of the staff had never worked anywhere else since leaving school, and like myself slowly became institutionalised. When I joined the firm, there were staff who had already completed at least three decades of service. I, along with many of the 'old guard' witnessed the slow decline of the company as it slowly moved from a family business, to just another small cog of a soulless corporate leviathan.
Just a small segue regarding department store personnel and grumpy customers.
A grumpy old lady approached one of the large appliance salesmen in our large store.
"Young man! Young man!"
"Yes mam?"
Where is the nearest drinking fountain in this store," she said in an irritated voice.
"Well mam. If you walk down this aisle to the next corner, make a right and continue your walk until you reach the staircase on your right. Then walk down the stairs and upon taking the last step, the fountain will be directly on your right, next to the stairs.,"
The lady sniffed and ejected the obviously irritated question. "And just how far do you expect me to walk."
"All the way mam. All the way."😊
Unfortunately, nothing has stuck after three decades but the general feeling. I'd have to watch the series again to answer your question.
My dad and I watched the show all the time back in the mid 90's when it aired on our local PBS station
I LOVED this show!!! It was telecast on my local PBS station.
This was fantastic thank you! I am an American living in Taiwan now and for the last 30 years I’ve been watching all the reruns almost every day whenever I’m doing the dishes or just walking around the house. The show keeps me company when I’m alone in the house like a family member would. Are you being served is a show that keeps me happy, no matter what the circumstances of my life surrounds me. My wife says she’s going to play the theme song for my funeral someday! . Oh my gosh.
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One of my all-time favorite British comedies! And I am Unanimous in that! LOL 😂 R.I.P. 💐
Few shows have come together and left a warm spot on their audience’s heart as did this one. I thank them for the many pleasant hours of entertainment they gave to me. Bravo to them all.
I'm surprised that there weren't many episodes of the show. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
@@harperstacey9604 13 yrs worth of episodes, that's pretty many I would think 🤔 😊
This show is so nostalgic for me. I used to watch this with my mom as well as "Keeping up appearances" and "The Vicor of Dibley". I watch it alot when I'm Missing her❤
All of them have a place in my heart and fond memories of watching the each and every episode with my papà after dinner then into our study/family room, furnished in with an accent on English Country club style with wood ceiling, leather armchairs, leather couch charming backdrop of English cutlery, tea cups and our VHS recorded episode of another Are You Being Served... the cast fit right into our relaxed evenings together as family... oh how I still vividly recall being at ease, relaxed, and happy in my childhood there having our tea together ❤️
I knew places and shopped together with family and friends at just that type of department store with sales representatives like all the cast members in Are You Being Served... absolutely lovely and everyone was always so helpful and caring not only in our purchases, also about how we were getting along in our new community in the southern state, being that we were all Connecticut Yankees stereotypical family kind of folks, so we stood out with our manner and accent from New England country folks... loved every minute of their attention, mind ya I am of a Swedish abstract, so were not typically known for liking unwarranted uninvited attention upon ourself and🤌 being a jew always 🤏bit guarded with sales reps. etc... 🙃✍️😉🙏📚✒️📖👨💻🫣😇
God Blesses everyone
Shalom Aleichem
Peace be upon y'all
🤦cawfee tawk ☕️&⚾️🌄🏃♂️w/🥮✍️📖📚😏✡️😉🤦♀️✌️👌😏😎🫡😇
I used to watch Are You Being Served as well as Keeping up Appearances with my Dad. Now whenever I think of the show, I think of my Dad. I miss him as well as all these wonderful actors.
I will always be glad this show was a part of my childhood. It helped instill my love of British comedies.
My sister & I watched this with her 2 children when they came to visit in the summer. Lots of laughter ensued.
"I'm FREE!! I'm FREE!!" I have to admit, when I first discovered AYBS, I enjoyed the crazy antics of How ALL the characters took there hilarious cues from each other. However, John Inman's Mr. Humphries, was quickly becoming my FAVORITE! I absolutely fell in Love with his ability to make everyone Laugh so much, that at times I noticed some of the cast mates TRYING SO hard to NOT BREAK CHARACTER!!! :) They ALL were absolutely Brilliant!! as was AYBS.
What an excellent show! Loved all the cast members, especially Molly Sudgen & John Inman. A true English treasure - often imitated, but never duplicated - & timeless classic comedy., far superior to anything produced for TV today. 😘
Mike Berry is the last surviving member of the main cast of Are You Being Served. He played Mr Bert Spooner in series 8-10.
Yes. He also appeared in “The Voice UK” as a contestant a few years ago.
I think he is talking about the original cast but he didn't list all of the people who replaced Mr. Grainger. No mention of Mr. Harman or Mr. Mash. They were very important parts of the show.
@@cosmicvagabond I never cared for Mash but I loved Mr.Harman
Yeah, mr marsh was gross. Mr Harman was better. And he did a lot in show.
@@cvgthedaydreamfairygirl8092 I am the opposite: Mr Mash was perfection, the other guy gave me a bad vibe.
I loved this show. They were perfect. I watched this over and over again . I am so glad I was born in 1941 to see all of these.
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
Mrs Slocombe was my favourite character although like Dad's Army, it was a great ensemble cast and each show needed all these wonderful actors and characters to make it such a hit and give them such a long lasting legacy. They will always remain comedy classics, as funny today as when first broadcast.
I am a latecomer to this series viewing it recently though the miracle of DVD. Though decades after the end of this series it still gets laughs from family viewers.
Saddened to hear of the passing of this very talented cast but they will live for as long as people enjoy great comedy.
RIP all you wonderful beautiful people.
Just watching this makes me want to re watch "Are you being served" again. I watched it as a kid and loved it so much, my favourite characters were Mrs. Slocombe and Captain Peacock.
It's being reshown on Freeview,can't remember the channel,but I've been spending a bit of time staying with my mum and stepdad and they've been recording an episode each weekday night and watching them with me,and the same with the earliest series of New Tricks.
They also record and watch,with me,old episodes of As Time Goes By with Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.
The episodes of Are You Being Served? we saw recently were on the Drama channel,but they seem to have stopped showing them for the time being.
It's available on DVD from BBC home video in boxed set form. Hope you can get it and enjoy.
I was born in 1970 and I came across the show in the 90s and fell in love with it. Thank you to the cast and crew for many many hours of laughter.
They are all surviving. The joy and laughter they brought surpasses any extinction that could befall them.
If it hadn't been mentioned yet, I also remember Frank Thornton playing the role of Herbert "Truly" Truelove on "Last of the Summer Wine."
I believe that Mr. Peacock was in the Last of the Summer Wine also. They don't make shows like that anymore. One Foot in the Grave was a classic also. They all will be missed.
Yep, he played a much larger role than Trevor Bannister.
Loved last of the summer wine
They brought happiness to us viewers. They worked well together and hats off to them!
A truly WONDERFUL show! too bad they just don't make entertaining shows like this anymore.
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
For me, one of my favourites is German Week - where they are selling only German merchandise.
they can't make stuff like this anymore as it would offend someone
Mike Berry who played the character of Mr Spooner is the only cast member of Are You Being Served to be still alive, admittedly he isn't an original cast member.
Actually Vivienne Johnson who played Young Mr Grace's personal nurse is also still with us
@@Steve_P_B Penny Irving also...
Very good, I stand corrected 👍
@@BeasleyStreet and Moira Foot and other secretaries
@@Steve_P_B Vivienne Johnson is probably in her 80's. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
One of the funniest comedy shows of all time!, even now it is still repeated and still just as funny as it always was, the jokes never get old!, the whole cast worked so well together, sad to think they are now all gone.
My wife and I loved Are You Being Served? - such a great series. So nice to hear about each of the cast members.
We're very happy to know that you and your wife are a fan of the show. Which episode is the most memorable for you?
MY WIFE AND I REALLY ENJOY THE SHOW; "ARE YOU BEING SERVED" - IT IS HARD TO PICK A FAVORITE FROM THAT CAST, THEY WERE ALL WONDERFUL AND VERY TALENTED PEOPLE, RIP TO THEM ALL - GOOD VIDEO, THANKS FOR POSTING, *BRAVO!!!!!!!*
British comedy is the best one can get,always has been and their films.
Somehow no one else seems to be able to do it.
Greetings from South Africa
You have to have a sense of humour to stand the weather!
PBS started showing this series in the late 1980s in the USA and I loved it. I taped them all with my VHS player and watched them over and over. Arthur Brough and Molly Sugden were my two favorites on the show. It would have never been funny without Mrs Slocombe. And that saying "old Mr Grace doesn't get about much" still cracks me up.
It wasn't a clothing store, it was a department store. The show, Grace and Favour was also known as Are You Being Served Again?. Just going through another watch through of all ten seasons at the moment. Sad they all passed. Such a talented cast.
They were all so good, it is hard to pick a favourite. Totally enjoyed the series.
I worked as a set dresser on this show in 1972. I worked on the pilot episode and then the first season. It was an interesting experience.
That's really cool! My grandmother enjoyed the show, and I understood why when I got older.
I like the way you arrange your undergarments.
That's wonderful. Lukky you👍
Good interesting, bad interesting, or weird interesting?
@@muziklvr7776 Good interesting, Grace Bros was based on a real boutique department store called Simpsons on Picadilly. One of the writers had worked in the window dressing department there. That connection was how I became a dresser on the set. The director wanted the set to look like a real department store so he asked the manager of the window dressing dept if we would be interested in dressing the set. It meant that we had to be at the BBC studios at 4.30am to dress the set and be ready for the first rehearsal at 8am. They would rehearse till about 10am and then the audience would be admitted. We got to watch the whole process plus we had to be on hand to fix any problems that came up. The pay was very good because there was a wage freeze on. It was in the days when Unions had a lot of power, so how we were employed became a problem. Eventually we were employed as extras, we had to join Actors Equity. As an aside John Inman lived about 3 streets away from where I was living in Notting Hill Gate. We would see him but never spoke, actors didn't mix with the workers.
Simpsons on Picadilly is now a Waterstones book shop. The building is heritage listed as an example of 30s architecture.
I was back in London in 2018 and somehow a taxi driver was talking about Are you being served. He was so excited when I told him that I worked on the set.
Thank you to all the cast that always provided laughs for the world. Loved them ALL.
Watching this show was and still is like eating my favorite comfort foods. Many THANKS from North Carolina 📺👍‼️
You're very much welcome! We're glad to know that you love our video. If we may ask, who is your favorite cast member?
Back in 1996, I saw Frank Thornton in a West End production of a comedy called Cash on Delivery, a British farce which was truly wonderful and gut wrenching funny from end to end. Frank was extremely funny as a NHS fraud inspector and I’ll never forget, he forgot a line and momentarily broke the 4th wall and said “It’s bound to happen one night”. The stage actors and the audience were in stitches. Frank seamlessly replayed the scene and the show went on. It was a wonderful moment and demonstrated Frank’s utter professionalism. The flub even added to the show
All the actors were pure gold wonderful show
This was my absolute favourite show. The characters were all so funny. My favourite was Mr Humphries. It was all the funnier to me because my mum worked in a department store just like that in the seventies, in the mens department. The staff called each other Mr, Miss or Mrs just as in the programme. One day a woman brought her grandson into the mens department to buy him some new underwear. My mum served them. He took the underpants into the changing room and tried them on. Then his grandmother said that he didn't want them because the hole was in the wrong place😂. It would have been perfect for an episode for the show. Happy days.
🤔I started watching it here in Dallas on our PBS station decades ago and they were like family to me. A welcome change from some of our boring TV back then. Still love it. So, Hello to all of you wherever you are from Texas.🤣🥳🥰
That is awesome, thanks for sharing! How are things there in Dallas?
Thanks for the update .. may their souls rest in peace. They were wonderful at their roles. And the laughs are still good.
It was an honor to have watched it all, over and over again.
I loved this show as a child in the 90's along with Some Mothers Do Ave 'Em and Fawlty Towers. My nanna lived with us and she introduced me to 70's/80's British sitcoms. I loved them then and still love them now.
What a lovely gift and wonderful memories. I treasure the shows I watched with my mum and dad
this program was shown *for years* on educational tv in the USA. during fund raising weeks, some of the cast members (John Inman and Mollie Sugden, for example) attended in person in different studios across the states to help raise funds.
Brought joy into the home for many years on PBS.
Love this show. My mom used to watch it with me back in the 80's on American PBS. Also, Keeping up Appearances, East Enders, Black Adder and Mr Bean.
You may have heard that John Cleese is doing a new Fawlty Towers.
@@dlittlester Hey, no I didn't. Thanks for the heads up Don ☺️
it is so hard to single out one performer each was there own talent ,just loved this comedy ,so badly needed today.
I used to work for House of Fraser in one of their dated department stores, in the north of England. And it was just like a sitcom. We all wore badges with our names on them, and in front of customers addressed one another by our surname. There was no ageism, nobody looked down on anyone, we were all different age groups, and different walks of life, like a big family. Those years were some of the happiest years of my life.
It's so sad to hear all the cast members have passed away. I loved that show and the actors. May they all RIP with our love!!
being now 71 I grew up with this lot, and at one time, I loved Mike Yarwood, and took up amateur acting at my dept store, doing Frank Spencer impersonations. My staff friends sent off to Opportunity Knocks without me knowing for an audition. I was knocked off my feet to get a letter about it. sadly In those days, I was suffering severe panic and anxiety disorders. I would never have go on a train to London. As far as Grace Brothers go, it was so 1970s, Snow cropped up many times in the South east where I lived, people forget we had bitterly cold winters then. Strikes, the weather was what we lived through as young teens. Your first car, your first date, The dressing up was simply sublime and so funny. Those mechanical point of of sale things were simply so funny. Jug ears was really my favourite, he would do anything to save his hide from Young Mr Grace. I loved the episode where they had to go work in the toy dept. As a model train user, I was so happy to see Mr Granger and staff playing with that train set end of the show!! The lady who played the cafeteria boss was epic too. I always laughed at "Stephens" Reference to the "Executive Dining Room"!! The most cute episode for me was "Mrs Slocombe Expects"!!! Mr Lucas has a field day with it!!!, but of course at the end, In comes a basket of gorgeous Kittens that Mrs Slocomb's Pussy just gave birth to....very clever, just perfect..Lots of later actors turned up quite often. Now its a matter of spotting the celebrity guest appearance. Sad they have all gone. Time waits for no one, and we should have a good laugh more while we can.
Tremendous show. Can't choose a favorite. Each so fine in his or her own right. Have watched reruns so many times. Must view at least two a week!
You ask who was my favorite character. I say, how can I choose? I like each and every one of them. They made the show great, and it just wouldn't have been the same without them 😸
One regular character missing from here is the brown-jacketed,white haired maintenance guy with the endless supply of cheeky quips.
@@rjjcms1 Yes! How could one forget Mr. Mash and then his successor Mr. Harmon?
@@AnimalisMD Mr. Mash was always feeling up the mannequins. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
@@harperstacey9604 All while blowing raspberries to Capt. Peacock!
I grew up watching re-runs of this show in the 90's, it's so good. A fantastic cast. Sad that they are all gone now!
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
Mr. Mash (and later, Mr. Harmon) deserve a little mention, though neither one got the same amount of spotlight, they both were valuable members of the show. Speaking as one who has worked in a similar job, I can honestly say that stuff doesn't get done if you f with maintenance.
Mr Mash was my favorite … it was a shame he left the series so early
Last of the summer wine is great I still watch both and thoroughly enjoy them no matter how many times I watch them
I have loved this show and do to this day!! The store reminds me of my childhood!! I'm 68 and will continue to watch over and over again!
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
There is no favorite!!! The entire cast made this show !! They all went together greatly!!
British sitcoms are really funny. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
I've gotta agree with that!😊
A shame. My wife and I love both shows and have seen all the episodes many times. Our thanks to all the people who put them together.
Others have mentioned favorite characters, but I don't think I can. Every time I think of a favorite character, another character sneaks in. It was truly an ensemble cast.
I loved this show in America as a child. It ran on pbs public television, usually with doctor who and red dwarf on Sunday nights, I was sleeping in class on Mondays because I would stay up late to watch .