Are You Being Served ?

I loved this show when it was first on - showing my age here - yet the gags are still as fresh the umpteenth time around as they were back then. This comedy seems to get better over the years, there was an innocence to the double entendres and who didn't love a mincing "I'm free?" from John Inman. It's great that yet another generation is growing up with the staff of Grace Brothers Department Store, with the mismatch of staff there. Miss Brahms, now long known as Pauline Fowler on East Enders, was every boys dream girl back then - and remembered at that time for her part on the single "Come Outside". And the men, always trying to get one over on ...  Read the complete review

Comedy writer/producer David Croft is best known for his collaboration with Jimmy Perry on comedies such as Dad's Army. For 'Are You Being Served?' he teamed up with Jeremy Lloyd for a long run of hilarious comedy classics. As a programme of quintissential English humour it had everything. Every ingredient for the best in situation comedy is here. A Good Situation The setting of Grace Brothers store is a perfect example of a setting for a sitcom. It means there can be a regular cast set in one place with a regular change of guests as customers with unique situations to exploit. Being the clothing section as well gave a huge scope for jokes about the ...  Read the complete review

If you want a laugh watch it when its on - Advantages: very funny, enjoyable, good cast - Disadvantages: the film was not as good as the series

Are You Being Served? is a classic comedy which is set in a department store called Grace Brothers. Its set around the ladies and gents department, with five characters running through all 8 series (Miss Brahms played by Wendy Richard, Captain Peacock by Frnk Thornton, Mrs Slocombe by Mollie Sugden and Mr Humphries by John Inman). One of my favourite episodes is the one where they all go to Downing Street to put their case to the prime minister because they have not been given the rise they were expecting (and in Captain Peacock's case the rise which had been agreed and ratified) and they are all trying to get fired but then there is a Japanese takeover bid ...  Read the complete review

Mind numbingly Godawful was Are You Being Served ... the ultimate in crass and stereotyped formulaic BBC1 sit com ... you know the sort of thing I mean ... the camp one who likes measuring the gents' inside leg ... the young dumb tart who became an old pillar of the community in Albert Square ... the rebellious but dim young assistant who was actually as old as the hills ... young Mr Grace with his "You've all done very well" ... Mrs Slocombe's pussy... STOP ... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ... in fact it's far too bloody much if you ask me, and even if you don't I'll proffer an opinion. Jimmy Perry and David Croft were able to fashion ...  Read the complete review