Classic TV Flashback: Are You Being Served?…
Are you free? If so come over here for another classic TV flashback this time taking a look at the classic British sitcom Are You Being Served? Set in the ever unreliable and upper class serving Grace Brothers department store, the men’s and women’s departments were located on level 2 where we got to follow the antics of those involved.
The pilot episode was filmed in black and white, and the show was best known for its witty one liner’s usually always based around sex which in these days would be classed as sexual harassment, or the usual misunderstandings and the regular malfunctioning store display unit.
It would be seen as grossly unacceptable by the Grace Brothers board if the cast wasn’t introduced in the correct order, this was also a regular gag in the show about the order in which information was shared between co-workers. Starting from the top is the owner of Grace Brother department store Young Mr Grace played by Harold Bennett, Mr Grace comes in on the first Monday of every month and is always encouraging his workers telling them they are doing a very good job, while his driver tries to stop him from falling over.
Next in line is the man who likes to think he is the commander of the ship, Mr Cuthbert Rumbold played by Nicholas Smith who was in charge of the entire floor. He was often subject to gags from his subordinates about his bald head, large ears and the fact that he took catch phrases literally. He was very quick to take credit for other peoples ideas, one such instance was when Captain Peacock suggested staging a fashion show, why Mr Grace asked who’s idea it was he jumped at the opportunity to say it was his, only to be told it was a terrible idea. It was obvious that Mr Rumbold’s ambition was to one day be on the board of Grace Brothers, every time he mentioned the boardroom he would look up to the roof as if he wanted to be there.
The man in charge of keeping order on the floor and steering the customer to their intended destination was Captain Stephen Peacock, played by Frank Thornton. Captain Peacock considers himself to be a bit of a ladies man, if Mrs Peacock is out of town he will try to organise plans with Mrs Slocombe only later to turn her down for the more attractive Miss Brahms who would reject his advances, then would try to get back into the good books with Mrs Slocomb. In the end he would always just end up back at square one but he then counter acts this rejection but reinforcing his senior position over everyone.
The very first head of the men’s department in the series was Mr Ernest Grainger who was played by Arthur Brough had been with Grace Brothers for over four decades and did not take too kindly to having to share his floor with the ladies department. Mr Grainger was best known for falling asleep while waiting for a meeting to start in the store with the only way of being woken up by Mr Humphries saying “are you free Mr Grainger?”
One of the most colourful characters was Mrs Betty Slocombe head of the ladies department and played by Mollie Sugden, best known for her ever changing hair colour from episode to episode. Another famous catch phrase from Mrs Slocombe was anything in reference to her cat Tiddles referring to it as her “pussy” which lead to lines such as, “I’ve got to get home, if my pussy isn’t attended to until 8, I shall be stroking it for the rest of the evening.” When ever she wanted to get a point across she would use her phrase “…and I am unanimous in that…” and call someone, most of the time Captain Peacock “weak as water” if she didn’t get her own way.
The most famous character to come out of the series would have to be Mr Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries, senior assistant of the menswear department played by John Inman. Mr Humphries sexuality was the main focal point of running gags in the show and was known for his strange walk and high pitched voice. Whenever he answered the phone he would put on a deep voice unrecognisable to everyone to say “menswear” and whenever asked if he was free to assist he would yell out “I’m Free”. Mr Humphries had a lot of strange friends, often men who had undergone some surgical procedure to become a woman. John Inman would later go on to revive his character Mr Humphries in the Australian version of Are You being Served?
Miss Shirley Brahms played by Wendy Richard was the junior assistant to Mrs Slocombe in the ladies department of Grace Brothers. She was known as the young and attractive assistant who would try and attract the attention of guys so she could get anything from a lift to work, to getting taken out to dinner so she wouldn’t have to pay for it. She was often hounded by Captain Peacock and Mr Lucas and never gave into them.
The always late Mr James Lucas played by Trevor Bannister was the junior assistant for the menswear department and would always be frustrated having to let Mr Grainger and Mr Humphries first crack at every sale. Most of his energy was spent trying to woo Miss Brahms but was never successful in his endeavours, or Mrs Slocombe would think that he is after her. Mr Lucas’ absence from the show was never explained fully with reference made by Captain Peacock that last time the department made no sales the junior was fired.
Mr Mash played by Larry Martyn was the first maintenance man later to be replaced with Mr Harman, both of which had no fear of telling their superiors ‘where to go’, both having extensive knowledge of there rights as employees. Often they would parade around the extra cash they had earned from working overtime, much to the displeasure of the floor staff.
Towards the end of the series many of the characters had been replaced with Mr Grainger, Mr Lucas and Mr Mash no longer being with Grace Brothers. However in 1977 a movie was released titled Are You being Served? The Move using the same characters it involved the store closing and everyone going on holiday together to a place called Costa Plonka in Spain, the movie was grossly unpopular.
These days Are You Being Served can be seen on The Comedy Channel on Sunday’s at 9pm and 11pm and sometimes on the Seven Network when Great Comedy Classics with Russel Gilbert is on.
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