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IMDbPro

Are You Being Served?

  • TV Series
  • 1972–19851972–1985
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 28m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,624
286
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Watch ’9Gem Promo Trailer’
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a major department store.The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a major department store.The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a major department store.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,624
286
  • Creators
    • Jeremy Lloyd(by)
    • David Croft(by)
  • Stars
    • Mollie Sugden
    • John Inman
    • Frank Thornton
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Jeremy Lloyd(by)
    • David Croft(by)
  • Stars
    • Mollie Sugden
    • John Inman
    • Frank Thornton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 71User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Episodes69

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos1

    9Gem Promo Trailer
    Trailer 0:31
    9Gem Promo Trailer

    Photos476

    Trevor Bannister, Mike Berry, Arthur Brough, Arthur English, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Harold Bennett, John Inman, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, and Mollie Sugden in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    John Inman and Mollie Sugden in Are You Being Served? (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mollie Sugden
    Mollie Sugden
    • Mrs. Slocombeas Mrs. Slocombe
    69 episodes69 eps • 1972–1985
    John Inman
    John Inman
    • Mr. Humphriesas Mr. Humphries…
    69 episodes69 eps • 1972–1985
    Frank Thornton
    Frank Thornton
    • Captain Peacockas Captain Peacock
    69 episodes69 eps • 1972–1985
    Wendy Richard
    Wendy Richard
    • Miss Brahmsas Miss Brahms
    69 episodes69 eps • 1972–1985
    Nicholas Smith
    Nicholas Smith
    • Mr. Rumboldas Mr. Rumbold…
    69 episodes69 eps • 1972–1985
    Trevor Bannister
    Trevor Bannister
    • Mr. Lucasas Mr. Lucas
    48 episodes48 eps • 1972–1979
    Arthur English
    Arthur English
    • Mr. Harmanas Mr. Harman
    48 episodes48 eps • 1976–1985
    Harold Bennett
    Harold Bennett
    • Young Mr. Graceas Young Mr. Grace
    46 episodes46 eps • 1972–1981
    Arthur Brough
    Arthur Brough
    • Mr. Graingeras Mr. Grainger
    34 episodes34 eps • 1972–1977
    Vivienne Johnson
    Vivienne Johnson
    • Mr. Grace's Nurseas Mr. Grace's Nurse
    22 episodes22 eps • 1978–1981
    Penny Irving
    Penny Irving
    • Miss Bakewellas Miss Bakewell…
    22 episodes22 eps • 1976–1979
    Mike Berry
    Mike Berry
    • Mr. Spooneras Mr. Spooner
    21 episodes21 eps • 1981–1985
    Larry Martyn
    Larry Martyn
    • Mr. Mashas Mr. Mash
    18 episodes18 eps • 1972–1975
    Freddie Wiles
    • Goddardas Goddard
    17 episodes17 eps • 1972–1978
    Doremy Vernon
    • Canteen Manageressas Canteen Manageress…
    15 episodes15 eps • 1975–1985
    Candy Davis
    • Miss Belfridgeas Miss Belfridge
    13 episodes13 eps • 1983–1985
    Alfie Bass
    Alfie Bass
    • Mr. Goldbergas Mr. Goldberg
    8 episodes8 eps • 1979
    Kenneth Waller
    • Old Mr. Henry Graceas Old Mr. Henry Grace
    8 episodes8 eps • 1981
    • Creators
      • Jeremy Lloyd(by)
      • David Croft(by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The "lift voice" heard during the theme song played in each episode is that of Stephanie Gathercole who plays Mr. Rumbold's secretary in the earliest episodes.
    • Goofs
      Character's first names vary throughout the series: Mr. Lucas is variously James or Dick; Mr. Harman starts as Harry, then becomes Beverley; the cleaner has three different names, always played by the same actress.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Slocombe: [removes her gas mask] What about this fog! My pussy's been gasping all night.

    • Crazy credits
      Closing credits were preamble with the caption, "You have been watching" followed by each actor, either breaking the fourth wall to the camera or still in character relating to the episode. Sometimes, like the episode "Camping In", this would include the customer shown in the store at night, long after it was closed, since the episode ended with the store employees spending the night in the store.
    • Connections
      Featured in Auntie's Bloomers: More Auntie's Bloomers (1992)

    User reviews71

    Review
    Top review
    A British Comedy Classic!
    This series ran from 1972 to 1985, but as British series typically only do six or seven episodes in a season, there are only sixty-nine episodes in all.

    The series focuses on the relationship between the staff of the ladies' department and the gentlemen's department in a mid-priced department store in London. Also involved in the humor and bickering are the floorwalker, the department manager, and the owner of the store. There were several cast changes, but most of the crew stayed on through the entire run.

    As Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock, the floorwalker) points out in interviews, this show is appealing because it's about shops. Everybody knows what goes on in a shop. We see the bickering for display space, the outrageous lies told to clinch a sale, and the petty squabbles as management institutes ridiculous rules.

    The one flaw to the series is that continuity stank. The departments in question bounced from floor to floor over the years, not because they were moved, but because the writers forgot where they were supposed to be!

    A blessing to fans of the series is the new DVD collection which includes 34 episodes from the first five seasons. There were four Christmas episodes that are rarely shown on television, and two are in the time frame of this set. Also included is "Top Hat and Tails," which had been "lost" for twenty-five years. Once you see it, you'll understand why someone "lost" it until just recently (there's a scene that was surely considered inappropriate at the time).

    This series has its down moments, but every episode brings laughs and joy. The quick wit and hilarious physical comedy remain timeless, even as the clothes seem more dated and the political references get stale.
    helpful•13
    1
    • mapleleaves
    • Jan 9, 2003

    FAQ2

    • Who are the other female sales workers? They don't seem to be included in sales meetings.
    • What was the reason that the male actors in the Gentlemen's department left the show?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 8, 1972 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Spasibo za pokupku
    • Filming locations
      • BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
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