Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > "Are You Being Served?" (1972)
"Are You Being Served?"
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditsepisode listepisodes castepisode ratings... by rating... by votestv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsrecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

"Are You Being Served?" (1972) More at IMDbPro »TV series 1972-1985

Photos (see all 58 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
8.3/10   1,091 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Contact:
View company contact information for Are You Being Served? on IMDbPro.
Seasons:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 full episode list
Release Date:
21 March 1973 (UK) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Plot:
The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a major department store. full summary
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
British Actress Sugden Dies
 (From WENN. 1 July 2009, 3:01 PM, PDT)

Eastenders Star Richard Dies
 (From WENN. 26 February 2009, 8:15 AM, PST)

User Comments:
I loved this show more

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 9 of 61)
Mollie Sugden ... Mrs. Betty Slocombe (69 episodes, 1972-1985)
John Inman ... Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries / ... (69 episodes, 1972-1985)
Frank Thornton ... Captain Stephen Peacock (69 episodes, 1972-1985)
Wendy Richard ... Miss Shirley Brahms (69 episodes, 1972-1985)
Nicholas Smith ... Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold / ... (69 episodes, 1972-1985)
Trevor Bannister ... Mr. Dick Lucas / ... (48 episodes, 1972-1979)
Arthur English ... Mr. Beverley Harman (48 episodes, 1976-1985)
Harold Bennett ... Young Mr. Grace (46 episodes, 1972-1981)
Arthur Brough ... Mr. Ernest Grainger (34 episodes, 1972-1977)
more

Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Grace Brothers"
more
Runtime:
28 min (69 episodes)
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Australia:PG | USA:TV-PG | UK:PG

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The sex of Mrs. Slocombe's cat, Tiddles, frequently changes from him to her. more
Quotes:
Captain Peacock: [walks up to the manageress] Did you notice that I was clicking my fingers, clearing my throat and banging my spoon on the table?
Canteen Manageress: I did notice it, yeah.
Captain Peacock: And what message do those actions convey to you?
Canteen Manageress: Well, when my two-year-old does it, it usually means he needs to go to the potty.
Captain Peacock: Your truculent behavior has not gone unnoticed and will be reported!
Canteen Manageress: Good! That's what I hoped. Then perhaps the management will realise that sacking my waiting staff is more trouble than it's worth because I ain't serving.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Comedy Connections: Just Good Friends (#5.7)" (2007) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
13 out of 15 people found the following comment useful:-
I loved this show, 17 October 2005
Author: bregund from San Francisco

I remember watching reruns of this show on PBS in the 90s, I must have watched every episode ten times. The only American show that could be compared to AYBS is probably Threes Company, if only for the dirty jokes that pop up on every episode. It was a little weird seeing such proper British people casually tossing off filthy double entendres, but that was part of the charm, the characters were largely oblivious to the fact. My favorite character was Mrs. Slocombe with her sky-high neon-colored hair. She and Mr. Humphries made the show, just like Karen and Jack make Will & Grace, if you get my drift. Mrs. Slocombe had the funniest reactions to every event, no matter how small, and was quick to petulance after her fragile ego was even slightly bruised. I still laugh when I recall scenes from the show, for instance when she walked in one day wearing a brown outfit and Mr. Lucas said "how now brown cow", and she glared at him. I'm laughing as I type this. Or the time when Mr. Rumbold became ill and Mrs. Slocombe took over the whole department and used his office, she started ordering all these fancy things befitting an executive, like a new suit, and Mr. Travis said "She looks like Rocky Marciano". Then she ate the meringue and got a call from Mr. Rumbold not to eat the meringue, and became violently ill. My favorite Mrs. Slocombe episode, if there is one, is when she can't get home so she stays at Grace Brothers upstairs and has a self-contained apartment. One-by-one, all the other characters, who couldn't get home either, drop by to stay at her apartment and she has to accommodate them all. It's hilarious! There's also one episode where Joanne Lumley makes an appearance and she's young and sexy, she's selling perfume or something.

This wasn't the best show ever made, but the characters are so well crafted that you feel like Grace Brothers could be a real department store somewhere. Even in the 70s, when this show was made, Grace Brothers seems hopelessly old-fashioned and out of date.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "Are You Being Served?" (1972)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The Ladies Department?? Planet-38
Mr. Lucas is not attractive holdencopywriting
The way they addressed each other richardmorran
Favourite Episode? jransford1984
Trevor Bannister on LOTSW Tyler94
Fire Practise and Fifty Years On johnl244
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
"'Allo 'Allo!" The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Gone with the Wind Shock "Dad's Army"
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Episode guide Full cast and crew Company credits
External reviews News articles IMDb TV section
IMDb Comedy section IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.

Add a new episode

You may add a new episode for this TV series by clicking the 'add episode' button