Mollie Sugden - Mrs Betty Slocombe
John Inman - Mr Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries
Wendy Richard - Miss Shirley Brahms
Nicholas Smith - Mr Cuthbert Rumbold
Arthur Brough - Mr Ernest Grainger (pilot to series 5)
Trevor Bannister - Mr Dick/James Lucas (pilot to 1979 Special)
Harold Bennett - Young Mr Grace (pilot to 1981 Special)
Larry Martyn - Mr Mash (pilot to 1975 Special)
Stephanie Gathercole - Mr Rumbold's secretary (pilot to series 2)
Nina Francis - Miss Ainsworth (series 2 and 3)
Moira Foot - Miss Thorpe (series 3)
Arthur English - Mr Beverley/Harry Harman (from series 4)
Penny Irving - Miss Bakewell (series 4 to 1979 Special)
James Hayter - Mr Percival Tebbs (series 6 and 1978 Special)
Vivienne Johnson - Nurse (series 6 to 1981 Special)
Alfie Bass - Mr Harry Goldberg (series 7 and 1979 Special)
Mike Berry - Mr Bert Spooner (from series 8)
Milo Sperber - Mr Grossman (series 8, episodes 1 to 4)
Benny Lee - Mr Klein (series 8, episodes 5 to 7; 1981 Special)
Kenneth Waller - Old Mr Grace (series 8 and 1981 Special)
Debbie Linden - Secretary (series 8, episodes 1 to 4)
Louise Burton - Secretary (series 8, episode 4 to 1981 Special)
Candy Davis - Miss Belfridge (from series 9)
Diana King - Mrs Peacock (series 4 and 9)
Diana Lambert - Mrs Peacock (series 10)
Doremy Vernon - Canteen Manageress (from 1975 Special)
Pat Astley - Mr Grace's Nurse (series 5; uncredited)
Are You Being Served? featured a lot of humour based on sexual innuendo, misunderstandings, and mistaken identity. In addition there were sight gags generated by outrageous costumes the characters were sometimes required to wear for store promotions, and gaudy store displays frequently featuring malfunctioning robotic mannequins. The show is well remembered for its prolific use of double entendres.
Despite this abundance of gags, the main humorous base of the series was a merciless attack on the British class system. This permeated every interaction in the show and was especially evident in the conversations between maintenance men Mr. Mash or Mr. Harman and the ostensibly higher-class store personnel.
Characters included such stereotypes as the effeminate Mr. Humphries, who lived with his mother; Captain Peacock, the haughty floorwalker who purportedly fought Rommel in the North Africa Campaign of World War II (but was actually in the Service Corps), and the snobbish and boisterous Mrs. Slocombe of the ever-changing hair colour.
The show spawned the catch phrase "Are you free?", usually said by Captain Peacock to the staff; more often than not, the staff are noticeably free, and each would look solemnly from side to side before saying, "Yes I'm free, Captain Peacock." As John Inman remarked, when Mr. Humphries trilled, "I'm free!" it became his own personal catchphrase.
During its run, the series attracted some mild criticism for its reliance on sexual stereotypes and sexual double entendres, including jokes about Mrs. Slocombe's "pussy" (cat). John Inman's camp portrayal of Mr. Humphries as an effeminate man whose sexual orientation was never expressed was supposedly offensive to some gay men, but the character quickly developed a cult gay following.
Thank you for the add! You have been favorites as long as I can remember! Have saw you in person several times through the years back to the late 50's and early 60's God bless all of you! Betty
You sound great !!!!We feel blessed to have you as our friends. If there is ever anything we can do for you just let us know. Keep up the good work. God Bless you !!!
Its an HONOUR To have you guys on my site to share your music with others altho i know most must know of yall already but for those who do not may they receive the message of the Gospel thru your music ..
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry,
As sweet as any flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour.
The rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
For to do us sinners good.
The rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
On Christmas Day in the morn'.
The rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
For to redeem us all.
The rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
