Production
Programme conception
The idea for the show came from Lloyd's brief period in the early 1950s working at Simpsons of Piccadilly, a clothing store which traded for over 60 years until its closing in 1999. The inspiration for the store has also been credited to the former Clements ofAiring
Restoration of the 1972 pilot
Although the pilot was produced in colour, theTheme song
International broadcasts
The series was shown in the United States onCharacters and casting
''Are You Being Served?'' featured humour based on sexualOriginal main cast
*Mr Wilberforce Claybourne Humphries (Subsequent main cast
* Diana Yardswick (Doremy Vernon) (series 3–4, 6–10), the manageress of Grace Brothers' canteen at which the staff had their lunch. Known for serving grossly unappetising food, and for her ill temper and sarcasm, as well as for enforcing strict social order, which dictated that management, sales staff and the maintenance crew and lift operators all dine separately. Initially a minor character, she gradually increased in prominence as the series progressed. * Mr Beverley Harman (Episodes
''Are You Being Served?'' was initially broadcast from 1973 to 1985. Each series had between five and nine episodes. Counting the pilot episode, all episodes and specials from the series, and the film, the show ran for sixty-nine episodes and ten series. Each episode was self-contained, with no continuing story or theme throughout the series.Film
In 1977, as for many other''The Best of Are You Being Served?'' (1992)
Buoyed by the huge success of the series in the United States,2016 revival
In 2016, a one-off revival episode was announced and filmed at dock10 studios. It was broadcast as part of BBC'sOther adaptations
Spin-off
Almost immediately after the cancellation of ''Are You Being Served?'' in 1985, the cast began suggesting a spin-off toPlay
In the summer of 1976, a stage adaptation of ''Are You Being Served?'' ran at the Winter Gardens inAmerican adaptation
In 1979,Australian adaptation
An Australian adaptation, also called ''Dutch specials
TheReception
The series gained much of its popularity with TV viewers by "Merchandise
Seven early episodes were novelised for a book, written by Jeremy Lloyd, called ''Are You Being Served? – Camping in and other Fiascos''. This was written in 1976, and republished in 1997 by ''KQED Books''. The seven episodes featured are "Camping In", "Up Captain Peacock", "Wedding Bells", "His and Hers", "Coffee Morning", "The Hand of Fate" and "The Clock". In 1995, KQED Books published ''Are You Being Served – The Inside Story'' by Adrian Rigelsford, Anthony Brown, and Geoff Tibbals, with a foreword by Jeremy Lloyd, and sub-titled: ''The Inside Story of Britain's Funniest – and Public Television's Favorite – Comedy Series''. In 212 pages, the book's six chapters cover: The Cast of Characters, Behind the Scenes, The Episodes, The Spin-offs, Trivia Quiz, and Glossary. . In 1999, ''I'm Free! The Complete Are You Being Served?'', a guide to the series, was published byDVD releases
All episodes exist in the BBC Archives. All ten series, including a black and white version of the pilot episode, and all five Christmas specials from those years, as well as both series of ''Grace & Favour'' are now available on DVD in the UK (Region 2). ''Are You Being Served?: the Movie'' was released in 2002. A colour-restored version of the original pilot episode has yet to be released commercially. All ten series, as well as both series of ''Grace & Favour'' (in packaging titled ''Are You Being Served? Again!'') and the film are available on DVD in Region 1 (North America). All ten series, as well as both series of ''Grace & Favour'' and the film have been released in Australia (Region 4). A DVD titled ''Are You Being Served? – Best of The Early Years'' and ''Are You Being Served? Christmas Specials'' have also been released.See also
*Notes
References
*External links
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