|
Are You Being Served
''Are You Being Served?'' is a British television sitcom that was broadcast from 1972 to 1985. It was created and written by David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd. Croft also served as executive producer and director. Michael Knowles and John Chapman also wrote certain episodes. Produced by the BBC, the series starred Mollie Sugden, Trevor Bannister, Frank Thornton, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Arthur Brough, Nicholas Smith, Larry Martyn, Harold Bennett and Arthur English. Set in London, the show follows the misadventures and mishaps of the staff and their regular rotating series of customers at the retail ladies' and gentlemen's clothing departments in the flagship department store of a fictional chain called Grace Brothers. The series was broadcast on the BBC for ten series, totalling sixty-nine episodes between 8 September 1972 and 1 April 1985, including five Christmas specials. The sitcom proved a ratings hit with UK audiences, and gained international recognition when broa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sitcom
A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent setting, such as a home, workplace, or community. Unlike sketch comedy, which features different characters and settings in each Sketch comedy, skit, sitcoms typically maintain plot continuity across episodes. This continuity allows for the development of storylines and characters over time, fostering audience engagement and investment in the characters' lives and relationships. History The structure and concept of a sitcom have roots in earlier forms of comedic theater, such as farces and comedy of manners. These forms relied on running gags to generate humor, but the term ''sitcom'' emerged as radio and TV adapted these principles into a new medium. The word was not commonly used until the 1950s. Early television sitcoms were often filme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harold Bennett
Harold Frank Bennett (17 November 1898 – 11 September 1981) was an English actor, active in stage, television and film best remembered for being in sitcoms written and produced by David Croft, having played 'Young Mr. Grace' in the 1970s British sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'', as well as minor character Sidney Bluett in ''Dad's Army.'' Biography Bennett was born in Hastings, Sussex. After leaving school at the age of twelve, in his early life he toured America as a clown with a circus, and later taught English at the Working Men's College in London. During World War I he served as a courier, initially on horseback, then on motorcycle. After the war he took up acting and eventually worked as stage producer in the Tower Theatre, London. He subsequently pursued a career as a draughtsman for an electric company, only taking up his acting career again following retirement. Harold Bennett died of a heart attack on 11 September 1981, aged 82. His wife predeceased him in the 193 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grace & Favour
''Grace & Favour'' (known as ''Are You Being Served? Again!'' in the United States) is a British television sitcom that was first broadcast on BBC One, BBC1 from 10 January 1992 to 8 February 1993. It served as a sequel series to ''Are You Being Served?'', and was written by ''Are You Being Served?'' creators and writers Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft (TV producer), David Croft. The series starred Mollie Sugden, Frank Thornton, John Inman, Wendy Richard and Nicholas Smith (actor), Nicholas Smith reprising their ''Are You Being Served?'' roles, and also starred Fleur Bennett, Joanne Heywood and Billy Burden. History The idea of a spin-off was suggested by the cast of ''Are You Being Served?'' almost immediately after the original series had ended in 1985. Lloyd and Croft liked the idea, but agreed that the department store format was exhausted and that any spin-off would require a change of location. Despite the enthusiasm of the original cast, it was almost seven years before Lloyd ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Are You Being Served? (Australian TV Series)
''Are You Being Served?'' is an Australian sitcom that is based on the British sitcom of the same name; it was produced by Network Ten. A total of 16 episodes were produced in two series, which aired in 1980 and 1981. The draw-card was the presence of actor John Inman reprising his role of Mr. Humphries from the original series. The other characters were all directly based on the regular characters in the show's original British version, but were all given new names, hence there were no other returning original actors.Stavordale, Peter. "Opera Star June For New Comedy Series.", ''TV Week''. 9 February 1980, page 27 In comparison to the original series, Inman described this version of the series as "tighter - there's less padding".''The Cheek of it all Comes Out Again.'', TV Week. 29 November 1980, page 2 For the opening theme, Inman himself performed vocals. Premise (media help) Mr. Humphries (Inman) is sent to Australia by Mr. Grace to work temporarily for his Austra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Are You Being Served? (film)
''Are You Being Served?'' is a 1977 British comedy film directed by Bob Kellett and written David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd, based on the 1972–85 BBC sitcom of the same name, which follows the staff of the men's and women's clothing departments of the London Grace Brothers department store. The story is adapted from the successful stage production of the show, which played at Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The film features the performers from the television series, including Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Frank Thornton, Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, Wendy Richard, and Nicholas Smith. The movie was one of the last credits for executive Nat Cohen. Plot As Grace Brothers undergoes redecorations, the management sends the staff on a paid holiday to the resort of Costa Plonka, on the Spanish coast. On the first night they think they are allocated seven "penthouses" but it is in fact "tent-houses" outside the hotel – save for Mr Harman, who is given one of the hotel's luxury suites, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comedy Playhouse
''Comedy Playhouse'' is a long-running British anthology series of one-off unrelated sitcoms that aired for 128 episodes from 1961 to 1975. Many episodes later graduated to their own series, including '' Steptoe and Son'', '' Meet the Wife'', '' Till Death Us Do Part'', ''All Gas and Gaiters'', '' Up Pompeii!'', '' Not in Front of the Children'', '' Me Mammy'', '' That's Your Funeral'', '' The Liver Birds'', ''Are You Being Served?'' and particularly ''Last of the Summer Wine'', which is the world's longest running sitcom, having run from January 1973 to August 2010. In all, 27 sitcoms started from a pilot in the ''Comedy Playhouse'' strand. In March 2014, it was announced that ''Comedy Playhouse'' would make a return that year with three new episodes. Two further series each comprising three episodes were broadcast in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Background The series began in 1961 at the prompting of Tom Sloan, Head of BBC Light Entertainment at the time. Galton and Simpson w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BBC1
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and Flagship (broadcasting), flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, primetime drama and entertainment, and live BBC Sport events. The channel was launched on 2 November 1936 under the name BBC Television Service, which was the world's first Television in the United Kingdom, regular television service with a high level of image resolution. It was renamed BBC TV in 1960 and used this name until the launch of the second BBC channel, BBC Two, BBC2, in 1964. The main channel then became known as BBC1. The channel adopted the current spelling of BBC One in 1997. The channel's annual budget for 2012–2013 was £1.14 billion. It is funded by the television licence fee together with the BBC's List of BBC television channels and radio stations, other domestic television stati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ronnie Hazlehurst
Ronald Hazlehurst (13 March 1928 – 1 October 2007) was an English composer and conductor who, having joined the BBC in 1961, became its Light Entertainment Musical Director. Hazlehurst composed the theme tunes for many well-known British sitcoms and game shows of the 1970s and the 1980s, including ''Yes Minister'', ''Are You Being Served?'', '' I Didn't Know You Cared'' and ''Last of the Summer Wine''. Early life Ronald Hazlehurst was born in Dukinfield, Cheshire in 1928 to a railway worker father and a piano teacher mother. Having attended Hyde County Grammar School, he left at the age of 14 and became a clerk in a cotton mill for £1 a week. From 1947 to 1949, he did his National Service as a bandsman in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards. During his spare time, he played in a band and soon became a professional musician, earning £4 a week. The band appeared on the BBC Light Programme, but Hazlehurst left when he was refused a pay rise. Moving to Manchester, he became ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Milo Sperber
Milo Sperber (20 March 1911 – 22 December 1992) was a British actor, director and writer, who was born in Poland. Early life Sperber was born in 1911 into a family of Polish Hasidic Jews who fled anti-Semitism during the Second World War. His older brother was activist, author and intellectual Manès Sperber. The younger Sperber trained as a lawyer in Vienna before joining Max Reinhardt's school; there he played roles in ''Six Characters in Search of an Author'' and ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'', among other plays. Martin Esslin was a classmate during this time. While on the rise as an actor, in 1939 he fled Germany and the Nazis with his family, eventually landing in Britain as refugees. Career Early in the Second World War Sperber joined the Oxford Pilgrim Players; he gained experience directing the company on tour in ''Case 27 VC'' and spending a season in London even during the Blitz. He also was involved in producing anti-Nazi propaganda for the BBC before the end of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Benny Lee
Benny Lee (11 August 1916 – 9 December 1995) was a British comedy actor and singer. He started his career in stage roles, and developed a television and film career. Early life Lee was born on 11 August 1916 to a Jewish family in The Gorbals, Glasgow. He began his singing career as tenor in the school choir. Leaving school at 14, he became a tailor's apprentice, but soon left to join an all-purpose act, which sang, danced and performed acrobatics all around one of the main variety circuits of Britain. Lee's acrobatic days lasted for only one evening on account of a nose injury. He was back in Glasgow, tailoring shirts and in his spare time playing drums for his own semi-professional dance-band. He also worked as a song-plugger for Essex Music Publishers. Wishing to return to the stage full-time he joined the Princess's Theatre (now the Citizens Theatre) in the Gorbals), where he gained experience in straight acting. This led to his first BBC Radio audition in 1938. Mus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenneth Waller
Kenneth Waller (5 November 1927 – 28 January 2000) was an English actor. He was known for portraying Grandad in ''Bread'' and Old Mr. Grace in ''Are You Being Served?'' Early life Kenneth Waller was born in Lowerhouses Huddersfield, Yorkshire on 5 November 1927. In 1931 during the depression, he moved to Hythe, Hampshire in the New Forest and they were living there at the breakout of World War II. In 1940 his family returned to his native Huddersfield.Huddersfield Daily Examiner - 27 February 1989 Waller left school aged 16 and worked as a wages clerk until being called up for National Service. In 1949, he was a member of the Christ Church Woodhouse men's choir. After serving in the Royal Air Force as a Radar Mechanic, Waller worked for a firm of auctioneers. Career Experience in local rep at the Oxford Playhouse encouraged him to move to London, where he made his West End debut in Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds' 1957 musical '' Free as Air''. He was later in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Berry (singer)
Michael Hubert Bourne (24 September 1942 – 11 April 2025), known professionally as Mike Berry, was an English singer and actor, known for the top ten hits "Don't You Think It's Time" (1963) and " The Sunshine of Your Smile" (1980) and for portraying Mr. Spooner in ''Are You Being Served?'' Early life Berry was born in Northampton. His parents had grown up in Rhodesia but met in England and his mother was an amateur actress and singer. Six months after his birth his mother moved with him to North Wales for two years. The family then moved to Stoke Newington where he attended William Patten Primary School and passed his eleven plus exam, winning a scholarship to Hackney Downs Grocers' School. He left the school aged 16 without qualifications to become an apprentice compositor. Career Music Berry was a fan of skiffle and rock and roll music as a teenager and he formed his own skiffle group called the Rebels and then introduced electric guitars as Kenny Lord and the State ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
