Are You Being Served?

Are You Being Served? (1972)

2 corrected entries in show generally

(5 votes)

Show generally

Corrected entry: Throughout the series Mrs. Slocombe's first name changes numerous times. It is Betty in some, Margaret in another, Mary Elizabeth in one and finally Rachel in a few.

Correction: As far as is known, her name actually only changed once (Margaret), but officially her name is as follows: Mary Elizabeth Jennifer Rachel Yiddel Abergavenny Slocombe, thereby the Betty (nickname for Elizabeth), Rachel, and Mary Elizabeth. Her full name is sung in an episode where they celebrate what is thought to be her 50th birthday, but according to her, she is only 46. There is also a book about this program that contains this information.

Correction: Many stores close for lunch time (a half hour, or full hour). This is particularly true for stores that have a "canteen". They don't want to cook all day, so they serve all meals at once.

German Week - S3-E6

Revealing mistake: When Mr. Humphries and Mr. Lucas make their toast with the German mugs, Mr. Lucas' mug breaks but Mr. Humphries' does not. A moment later, when Mr. Humphries notices the mug has not broken, you can see that he crushes the mug with his hand.

More mistakes in Are You Being Served?

Mr. Humphries: I'm free!

More quotes from Are You Being Served?

Trivia: The "lift voice" heard during the theme song in each episode is that of Stephanie Gathercole, who played Mr. Rumbold's secretary in the earliest episodes.

More trivia for Are You Being Served?

Roots? - S8-E8

Question: Does anyone know why Wendy Richard (Ms. Brahms) is the only one not wearing blackface for the musical number at the end of the episode?

Answer: In minstrel shows there was also a stereotype of black men preying on white women, so that's probably why she was not in black face. Also, Mrs. Slocombe is in blackface because she is an older, stout woman and she fits the "mammy" stereotype.

Answer: In Britain, there was the show Black and White Minstrels which was very popular until the late 70s. The men were all blacked up, but the women weren't - hence Black and White Minstrels. It's been a while since I saw the episode to know if Mrs Slocombe was blacked up as well, but technically she shouldn't have been.

More questions & answers from Are You Being Served?