The BEST episodes of Are You Being Served?

Every episode of Are You Being Served? ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Are You Being Served?!

This comedy series, which follows the exploits of employees at London's fictional "Grace Brothers" department store, is full of sexual innuendo, slapstick, visual gags, and double entendres. Much of the show's humor parodies Britain's class system, and many of the show's characters are based on stereotypes of the period, including the effeminate Mr. Humphries and the rich, but stingy, store owner.

Last Updated: 3/13/2024Network: BBC OneStatus: Ended
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Christmas Crackers (1975 Christmas Special)
star
8.27
95 votes

#1 - Christmas Crackers (1975 Christmas Special)

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/22/1975

Mr. Grace has an idea to improve Christmas sales--all the staff are to wear novelty costumes, much to their annoyance.

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Strong Stuff, This Insurance
star
8.13
83 votes

#2 - Strong Stuff, This Insurance

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/26/1979

The staff must take physicals to get insurance. Listening through the door of Mr. Grace's office, they hear Mr. Harman describing the state of the furniture, which they misunderstand as being the results of their physicals.

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A Personal Problem
star
8.10
116 votes

#3 - A Personal Problem

Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/16/1981

Captain Peacock's wife works at Grace Brothers, as Mr. Rumbold's secretary. He is intensely jealous and is absolutely convinced that the two of them are having an affair.

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Diamonds Are a Man's Best Friend
star
8.03
90 votes

#4 - Diamonds Are a Man's Best Friend

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/18/1973

It's pay day at Grace Brothers and the staff realize that their money just doesn't go very far. An opportunity for a bonus arises when a customer loses a diamond and offers a £100 reward. Greed gets the better of everyone, except Mr. Grainger, and soon they're conspiring behind each others backs. Mr. Mash throws a wrench in the search after he damages a jeweled dress, causing a multitude of "diamonds" within the department.

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The Junior
star
7.99
83 votes

#5 - The Junior

Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/19/1979

Mr. Goldberg is hired as a junior after having recently run his own small tailoring business. To Captain Peacock's chagrin, the staff learn that Mr. Goldberg had served under the Captain but recalls those army days differently.

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The Agent
star
7.94
139 votes

#6 - The Agent

Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/30/1979

Mr. Goldberg runs an agency to get the staff better jobs. After Captain Peacock and Mr. Rumbold become aware of this, Mr. Humphries and Mrs. Slocombe are given raises, and decide to stay with the store.

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The Punch and Judy Affair (1979 Christmas Special)
star
7.89
131 votes

#7 - The Punch and Judy Affair (1979 Christmas Special)

Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/26/1979

When the staff of the Ladies' and Gents' departments don't participate in a strike, relations between them and the rest of the store's employees become understandibly bitter. In order to improve the mood, the staff presents a life-size Punch and Judy show for the other employees' children.

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Camping In
star
7.88
177 votes

#8 - Camping In

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/4/1973

A transport strike leaves the staff stranded at the store, so Young Mr. Grace offers to let them spend the night on the floor. Tents are set up, but Mr. Lucas has trouble keeping his up. A "campfire" sing along leads to talk of the last World War and the experiences some of them had.

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Sit Out
star
7.86
77 votes

#9 - Sit Out

Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/30/1981

The staff go on strike after being threatened with a pay cut or being moved to the bargain basement. They stage a protest on the roof which doesn't go as plannedc.

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Monkey Business
star
7.85
74 votes

#10 - Monkey Business

Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/20/1983

Bad news. Grace Brothers may be bought by the Japanese. The staff take their problems to Number Ten, where they contact President Reagan by the phone. Mrs. Thatcher gets fashion tips from Mr. Humphries.

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Oh What a Tangled Web
star
7.84
86 votes

#11 - Oh What a Tangled Web

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/13/1976

Rumors fly when Captain Peacock gets too friendly with Mr. Rumbold's secretary at the Christmas party, and things get really out-of-hand when it seems they might have spent the night together.

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His and Hers
star
7.83
145 votes

#12 - His and Hers

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/11/1973

Mr. Grainger's trousers are missing, along with the central display. The staff learns that the space was freed up for the "His & Hers" fragrance display. Mrs. Slocombe is outraged that they went her to take down her underwear and put perfume there in its place. The glamorous salesgirl causes stirrings in the trouser department. When it's discovered that free stockings and ties are given out with every scent purchase, both departments formulate a plan to oust the intruder.

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Friends and Neighbours
star
7.79
70 votes

#13 - Friends and Neighbours

Season 10 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/25/1985

When traveling to and from work becomes difficult, the staff threaten to resign unless they receive a travel allowance. Old Mr. Grace offers them the empty apartments on the top floor as living space, but they soon discover cohabitation isn't what it's cracked up to be.

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Take-Over
star
7.78
55 votes

#14 - Take-Over

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/25/1977

The staff prevent another firm's hostile takeover of Grace Brothers by impersonating the shareholders. Mr. Harman gives a rousing speech, and Grace Brothers is saved.

Directors: Ray Butt
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Closed Circuit
star
7.77
78 votes

#15 - Closed Circuit

Season 8 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/21/1981

Grace Brothers has decided to enter the video age and display advertisements on closed circuit television throughout the store. Meanwhile, there is a new face in Menswear.

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Dear Sexy Knickers
star
7.77
199 votes

#16 - Dear Sexy Knickers

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/21/1973

Mr. Lucas attempts to send Miss Brahms a love letter suggesting an after-work "get it together". Confusion on who sent the letter and to whom it was intended sets the stage for a lot of misunderstanding. There's also the customers to contend with and Mr. Lucas has a devil of a time fitting them into clothing.

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Roots? (1981 Christmas Special)
star
7.76
76 votes

#17 - Roots? (1981 Christmas Special)

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/24/1981

The staff decide to obtain a coat-of-arms for Old Mr. Grace's 90th birthday, but problems arise when they're unable to figure out exactly from where his ancestors came.

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Calling All Customers
star
7.75
68 votes

#18 - Calling All Customers

Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/13/1983

The staff perform a play on CB radio to advertise Grace Brothers.

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German Week
star
7.74
90 votes

#19 - German Week

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/3/1975

Grace Brothers hosts a week long sales event by selling only German goods. The staff, however, find that the German customers they are getting only want British goods. Captain Peacock objects to the "uniform" he's expected to wear and Mrs. Slocombe gets into the German wines.

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Cold Store
star
7.74
92 votes

#20 - Cold Store

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/20/1975

Illnesses strike the Department, and Mr. Lucas decides to fake his to get the day off. His plan backfires as he is assigned to the Ladies Counter as a sort of "quarantine".

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Coffee Morning
star
7.72
104 votes

#21 - Coffee Morning

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/6/1975

Mr. Grainger is 5 minutes late coming back from his coffee break and this sets in motion a management scheme to monitor all breaks. The staff must sign in and sign out when they leave and return to the department. The department staff revolt and union action is taken

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Up Captain Peacock
star
7.70
98 votes

#22 - Up Captain Peacock

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/13/1975

Captain Peacock is celebrating his 20th year at Grace Brothers, and while his request for a raise has been turned down, he has been given a key to the Executive Wash Room and the privilige of eating in the Executive Dining Room. He lords this over the department staff and Mr. Grainger decides to make some trouble.

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Memories Are Made of This
star
7.70
46 votes

#23 - Memories Are Made of This

Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/6/1983

When the sports goods are temporarily relocated to the mens & ladies floor, Captain Peacock tries out some golf equipment and accidentally hits Mrs. Slocombe. She then thinks she's a little girl, wrecking havoc on the store as she cavorts around the department.

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A Bliss Girl
star
7.69
107 votes

#24 - A Bliss Girl

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/13/1978

A new display of perfume arrives from Bliss, but there is no Bliss Girl to man the counter. Mrs. Slocombe refuses the position, so Mr. Humphries becomes the Bliss Girl for the day.

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Hoorah for the Holidays
star
7.67
131 votes

#25 - Hoorah for the Holidays

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/11/1974

The Store's redecoration plans threaten to interfere in the staffs vacations. Everyone is now expected to take the same two weeks off and there's disagreements on how to handle it. Grace Brother's Tour Group Company offers some package deals, but they are far from First Class.