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?!
At the struggling Grace Brothers department store, the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s departments share a floor—and very little else willingly. Under the anxious eye of Mr Rumbold, Captain Peacock, Mrs Slocombe, Mr Humphries and their colleagues contend with difficult customers, management schemes, staff rivalries and one indignity after another, transforming everyday retail into a gleeful procession of innuendo, dressing up and exquisitely British chaos.
#1 - 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.
#2 - 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.
#3 - 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.
#4 - Calling All Customers
Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/13/1983
The staff perform a play on CB radio to advertise Grace Brothers.
#5 - 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.
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
#9 - 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.
#10 - 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.
#11 - 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.
#12 - 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.
#13 - 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.
#14 - 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.
#15 - Do You Take This Man?
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/29/1978
Mrs. Slocombe thinks she's finally got her man, a bouzouki player in a Greek restaurant. The staff plan a reception at the store to help keep costs down, and her American uncle plans on giving the happy couple a house. Before they can leave for the church, however, the best man arrives with bad news, forcing Mr. Tebbs to don the garb of a Greek vicar and Mr. Humphries that of the bridegroom.
#16 - 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.
#17 - Anything You Can Do
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/23/1979
The standard of the canteen food of Grace Brothers is rapidly going from bad to worse. After confronting the catering workers with their complaints, the staff are told to get on with the food preparation on their own.
#18 - Our Figures Are Slipping
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/28/1973
The Department figures have taken a dive and so Mr. Rumbold decides to convene a sales conference amongst the staff. Since the meeting is taking place after hours and off the clock, no one is very motivated to provide any solutions. If something isn't done, someone might lose their job, and that someone is clearly Mr. Lucas.
#19 - Top Hat and Tails
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/15/1976
Mr. Humphries' background as a dance instructor is called upon when the Ladies' and Gents' Wear departments form a team to compete in the inter-store ballroom dancing competition.
#20 - By Appointment
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/15/1978
The new head of men's department is introduced and the staff prepare for a possible royal visit.
#21 - Mrs. Slocombe, Senior Person
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/9/1979
Mrs. Slocombe temporarily takes the place of Mr. Rumbold, who has taken ill, and she discovers the job isn't what she expected.
#22 - The Sweet Smell of Success
Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/22/1983
The staff find they have to start paying more for lunch and Mrs. Slocombe tries to make some side money by selling her home-made perfume.
#23 - Goodbye Mr. Grainger
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/1/1977
Mr. Grainger's temper as become extremely short. The staff, in a private meeting with Mr. Rumbold, decide he must go. However, when he wins the lottery, his bad mood vanishes and he makes his peace with the staff and stays on.
#24 - It Pays to Advertise
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/8/1977
The staff star in a TV commercial for Grace Brothers, produced by Mr. Humphries. Could Mr. Grace's cheapness be the reason for using his staff in such fashion?
#25 - The Club
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/22/1978
Young Mr. Grace invites his workers to form a social club - in a dismal cellar badly in need of decoration. Undeterred, the staff tackle the paint and paper job with vigor.