Camp Mr. Humphries, Mrs. Slocombe's pussy and the ridiculous goings-on at Grace Bros. have kept audiences laughing since 1973. This tongue-in-cheek farce, by top writers Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, is one of BBC's best-selling classic comedies, especially in America, where its success is phenomenal.
A large, old-fashioned department store in London, Grace Bros. is still run on strictly hierarchical lines. Each member of staff knows their place - in theory. In practice, they are all engaged in their own private wars with management and with each other:
On the top floor is young Mr. Grace (Harold Bennett), a frail octogenarian with a dollybird on each arm.
Take the lift down and you'll find Mr. Rumbold (Nicholas Smith), manager of the clothing department. In reality he leaves the day-to-day running of his floor to his snooty shop-walker, Captain Peacock (Frank Thornton). Peacock's ambition is a seat in the executive restaurant, but meantime he has to mediate between Menswear and Ladies' Fashions.
In Gentlemen's Ready-To-Wear, Senior Salesman, Mr. Grainger (Arthur Brough), is an obstinate old man prone to falling asleep. He is later replaced by Mr.Tebbs (James Hayter), then by Mr. Goldberg (Alfie Bass), who served in the army with Captain Peacock. Under him is Mr. Humphries, played by John Inman, a very popular character with his camp mannerisms and jaunty readiness to measure an inside leg. Bottom of the pecking order comes randy Mr. Lucas (Trevor Bannister), who is later replaced by Mr. Spooner (Mike Berry).
Ladies' Separates and Underwear is staffed by Senior Saleslady, Mrs Slocombe (Mollie Sugden), a rapacious widow with an astonishing range of fluorescent hair colors and malapropisms. Her main topic of conversation is her pussy. Junior Saleslady, Miss Brahms (Wendy Richard), is a sharp-tongued, buxom Cockney.
And finally, down in the basement, (but usually up in the department), is the caretaker, Mr. Harman (Arthur English), who delights in making a nuisance of himself with his trade unionism and ridiculous display models.
CAST
Wendy Richard (as Miss Brahms)
John Inman (as Mr. Humphries)
Mollie Sugden (as Mrs. Slocombe)
Harold Bennett (as Mr. Grace)
Trevor Bannister (as Mr. Lucas)
Frank Thornton (as Captain Peacock)
Arthur English (as Mr. Harman)
Nicholas Smith (as Mr. Rumbold)
The Pop Star
first aired:
August 29, 2008
(#165)
Mr. Spooner's vocal talents are discovered during the staff show. He is ...
Friends and Neighbors
first aired:
August 22, 2008
(#164)
The staff are offered accommodation on the premises to save time and money ...
The Night Club
first aired:
August 21, 2008
(#163)
The staff film a commercial for a nightclub to the run in the store. The ...
Gambling Fever
first aired:
August 18, 2008
(#162)
The staff like to bet on horse races. After being caught watching the ...
The Hold Up
first aired:
August 15, 2008
(#161)
It is closing time when two ruthless criminals enter the scene. What can ...
Grounds for Divorce
first aired:
August 14, 2008
(#160)
Captain Peacock's marriage appears to be in trouble. The rest of the staff ...
Goodbye, Mrs. Slocombe
first aired:
August 11, 2008
(#159)
Mrs. Slocombe is forcibly retired from her position. Mr. Humphries and ...
Lost and Found
first aired:
August 8, 2008
(#158)
Mrs. Slocombe's cat is missing, and in comforting her, Mr. Humphries finds ...
Monkey Business
first aired:
August 1, 2008
(#157)
Bad news. Grace Brothers may be bought by the Japanese. The staff take ...
Calling All Customers
first aired:
July 31, 2008
(#156)
The staff perform a play on CB radio to advertise Grace Brothers. The ...
Memories Are Made of This
first aired:
July 28, 2008
(#155)
When the handsome golf pro from Sports comes to the floor for a demonstration, ...
Conduct Unbecoming
first aired:
July 25, 2008
(#154)
Mr. Humphries is accused of stealing and his distinguished career could ...
The Sweet Smell of Success
first aired:
July 24, 2008
(#153)
Mrs. Slocombe sells her home-made perfume. After a misunderstanding, Mrs. ...
The Erotic Dreams of Mrs. Slocombe
first aired:
July 21, 2008
(#152)
Mrs. Slocombe has dreams in which she and Mr. Humphries become romantically ...
Closed Circuit
first aired:
July 18, 2008
(#151)
Grace Brothers has decided to enter the video age and display advertisements ...
Heir Apparent
first aired:
July 17, 2008
(#150)
Old Mr. Grace becomes convinced that Mr. Humphries is his long-lost son. ...
Sit Out
first aired:
July 14, 2008
(#149)
The staff go on strike after being threatened with a pay cut or being ...
Front Page Story
first aired:
July 11, 2008
(#148)
Mr. Humphries is made editor of the new staff magazine. The 1st Floor ...
A Personal Problem
first aired:
July 10, 2008
(#147)
Captain Peacock's wife works at Grace Brothers, as Mr. Rumbold's secretary. ...
Is It Catching?
first aired:
July 7, 2008
(#146)
The staff contract a strange tropical illness, Marine's Disease, from ...
The Agent
first aired:
July 4, 2008
(#145)
Mr. Goldberg runs an agency to get the staff better jobs. After Captain ...
Anything You can Do
first aired:
July 3, 2008
(#144)
The standard of the canteen food of Grace Brothers is rapidly going from ...
The Hero
first aired:
July 2, 2008
(#143)
Captain Peacock is challenged to a boxing match by a member of another ...
Mrs. Slocombe, Senior Person
first aired:
June 30, 2008
(#142)
Mrs. Slocombe temporarily takes the place of Mr. Rumbold, who has taken ...
The Apartment
first aired:
June 27, 2008
(#141)
By permission of Mr. Grace, Mrs. Slocombe moves into a display apartment ...
Strong Stuff This Insurance
first aired:
June 26, 2008
(#140)
The staff must take physicals to get insurance. Listening through the ...
The Junior
first aired:
June 25, 2008
(#139)
Mr. Goldberg is hired as a junior after having recently run his own small ...
Happy Returns
first aired:
June 23, 2008
(#138)
It is Young Mr. Grace's birthday and there is the traditional free lunch ...
A Bliss Girl
first aired:
June 20, 2008
(#137)
A new display of perfume arrives from Bliss, but there is no Bliss Girl ...
Shedding the Load
first aired:
June 19, 2008
(#136)
Sales figures are down; profits are low. Young Mr. Grace is forced to ...
Do You Take This Man?
first aired:
April 30, 2009
(#135)
Mrs. Slocombe has fallen for a bouzouki player in a Greek restaurant. ...
The Club
first aired:
June 13, 2008
(#134)
Young Mr. Grace invites his workers to form a social club - in a dismal ...
By Appointment
first aired:
May 30, 2008
(#133)
The staff prepare for a visit by the Queen. The visit is abruptly ended ...
It Pays to Advertise
first aired:
May 29, 2008
(#132)
The staff star in a TV commercial for Grace Brothers, produced by Mr. ...
Good-Bye Mr. Grainger
first aired:
May 28, 2008
(#131)
Mr. Grainger's temper has become extremely short. The staff, in a private ...
Takeover
first aired:
May 26, 2008
(#130)
The staff prevent another firm's hostile takeover of Grace Brothers by ...
The Old Order Changes
first aired:
May 23, 2008
(#129)
The staff dress in mod fashion as a sales gimmick, after Mr. Grace's visit ...
Founder's Day
first aired:
May 22, 2008
(#128)
The staff compile a retrospective for Mr. Grace's 80th birthday. After ...
A Change Is As Good As a Rest
first aired:
May 15, 2008
(#127)
Mr. Grace likes to play musical chairs with his departments. He orders ...
Mrs. Slocombe Expects
first aired:
May 14, 2008
(#126)
The staff think Mrs. Slocombe has requested leave in order to have a baby, ...
Oh, What a Tangled Web
first aired:
May 12, 2008
(#125)
Captain Peacock appears to be having an affair with Miss Hazlewood, bringing ...
Fifty Years on
first aired:
May 9, 2008
(#124)
The staff celebrate Mrs. Slocombe's birthday. The major task is to confirm ...
Fire Practice
first aired:
May 8, 2008
(#123)
A surprise fire drill reveals a horrible lack of organization in the store's ...
Forward, Mr. Grainger
first aired:
May 7, 2008
(#122)
Mr. Grainger temporarily takes over Mr. Rumbold's position, to Captain ...
Top Hat & Tails
first aired:
May 5, 2008
(#121)
A ballroom dance contest has the Grace Brothers staff at their elegant best.
No Sale
first aired:
May 2, 2008
(#120)
Mr. Rumbold tries an experiment -- opening the store earlier in the morning. ...
New Look
first aired:
April 23, 2008
(#119)
Ever on the look to improve their level of sales, the staff try a Twenties ...
Shoulder to Shoulder
first aired:
April 18, 2008
(#118)
The ladies' department temporarily move into the gentlemen's while their ...
German Week
first aired:
April 17, 2008
(#117)
The staff try to promote the sale of their goods, by dressing up in German ...
Wedding Bells
first aired:
April 16, 2008
(#116)
Mrs. Slocombe is greatly disturbed to learn that she has no say in the ...
Cold Store
first aired:
April 11, 2008
(#115)
Seasonal illnesses have most of the staff down. Mr. Lucas first feigns ...
Up, Captain Peacock
first aired:
April 10, 2008
(#114)
Captain Peacock, as a reward for his many years of service, gains privileges ...
Coffee Morning
first aired:
April 7, 2008
(#113)
The staff protest the monitoring of their breaks and trips to the restroom, ...
The Hand of Fate
first aired:
April 4, 2008
(#112)
Everyone on staff hopes the hand of fate is working for their own particular ...
Hoorah for the Holidays
first aired:
April 3, 2008
(#111)
The staff must suddenly try to choose a group holiday package, as the ...
Big Brother
first aired:
April 2, 2008
(#110)
Surveillance cameras are installed at Grace Brothers. Mr. Rumbold begins ...
The Think Tank
first aired:
March 31, 2008
(#109)
At Grace Brothers, all eyes are on the bottom line. When sales begin to ...
Cold Comfort
first aired:
March 28, 2008
(#108)
The staff try to cope with a shortage of heat. Mr. Lucas creates a bewildering ...
The Clock
first aired:
March 27, 2008
(#107)
Mr. Grainger fears he will be forcibly retired. At his going-away party, ...
Diamonds Are a Man's Best Friend
first aired:
March 26, 2008
(#106)
A wealthy client loses a valuable diamond in the store. A reward is offered ...
His and Hers
first aired:
March 25, 2008
(#105)
A perfume retailer causes agitation among the staff by giving away free ...
Camping in
first aired:
March 21, 2008
(#104)
The staff must spend the night in Grace Brothers due to a transport strike, ...
Our Figures Are Slipping
first aired:
March 19, 2008
(#103)
The staff are concerned about the decrease in sales. Mr. Rumbold decides ...
Dear Sexy Knickers
first aired:
March 18, 2008
(#102)
Mr. Lucas continues his attempts to win the heart (or at least the body) ...
Are You Being Served? (B&W)
first aired:
March 17, 2008
(#101)
The Ladies' Intimate Apparel must share a floor of Grace Brothers department ...
