Are You Being Served?

Show generally

Continuity mistake: Sometimes Mrs. Slocombe has discretion over both inventory and displays and what they will and will not sell in the ladies department, other times its Captain Peacock, Mr. Rumboldt or others that have the final say.

luke f

Shoulder to Shoulder - S3-E7

Continuity mistake: At the end of the show, after they reveal the 'new' ladies department. Mr Grainger is not wearing his glasses, as Mrs Slocombe has them in her purse, the shot changes to Mrs Slocombe, then back to Mr Grainger he is wearing his glasses, and there is no way he could have got them from Mrs Slocombe.

No Sale - S4-E1

Continuity mistake: Mr. Lucas says the figures for the previous Monday were 325 pounds, and at that point in the day the departments combined (170 and 150) were up to 320, five pounds short. However, later when Mr. Rumbold is talking to Mr. Grace about the sudden drop in sales, he says they are "still 20 pounds short" of the previous Monday.

No Sale - S4-E1

Continuity mistake: Mrs Slocombe arrives with her hair in disarray, but once she walks away she only has time to put her coat away before she returns, by that time her hair is neat with no evidence of it being messy. She had to have returned quickly to hear Mr Humphries' story as she comments on it shortly after.

luke f

The Old Order Changes - S5-E4

Continuity mistake: In this episode, it is revealed that Mr. Lucas' first name is Dick; but way back in series 2 ("The Clock"), his first name is given as "James." This discrepancy takes place a few times over the course of the entire show run.

Front Page Story - S8-E3

Continuity mistake: In the ruined photo taken of Old Mr. Grace and his nurse and secretary, the secretary is looking away from the camera and her leg is raised. However, in the scene preceding, she was looking at the camera and raised her leg after the flash went off. Also in the photo, both of Mr. Humphries' feet are in the air, though one was on the floor when the picture was taken.

The Hold Up - S10-E3

Continuity mistake: When the robbers have nodded off and Mr. Spooner and Cpt. Peacock cut themselves out of the rope tying them to the cabinet, a clock outside is sounding the hour; if one listens it chimes nine times. But minutes later, after the rest of the group have come in and they make the call to Mr. Rumbold, the latter exclaims "It's after midnight." upon answering the phone even though less than ten minutes have passed.

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?

German Week - S3-E6

Miss Brahms: I think Mr. Rumbold should dress up as something.
Mrs. Slocombe: Yes. Wasn't Frankenstein a German?
Miss Brahms: That's right. With his nuts in his neck. [Makes twisting motions with her fingers near her neck.] Like that.
Mr. Rumbold: I wouldn't be able to take part, of course, in case I was summoned to a board meeting. But I see no reason why Captain Peacock shouldn't participate.
Captain Peacock: I can think of lots of reason why I shouldn't participate. Somebody has to have authority over the floor and these clothes that I wear symbolize that authority.
Mr Lucas: Why don't you dress up as Hitler?

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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.

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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.

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