Are You Being Served?

Are You Being Served? (1972)

2 mistakes in The Hold Up - chronological order

(5 votes)

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.

The Hold Up - S10-E3

Plot hole: When the robbers come onto the floor and go into Mr. Rumbold's office, the staff suggests calling the police, only to be told by Mr. Harman that the only outside line is in Rumbold's office. This, despite the fact that there have been numerous occasions throughout the series where characters made and received personal calls on the department phones (Mrs. Slocombe calling her cat, Mr. Humphries calling his mother, etc).

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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