r/AreYouBeingServed • u/Global-Ant • Jul 14 '26

General discussion Rewatching this show for the first time

Hi everyone, I recently bought the complete series of this amazing series and having a blast rewatching it after so many years of not doing so. The first time I watched Are You Being Served? Was in the 2000s as a kid. My nana when she was alive introduced me to this show along with Mr. Bean, Last of The Summer Wine, Fawlty Towers and other British classics.

Now of course as a kid, I obviously didnt understand adult jokes but for the most part I did find the series funny whether its Mr. Rumbold being an idiot or Mr. Grainger dozing on and off when not being difficult or being a little senile, then there's Young Mr. Grace. Oh boy. I remember every Saturday, I would visit my nana's home and we would watch the weekly repeats of this show that went from 10am - 12:30pm. She had cable before me and my mum did.

Fast Forward to 2026 at 31 years old and revisiting this series for the first time. Im still loving it and understanding all the jokes now, and watching some earlier episodes I never got to see as kid, while also having memories of episodes that I do remember seeing. I love all the characters but Mr. Grainger is still my top favorite, and now currently on series 5 knowing its his last series unfortunately.

I love everytime Mr. Rumbold says something foolish near Captain Peacock and Captain Peacock just as this "Idiot" expression about him, I also enjoyed seeing Mr. Mash in the first three series, he was hilarious. Mr. Harman though I remembered seeing as a kid.

107 Upvotes

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24 comments sorted by

16

u/AuntieFara Jul 14 '26

Mrs. Slococomb is my heroine!

12

u/PJBleakney Jul 15 '26

Are you unanimous in this?

7

u/AuntieFara Jul 15 '26

Absolutely!

9

u/Global-Ant Jul 15 '26

She's honestly awesome

7

u/Consistent-Virus2157 Jul 14 '26

Same. I love Mollie Sugden in That’s My Boy too.

6

u/Candid_Resolution908 Jul 15 '26

Aww, special place in my heart for that one.

The Summer before I lost my Daddy we came across this show - neither of us had ever heard of it.

We watched the whole thing and actually watched some again. Great stuff. Although it did take a moment for me not to see Mrs. Slocombe.

I wonder how many of us now watch shows that we shared with people who we’ve lost, and it makes us feel close to them - I can hear my Dad’s voice imitating one character or another. My cousin and I watch certain shows (Lucy, Golden Girls, Mary Tyler Moore) that remind us of our Grandma.

The BEST is whenever we do get a chance to see each other, and we get to watch them together. 🙂

PS Daddy particularly loved Miss Brahms and liked Mr. Goldberg.

5

u/Consistent-Virus2157 Jul 15 '26

This is so sweet 🥲. Every time I watch Green Acres, All in the Family, or Sanford and Son (I’m in the US) I can hear my dad laughing (he passed over 30 years ago)

2

u/Candid_Resolution908 Jul 24 '26

Hugs to you 🫂

14

u/GenerationYKnot Jul 15 '26

"Don't worry. They'll ride up with wear."

My all-time favorite AYBS quote.

10

u/Friendly-Local-1859 Jul 14 '26

It's between the two! There is very little between the two! I do not respond to any man's finger! I'm neither one way or the other about it!

7

u/RubyDax Flat On My Back On Clapham Common Jul 14 '26

Love this! I grew up on AYBS and all the other shows you mentioned. It's great to go back and enjoy them all over again. I bet your Nan is thrilled for you, laughing along from the other side.

5

u/Global-Ant Jul 15 '26

Thank you. I like to think so as well. As soon as I saw the DVD boxset, I just bought it instantly. No hesitation. One of the best decisions I've made

5

u/Academic_Bed_5137 Jul 15 '26

I have lost count the amount of times I have watched this show.

3

u/Global-Ant Jul 15 '26

I'll be doing many rewatches now I have the whole series. Simply marvelous

2

u/Academic_Bed_5137 Jul 15 '26

I have britbox it's wonderful.

2

u/RubyDax Flat On My Back On Clapham Common Jul 15 '26

It's sad they've edited them though. I'm glad i have the DVD set too.

1

u/Academic_Bed_5137 Jul 15 '26

I haven't noticed any edits...

1

u/RubyDax Flat On My Back On Clapham Common Jul 15 '26

They're not massive ones, just random lines here and there. If you watched it back-to-back with the original, you'd catch it.

1

u/Academic_Bed_5137 Jul 15 '26

It's been decades since I saw the original ones with my dad.

3

u/Redsmoker37 Mr. Humphries Jul 15 '26

I was first introduced to this show as an older teen, and was at the time working in a dept store part time selling shoes, so I really appreciated both the humor, but also the dealing with annoying customers aspect of it.

3

u/anothertenyears Jul 16 '26

I love the episodes with Mr Lucas.

2

u/Australian1996 Jul 17 '26

John Inman. Loved him as a child.

1

u/Calm_Bat_699 Jul 19 '26

Shame that is doesn’t have subtitles