Iconic TV store opens its doors once more

BBC One, Sunday, 9pm

ONE of Britain’s bestloved sitcoms returns to BBC One for a one-off special as part of the BBC landmark sitcom season.

The iconic sitcom, which was last on our screens more than 30 years ago, is back with a new all-star cast.

Are You Being Served? follows the misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a fictional London department store called Grace Brothers.

Picking up where Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft’s classic comedy left off, the show will bring Grace Brothers and some of the nation’s all-time favourite sitcom characters, including Mrs Slocombe, Captain Peacock and Mr Humphries, back to life with an all-star cast.

It’s 1988 and Young Mr Grace is determined to drag Grace Brothers into, well 1988, but he has a problem on his hands.

Mr Humphries, Captain Peacock, Mr Rumbold and Mrs Slocombe all seem to be stuck in another era.

A new member of staff, Mr Conway, joins the team – but will he help shake things up or will he just put a pussy among the pigeons?

This brand new one-off special is written by the multi-award winning Derren Litten (Benidorm, The Catherine Tate Show).

The new cast include Bafta-award winning Jason Watkins (The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies) who will play the role of Mr Humphries; Sherrie Hewson (Benidorm, Coronation Street) will play Mrs Slocombe; John Challis (Only Fools And Horses) will play Captain Peacock; Roy Barraclough (Coronation Street) will play Mr Grainger; Arthur Smith (comedian and writer) will play Mr Harmon; Justin Edwards (The Thick Of It) will play Mr Rumbold and Niky Wardley (The Catherine Tate Show) will play Miss Brahms.

As well as the original favourites, there are some new characters joining the show.

They are Mathew Horne (Gavin And Stacey) who will play Young Mr Grace, the original Young Mr Grace’s grandson; Jorgie Porter (Hollyoaks) will play Miss Croft and newcomer Kayode Ewumi will play the character Mr Conway.

Are You Being Served? is part of the BBC’s Landmark Sitcom Season celebrating the heritage and legacy of BBC comedy over the past 60 years.

The season will be revisiting some of Britain’s iconic sitcoms alongside launching brand new comedy shows.

The new cast of Are You Being Served? Miss Croft (Jorgie Porter), Miss Brahms (Niky Wardley), Mr Rumbold (Justin Edwards), Mrs Slocombe (Sherrie Hewson), Mr Grace (Matthew Horne), Captain Peacock (John Challis), Mr Humphries (Jason Watkins), Mr Conway (Kayode Ewumi), Mr Grainger (Roy Barraclough), Mr Harman (Arthur Smith)