The Worst Episodes of Are You Being Served?
Every episode of Are You Being Served? ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Are You Being Served?!
This comedy series, which follows the exploits of employees at London's fictional "Grace Brothers" department store, is full of sexual innuendo, slapstick, visual gags, and double entendres. Much of the show's humor parodies Britain's class system, and many of the show's characters are based on stereotypes of the period, including the effeminate Mr. Humphries and the rich, but stingy, store owner.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Are You Being Served?" is "Diamonds Are a Man's Best Friend", rated N/A/10 from 0 user votes. It was directed by Bernard Thompson and written by David Croft, Jeremy Lloyd. "Diamonds Are a Man's Best Friend" aired on 4/18/1973 and is rated NaN point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Is It Catching?".
NaN/10 0 votes#1 - Diamonds Are a Man's Best Friend
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 4/18/1973
It's pay day at Grace Brothers and the staff realize that their money just doesn't go very far. An opportunity for a bonus arises when a customer loses a diamond and offers a £100 reward. Greed gets the better of everyone, except Mr. Grainger, and soon they're conspiring behind each others backs. Mr. Mash throws a wrench in the search after he damages a jeweled dress, causing a multitude of "diamonds" within the department.
Director: Bernard Thompson
Writer: David Croft, Jeremy Lloyd
6.5/10 193 votes#2 - Is It Catching?
Season 8 Episode 1 - Aired 4/9/1981
The staff contract a strange tropical illness, Marine's Disease, from Mr. Humphries. They are quarantined in the basement until the disease is past.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.8/10 177 votes#3 - Monkey Business
Season 9 Episode 5 - Aired 5/20/1983
Bad news. Grace Brothers may be bought by the Japanese. The staff take their problems to Number Ten, where they speak with President Reagan by phone. Mrs. Thatcher gets fashion tips from Mr. Humphries.
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 168 votes#4 - Lost and Found
Season 9 Episode 6 - Aired 5/27/1983
When Mrs. Slocombe's cat turns up missing, she decides that only Mr. Humphries could take its place.
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
7.0/10 178 votes#5 - Roots?
Season 8 Episode 8 - Aired 12/24/1981
The staff decide to obtain a coat-of-arms for Old Mr. Grace's 90th birthday, but problems arise when they're unable to figure out exactly from where his ancestors came.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.0/10 178 votes#6 - Gambling Fever
Season 10 Episode 4 - Aired 3/11/1985
Security cameras are again installed at Grace Brothers, and when the staff bet their bonuses on a horse race, it's up to Mr. Humphries to mime the race to them by closed-circuit.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 199 votes#7 - By Appointment
Season 6 Episode 1 - Aired 11/15/1978
The staff prepare for a visit by the Queen. The visit is abruptly ended when Mrs. Slocombe accidentally pushes a flower pot out the window, nearly hitting the Royal Couple.
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 183 votes#8 - The Agent
Season 7 Episode 7 - Aired 11/30/1979
Mr. Goldberg runs an agency to get the staff better jobs. After Captain Peacock and Mr. Rumbold become aware of this, Mr. Humphries and Mrs. Slocombe are given raises, and decide to stay with the store.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 178 votes#9 - Front Page Story
Season 8 Episode 3 - Aired 4/23/1981
Mr. Humphries is made editor of the new staff magazine. The 1st Floor staff is not pleased with the stories he writes about them causing friction in the relations between floors.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 174 votes#10 - Sit Out
Season 8 Episode 4 - Aired 4/30/1981
The staff go on strike after being threatened with a pay cut or being moved to the bargain basement. They stage a protest on the roof which is interrupted by a fire which destroys the basement.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 172 votes#11 - Heir Apparent
Season 8 Episode 5 - Aired 5/7/1981
Old Mr. Grace becomes convinced that Mr. Humphries is his long-lost son. Mrs. Humphries (also played by Mr. Inman) arrives, and shows that she has never had relations with Mr. Grace.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 187 votes#12 - The Erotic Dreams of Mrs. Slocombe
Season 8 Episode 7 - Aired 5/28/1981
Mrs. Slocombe has dreams in which she and Mr. Humphries become romantically embroiled. When she attempts to turn fantasy into reality, the situation becomes most difficult to handle.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 177 votes#13 - Conduct Unbecoming
Season 9 Episode 2 - Aired 4/29/1983
Mr. Humphries is accused of stealing and his distinguished career could end in disgrace. In a trial, he is found guilty and dismissed, but Mr. Harman finds the missing money in the back of the till from which it was supposedly stolen.
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 183 votes#14 - Friends and Neighbours
Season 10 Episode 6 - Aired 3/25/1985
When traveling to and from work becomes difficult, the staff threaten to resign unless they receive a travel allowance. Old Mr. Grace offers them the empty apartments on the top floor as living space, but they soon discover cohabitation isn't what it's cracked up to be.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 195 votes#15 - The Pop Star
Season 10 Episode 7 - Aired 4/1/1985
This episode we find Mr. Spooner is about to be discovered by a record company. One problem is that his voice keeps giving out. Mr. Humphries gives him a tonic and he recoveres for a little while. While auditioning on tv with Grace Brothers Staff, his voice gives out.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 175 votes#16 - Shedding the Load
Season 6 Episode 4 - Aired 12/6/1978
Sales figures are down; profits are low. Young Mr. Grace is forced to make some economies. The threat of redundancies is looming. Someone is going to have to go - but who is it to be?
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 188 votes#17 - The Hero
Season 7 Episode 5 - Aired 11/16/1979
Captain Peacock is challenged to a boxing match by a member of another department. He backs out, and Mr. "Hugger" Humphries is "elected" to take his place in a wrestling match. He loses that match, but Mrs. Slocombe enters the ring and defeats the challenger.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 177 votes#18 - Memories Are Made of This
Season 9 Episode 3 - Aired 5/6/1983
When the handsome golf pro from Sports comes to the floor for a demonstration, he accidentally hits Mrs. Slocombe. She then thinks she's a little girl, wrecking havoc on the store as she cavorts around the department.
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 198 votes#19 - The Hold Up
Season 10 Episode 3 - Aired 3/4/1985
When the store is robbed late one night, the staff determine to capture the burglars themselves.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 178 votes#21 - The Sweet Smell of Success
Season 9 Episode 1 - Aired 4/22/1983
Mrs. Slocombe sells her home-made perfume. After a misunderstanding, Mrs. Peacock finds Captain Peacock without his pants (perfume had spilled on them) and the ill-fated trousers in the hands of Mr. Rumbold's secretary.
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 173 votes#22 - Calling All Customers
Season 9 Episode 4 - Aired 5/13/1983
The staff perform a play on CB radio to advertise Grace Brothers. The play results in the store being swamped by truck drivers who are driven off by Mr. Humphries and Mrs. Slocombe.
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
7.5/10 209 votes#24 - Happy Returns
Season 6 Episode 6 - Aired 12/26/1978
It is Young Mr. Grace's birthday and there is the traditional free lunch for staff in the canteen. Afterwards, the staff plan a much more festive event for the celebration.
Director: Bob Spiers
Writer: N/A
7.5/10 187 votes#25 - Anything You Can Do
Season 7 Episode 6 - Aired 11/23/1979
The standard of the canteen food of Grace Brothers is rapidly going from bad to worse. After confronting the catering workers with their complaints, the staff are told to get on with the food preparation on their own.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
