Are You Being Served? in Australia – Nostalgia Central

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1 9 8 0 – 1 9 8 1 (Australia)
16 x 25 minute episodes

Taking its lead from a number of British sitcoms that made ‘Down Under’ episodes, Australia’s Channel Ten commissioned a local version of the popular British comedy, Are You Being Served?

John Inman starred in his usual role as Mr Humphries, who had been sent by Young Mr Grace to work at the Bone Brothers department store in Melbourne for his cousin, Young Mr Bone (Basil Clarke).

Coincidentally, the Australian staff closely resembled his British colleagues at Grace Brothers.

Australians in the cast included opera singer June Bronhill as veteran saleswoman Mrs Crawford (whose pussy was frequently unwell), Reg Gillman as pompous floor walker Captain Wagstaff, Tony Bazell as crusty senior salesman, Mr Mankowitz, Shane Bourne as randy junior salesman Mr Randel and Judith Woodroofe as attractive but brassy junior saleswoman Miss Buxton.

Both Judith Woodroffe and Peter Collingwood were unavailable for series two, so they were replaced with Miss Nicholls (Christine Amor) and Mr Fenwick (Ken Fraser).

All but one episode (‘Undesirable Alien’) were adapted from editions of the first and seventh seasons of the original UK series.

The episodes were never aired outside Australia.

Mr Humphries
John Inman
Mrs Crawford
June Bronhill
Captain Wagstaff
Reg Gillam
Mr Mankowitz
Tony Bazell
Ms Buxton
Judith Woodroffe
Mr Randel
Shane Bourne
Mr Dunkley
Peter Collingwood
Mr Fenwick
Ken Fraser
Miss Nichols
Christine Amor
Young Mr Bone
Basil Clarke
Mr Cocker
Reg Evans
Young Mr Bone’s Nurse
Kerry Daniel

Episodes

Get Fit Down Under, Mr Humphries | The Hero | Mrs Crawford, Senior Person | The Agent | The Apartment | The Junior | Punch and Judy | Anything You Can Do || Dear Sexy Knickers | Camping In | Your Figures Are Slipping | Heir Apparent | Front Page Story | Undesirable Alien | Diamonds Are a Man’s Best Friend | His and Hers