How the BBC wanted Mr Humphries dropped from Are You Being Served?

He is one of the most memorable characters from Are You Being Served? – but Mr Humphries would have been axed had BBC bosses got their way.

Wary of having a gay character on screen, executives told writer David Croft to ‘get rid of the poof’ just a few episodes into the long-running sitcom.

But Croft, who had also co-created Dad’s Army, stood his ground insisting the camp shop assistant, played by John Inman, stay.

The story is recalled by cast member Mike Berry, 77, in a Channel 5 documentary, We Love Are You Being Served?, which airs on Saturday.

The actor, who played Mr Spooner, said: ‘The head of the BBC or whoever it was said, "Yes it’s all right, but get rid of the poof".

‘Writer David Croft, his jaw just dropped, and he said, "If the poof goes, the show goes". 

‘And they knew they had a winner so they back-pedalled like mad.’

Published: 25 Aug 2020