The Savile Row of British Comedy
By Izzy
John Inman—the British comedic actor best known for playing Mr. Humphries, the campy menswear salesman on the BBC’s Are You Being Served?—has died. The hilarious sitcom, which ran from 1972 to 1985, was set in a department store so old-fashioned that the salespersons called each other mister and miss. (The closest Izzy has ever come to experiencing such a place is at Paul Stuart in New York.) A master of the double entrendre, the is-he-or-isn’t-he? Mr. Humphries was notoriously all-too-eager to measure an inside leg. An interverate scene-stealer whose trilled catch phrase was “I’m free,” Mr. Inman shall be missed.
March 21st, 2007 at 7:32 am
Izzy , very sad no-one has commented on the passing of this comic/ sartorial legend. Music hall comedy translated to TV in a way only the Brits have worked out, who could forget Mrs Slocum and her p***y, Captain Peacock and his superb suits and of course John Inman.
Fabulous
March 27th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
I’m so stunned…I haven’t had a comment. I’m going to go mourn him now…