User Reviews

The staff of the Ladies and Gentleman's department cross the picket line of those on strike at Grace Brothers, causing bad feeling throughout. Mr Grace had the idea of the staff putting on a show for the kids of the angry strikers.

It is funny, it serves as a reminder of just how bad industrial relations were for many at the time, with people seemingly on strike at the drop of a hat.

Notable for being the last episode for Alfie Bass, but more importantly the final fling for Trevor Bannister. Bass started off so well, but I feel they didn't develop him much as a character, Bannister had probably done all he could with the lovable Mr Lucas, he had been the junior now for seven years.

I'm not sure the show ever felt quite the same after this point, it was still funny, but that vibe you got from the regular cast did diminish, even young Mr Grace would only have one more episode.

The punch and Judy show itself is funny, but you wouldn't particularly say it's vintage, Bannister is perhaps the funniest.

End of an era, good fun. 7/10

Being a long running British sitcom means you carry on regardless of cast departures if you can absolutely help it. 'Are you Being Served?' is a prime example of that.

By this point we'd lost Mr Grainger, and were already on the second replacement, Alfie Bass (who himself would make his final appearance here), but the show continued in much the same form.

The loss of Trevor Bannister though wouldn't be so easy to come back from though, and this episode (his final one) proves why. There's something about his delivery of lines, his links with all the other characters and dynamic with Mr Humphries that makes him so invaluable.

Yes, the plot of this episode is thin, and you wonder why suddenly a group of department store employees break out into song and dance numbers, but this is the last episode where the show was good.

Have to say I absolutely agree with the other reviews regarding the staff changes. It was never the same after this. This episode shows why Trevor Bannister would be so missed (and I've got nothing against Mike Berry who played his replacement, Mr Spooner). I would say this was probably his finest performance, particularly when he was playing the part of Mr Punch - his voice and mannerisms were spot on and so, so funny.

Alfie Bass would be another big loss too. He was easily the best of the various Mr Grainger replacements. To lose both characters and young Mr Grace as well so soon afterwards was a blow from which the show would never recover.