Captain Peacock
Encyclopedia
Captain Stephen Peacock is a fictional character from the BBC One
comedy
show, Are You Being Served?
. He is played by Frank Thornton
, who went on to take the popular role of Truly in Last of the Summer Wine
. Thornton appeared in the 2010 documentary of the show due to him being one of the few remaining actors from the show.
in North Africa
. Mr. Mash likes to tell the staff that Peacock served in the NAAFI
instead, and probably didn't ever leave England
, and Mr. Goldberg hints that Peacock's real rank was a Corporal
. Allegedly, despite his rank, Peacock began as a sweeper in the stockroom. Although Peacock usually talks as if he were a member of the elite Commando
unit, on two occasions he admits he was in the Royal Army Service Corps
(logistics). By 1975 he has been working at Grace Brothers for 20 years.
Captain Peacock considers himself to be somewhat of a "ladies' man". It is heavily implied in several episodes that Captain Peacock has had dalliances with women outside of his marriage, mostly with ladies from the store such as the secretaries working for Mr. Rumbold (in particular Miss Belfridge). He has also been known to cast his eye towards Miss Brahms (who has referenced his attempts at seduction during office parties). He has even been known to flirt with Mrs. Slocombe
occasionally (though this is the exception rather than the rule, as usually it is Mrs. Slocombe who uses her charms on him when she wants something). These situations have often gotten Captain Peacock into both marital and professional trouble (usually as the extremely jealous Mrs. Peacock often confronts him while he's at work), but due to his quick wit he is usually able to work his way out of both situations.
Captain Peacock generally tends to have a hate-hate relationship with whoever is the junior in the menswear department; both Mr. Lucas and Mr. Spooner have gotten the sharp end of his tongue (as their more carefree, relaxed attitude towards work clashes with his more professional demeanor). He rarely clashes with Mr. Humphries, having told him at one point that he considered him to be an excellent salesman; however he had no qualms about stating the case against Mr. Humphries in "Conduct Unbecoming" when it appeared Mr. Humphries had embezzled money. He often clashes with the head of the menswear department, whether that be Mr. Grainger, Mr. Klein, Mr. Tebbs or Mr. Goldberg, usually over a matter that involves the menswear department having to share floor or counter space with the ladies' department. He also irritated Mr. Grainger whenever anything involving a promotion or the company boardroom was mentioned; Mr. Grainger would become jealous as he had been at the store longer, while Peacock seemed to relish the opportunity to reinforce his senior position.
reprised the role of Captain Peacock for the spin-off show, Grace and Favour
, in 1992.
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
show, Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served? is a British sitcom broadcast from 1972 to 1985. It was set in the ladies' and gentlemen's clothing departments of Grace Brothers, a large, fictional London department store. It was written mainly by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, with contributions by Michael Knowles and John...
. He is played by Frank Thornton
Frank Thornton
Frank Thornton is an English actor who is best known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and its sequel Grace & Favour and as Truly in Last of the Summer Wine.-Early life:...
, who went on to take the popular role of Truly in Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was broadcast on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. From 1983 to 2010, Alan J. W. Bell produced and...
. Thornton appeared in the 2010 documentary of the show due to him being one of the few remaining actors from the show.
Role
Captain Peacock, the somewhat stuffy floorwalker, considers himself above the assistants with both his position and his dubious military record; he likes to brag about his experiences fighting RommelErwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
in North Africa
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
. Mr. Mash likes to tell the staff that Peacock served in the NAAFI
Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes
The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is an organisation created by the British government in 1921 to run recreational establishments needed by the British Armed Forces, and to sell goods to servicemen and their families...
instead, and probably didn't ever leave England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and Mr. Goldberg hints that Peacock's real rank was a Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
. Allegedly, despite his rank, Peacock began as a sweeper in the stockroom. Although Peacock usually talks as if he were a member of the elite Commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
unit, on two occasions he admits he was in the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
(logistics). By 1975 he has been working at Grace Brothers for 20 years.
Captain Peacock considers himself to be somewhat of a "ladies' man". It is heavily implied in several episodes that Captain Peacock has had dalliances with women outside of his marriage, mostly with ladies from the store such as the secretaries working for Mr. Rumbold (in particular Miss Belfridge). He has also been known to cast his eye towards Miss Brahms (who has referenced his attempts at seduction during office parties). He has even been known to flirt with Mrs. Slocombe
Mrs. Slocombe
Mrs. Betty Slocombe is a fictional character from the BBC One comedy show, Are You Being Served?. She was played by Mollie Sugden.-Role:...
occasionally (though this is the exception rather than the rule, as usually it is Mrs. Slocombe who uses her charms on him when she wants something). These situations have often gotten Captain Peacock into both marital and professional trouble (usually as the extremely jealous Mrs. Peacock often confronts him while he's at work), but due to his quick wit he is usually able to work his way out of both situations.
Captain Peacock generally tends to have a hate-hate relationship with whoever is the junior in the menswear department; both Mr. Lucas and Mr. Spooner have gotten the sharp end of his tongue (as their more carefree, relaxed attitude towards work clashes with his more professional demeanor). He rarely clashes with Mr. Humphries, having told him at one point that he considered him to be an excellent salesman; however he had no qualms about stating the case against Mr. Humphries in "Conduct Unbecoming" when it appeared Mr. Humphries had embezzled money. He often clashes with the head of the menswear department, whether that be Mr. Grainger, Mr. Klein, Mr. Tebbs or Mr. Goldberg, usually over a matter that involves the menswear department having to share floor or counter space with the ladies' department. He also irritated Mr. Grainger whenever anything involving a promotion or the company boardroom was mentioned; Mr. Grainger would become jealous as he had been at the store longer, while Peacock seemed to relish the opportunity to reinforce his senior position.
Grace and Favour
Frank ThorntonFrank Thornton
Frank Thornton is an English actor who is best known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and its sequel Grace & Favour and as Truly in Last of the Summer Wine.-Early life:...
reprised the role of Captain Peacock for the spin-off show, Grace and Favour
Grace and favour
A grace and favour home is a residential property owned by a monarch by virtue of their position as head of state and leased rent-free to persons as part of an employment package or in gratitude for past services rendered....
, in 1992.
External links
- Are You Being Served? at the British Film InstituteBritish Film InstituteThe British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...