Mr. Humphries
Encyclopedia
Mr Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries is a fictional character from the BBC One
comedy
show, Are You Being Served?
. He was played by John Inman
from 1972-1993.
response, "I'm free!" He often arrives at work in outrageous attire, ranging from punk rock
clothing and hair, motorcycle leather jacket and chaps and sailor uniform, with an equally outrageous accounting of his previous night's activities and efforts to nonetheless make it to work on time. Mr. Humphries frequently speaks of a companion or companions referred to only as "my friend." The precise status of this friend is never elaborated upon.
Though Mr. Humphries exhibits many of the behaviors typical of a gay stereotype, his true sexual orientation
is never explicitly confirmed in the series. Many jokes throw Mr Humphries into heterosexual clinches. At one point he is asked to fill in for Mrs. Slocombe
at the ladies' counter when a female customer approaches and complains about the stockings she is wearing, lifting up her skirt to show them to him, which caused him to remark that he is "rooted to the spot" and is considering "a new way of life". In "The Agent", Mr. Humphries, in an attempt to get himself fired in order to take a higher paying position elsewhere, he makes a pass at a female customer, only to find out later that she calls his bluff to meet him outside at 5:30. At the end of the episode, while counting his wage packet, he remarks to Mrs. Slocombe that he's got a date at 5:30 and dashes off excitedly. In "The Erotic Dreams of Mrs. Slocombe", Miss Brahms
attempted to teach him how to seduce Mrs. Slocombe in order to shake her out of a deep depression
. However the lessons works too well and in the end Mr. Humphries passionately throws himself at Miss Brahms. In "Conduct Unbecoming", Mr. Humphries is accused of stealing money from his department's till. When he is vindicated (due to the till being faulty), Mr. Rumbold's beautiful blonde secretary throws her arms around him and gives him a passionate kiss, stating "I was always on your side." Mr. Humphries quickly replies that if the kiss had lasted any longer, he would have "gone over to your side."
Mr. Humphries is also often quite eager to wait on male customers, particularly those with a seemingly homoerotic
request. When asked to wait on a gentleman who wanted to buy a dress to wear (at a fancy dress party), the previously busy Mr. Humphries suddenly becomes available. When he is to direct a commercial for Grace Brothers, Mr. Humphries flirts quite openly with the (similarly camp) cameraman. In "The Apartment", Mrs. Slocombe attempts to seduce an obviously nervous Mr. Humphries. When her attempt fails due to extenuating circumstances, she asks Mr. Humphries if he is "relieved or disappointed". He replies, "I'm neither one way nor the other." Mr. Humphries also makes numerous references to events in his childhood, usually connected to his mother.
Mr. Humphries is rarely shown to have a serious disagreement with his colleagues. Potential disciplinary measures against him are usually the result of a misunderstanding rather than out of any actual wrongdoing or malice. He is the subject of derisory comments or jokes about his "orientation" from Mr. Grainger and Captain Peacock
on occasion. In one episode Mrs Slocombe calls him "fairy cake" and Mr Humphries replies in a hurt voice, "It's all coming out
now!" Later in the same episode, the employees are to vote on which of them should be made redundant; each employee receives exactly one nomination with the exception of Mr. Humphries, who simply writes "don't know". As Mr. Rumbold points out, this indicated that Mr. Humphries is the "most popular" person in the department, as nobody voted for him to be made redundant.
In a few episodes Mr. Humphries claims to have served briefly in the Royal Navy
, and at times mentioned being rejected for both the Army and the Royal Marines. He also mentions attending Scouts
meetings (with the implication that he was never actually in the Scouts). Mr Humphries often acknowledges the presence of the audience and breaks the fourth wall
by occasionally smiling or winking at, or addressing, the audience.
Mr. Humphries is the only character from the original series to be featured in the Australian version
of Are You Being Served?, produced in 1981.
reprised the role of Mr. Humphries for the spin-off show, Grace and Favour
, in 1992.
series Little Britain
. In episode 1 of season 1 Daffyd asks "Who was the gay character in Are You Being Served?" to which everyone in the pub replies "Mr. Humphries." Daffyd replies "Really, I thought it was Captain Peacock. He's the one with the moustache." In episode 5 of Ashes to Ashes
(set in 1981), DS Carling requests advice on how to act during an undercover investigation in a gay bar, prompting DC Skelton to imitate the trademark exchange: "Are you free, Mr. Humphries? I'm freeeee."
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 was played by John Inman
John Inman
Frederick John Inman was an English actor best known for his role as Mr. Humphries in Are You Being Served?, a British sitcom in the 1970s and 1980s. Inman was also well known in the United Kingdom as a pantomime dame....
from 1972-1993.
Role
Mr Humphries is the senior menswear assistant, and later becomes head of the Gentleman's Department. His ambiguous sexuality is used as a catalyst for many comedic situations and one-liners. Mr. Humphries is particularly noted for his mincing walk and his high pitched voice, which he discards when answering the phone. He had one of the most famous catchphrases of the era: when asked by a colleague, "Mr. Humphries, are you free? (to serve someone)", he always gives the campCamp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
response, "I'm free!" He often arrives at work in outrageous attire, ranging from punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
clothing and hair, motorcycle leather jacket and chaps and sailor uniform, with an equally outrageous accounting of his previous night's activities and efforts to nonetheless make it to work on time. Mr. Humphries frequently speaks of a companion or companions referred to only as "my friend." The precise status of this friend is never elaborated upon.
Though Mr. Humphries exhibits many of the behaviors typical of a gay stereotype, his true sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
is never explicitly confirmed in the series. Many jokes throw Mr Humphries into heterosexual clinches. At one point he is asked to fill in for 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:...
at the ladies' counter when a female customer approaches and complains about the stockings she is wearing, lifting up her skirt to show them to him, which caused him to remark that he is "rooted to the spot" and is considering "a new way of life". In "The Agent", Mr. Humphries, in an attempt to get himself fired in order to take a higher paying position elsewhere, he makes a pass at a female customer, only to find out later that she calls his bluff to meet him outside at 5:30. At the end of the episode, while counting his wage packet, he remarks to Mrs. Slocombe that he's got a date at 5:30 and dashes off excitedly. In "The Erotic Dreams of Mrs. Slocombe", Miss Brahms
Miss Brahms
Miss Shirley Brahms is a fictional character from the BBC1 comedy show, Are You Being Served?. She was played by Wendy Richard.-Role:Miss Brahms is the junior ladieswear assistant. Known for her Cockney accent, Miss Brahms is sometimes unintelligible to the person with whom she is speaking, but...
attempted to teach him how to seduce Mrs. Slocombe in order to shake her out of a deep depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. However the lessons works too well and in the end Mr. Humphries passionately throws himself at Miss Brahms. In "Conduct Unbecoming", Mr. Humphries is accused of stealing money from his department's till. When he is vindicated (due to the till being faulty), Mr. Rumbold's beautiful blonde secretary throws her arms around him and gives him a passionate kiss, stating "I was always on your side." Mr. Humphries quickly replies that if the kiss had lasted any longer, he would have "gone over to your side."
Mr. Humphries is also often quite eager to wait on male customers, particularly those with a seemingly homoerotic
Homoeroticism
Homoeroticism refers to the erotic attraction between members of the same sex, either male–male or female–female , most especially as it is depicted or manifested in the visual arts and literature. It can also be found in performative forms; from theatre to the theatricality of uniformed movements...
request. When asked to wait on a gentleman who wanted to buy a dress to wear (at a fancy dress party), the previously busy Mr. Humphries suddenly becomes available. When he is to direct a commercial for Grace Brothers, Mr. Humphries flirts quite openly with the (similarly camp) cameraman. In "The Apartment", Mrs. Slocombe attempts to seduce an obviously nervous Mr. Humphries. When her attempt fails due to extenuating circumstances, she asks Mr. Humphries if he is "relieved or disappointed". He replies, "I'm neither one way nor the other." Mr. Humphries also makes numerous references to events in his childhood, usually connected to his mother.
Mr. Humphries is rarely shown to have a serious disagreement with his colleagues. Potential disciplinary measures against him are usually the result of a misunderstanding rather than out of any actual wrongdoing or malice. He is the subject of derisory comments or jokes about his "orientation" from Mr. Grainger and Captain Peacock
Captain Peacock
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...
on occasion. In one episode Mrs Slocombe calls him "fairy cake" and Mr Humphries replies in a hurt voice, "It's all coming out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
now!" Later in the same episode, the employees are to vote on which of them should be made redundant; each employee receives exactly one nomination with the exception of Mr. Humphries, who simply writes "don't know". As Mr. Rumbold points out, this indicated that Mr. Humphries is the "most popular" person in the department, as nobody voted for him to be made redundant.
In a few episodes Mr. Humphries claims to have served briefly in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and at times mentioned being rejected for both the Army and the Royal Marines. He also mentions attending Scouts
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
meetings (with the implication that he was never actually in the Scouts). Mr Humphries often acknowledges the presence of the audience and breaks the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
by occasionally smiling or winking at, or addressing, the audience.
Mr. Humphries is the only character from the original series to be featured in the Australian version
Are You Being Served? (Australian TV series)
The Australian version of British sitcom Are You Being Served? was produced by Network Ten in 1980-1981. It ran for 16 episodes until 1981. The draw-card was the presence of actor John Inman reprising his role of Mr. Humphries from the original series...
of Are You Being Served?, produced in 1981.
Grace and Favour
John InmanJohn Inman
Frederick John Inman was an English actor best known for his role as Mr. Humphries in Are You Being Served?, a British sitcom in the 1970s and 1980s. Inman was also well known in the United Kingdom as a pantomime dame....
reprised the role of Mr. Humphries 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.
Other references
The character is mentioned in sketch comedySketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
series Little Britain
Little Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
. In episode 1 of season 1 Daffyd asks "Who was the gay character in Are You Being Served?" to which everyone in the pub replies "Mr. Humphries." Daffyd replies "Really, I thought it was Captain Peacock. He's the one with the moustache." In episode 5 of Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes (TV series)
Ashes to Ashes is a British science fiction and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.The series began airing on BBC One in February 2008. A second series began broadcasting in April 2009...
(set in 1981), DS Carling requests advice on how to act during an undercover investigation in a gay bar, prompting DC Skelton to imitate the trademark exchange: "Are you free, Mr. Humphries? I'm freeeee."
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...