OK, I can't be the only one who used to watch this hilarious show about a department store on PBS from, like, the 1970s. Mrs. Slocombe? Her purple hair? Her, uh, cat? "I'm freeeeeee!"? Mr. Humphries? Captain Peacock? Mr. Grace, the aging old dodderer who ran the place and was always attended to by sexy young nurses?

Are You Being Served? was a camp comedy classic and, astonishingly, PBS still draws in viewers for its re-runs to this very day.

Anyway, sad news. John Inman, who played Mr. Humphries, has died:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6429425.stm

Comedy actor Inman dies aged 71

Actor John Inman, most famous for the comedy Are You Being Served?, has died in London aged 71, his spokesman said.

Inman made his name in the 1970s show as Mr Humphries, whose catchphrase "I'm free!" entered popular culture.

In recent years he was a pantomime regular, most often taking the role of the dame. He also made appearances in BBC comedy show Revolver in 2004.

The Preston-born actor died in hospital and had been suffering from a Hepatitis A infection for some time.

The infection, usually caused by eating contaminated food, forced him to cancel the opening of a pantomime in London in December 2004.

It was initially hoped he would be able to return to the production of Dick Whittington, in which he was due to play Wanda the Cook, but he never worked again.

His manager Phil Dale said: "John was known and loved throughout the world. He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain.

"John was known for his comedy plays and farces which were enjoyed from London's West End throughout the country and as far as Australia, Canada and the USA."

Inman's Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I've ever worked with.

"He was a brilliant, brilliant pantomime dame and he was a very good all-round actor, really. He was a true professional."

Are You Being Served? ran on the BBC from 1972 to 1985 and depicted the antics of the staff of Grace Brothers, an old-fashioned department store.

Mr Humphries became one of TV's best known characters, and in 1976 Inman was voted funniest man on television by TV Times readers. He was declared BBC TV's personality of the year the same year.

Trevor Bannister, who played Mr Lucas in the series, told BBC News 24: "The 'I'm free!' was something put in because that is what people in those stores really said.

"We didn't realise it would become a running catchphrase.

"It was that way about the whole show - we never realised it was going to as successful as it was."

Veteran actress and co-star Mollie Sugden, who played Mrs Slocombe, told the BBC: "It's a very sad day. As far as I'm concerned, it's the end of an era."

Confident comedian

In the last four series, Mr Humphries was given an assistant, Mr Spooner, played by Mike Berry.

"I felt like going home at the end of the day and ironing my face, he made me laugh so much! As funny as he was in front of the camera, he was funnier off.

"He was such an astute comedian as well. He would get the script and mark in pencil the best lines and how to get the most laughs.

"And he was a confident comedian, which made him generous. He would help you in delivering a line to get the most out of it, he liked to work in a good team."

'Innocent quality'

Are You Being Served? attracted up to 22 million viewers

Actress Rula Lenska, who worked with him on TV and in pantomime, paid tribute to his comic style.

"It was suggestive but never in your face or aggressive. It had an innocent quality that you rarely find today.

"He was a joy to work with and even after an exhausting day in pantomime he would have time for the fans who crowded round the stage door."

Fellow pantomime dame Danny La Rue called him "irreplaceable".

The 79-year-old added: "John was wonderful in panto. The children adored him. He had a magic touch. Panto can be exhausting - but he loved it.

"He was such a fantastic and inventive actor, and he could play serious roles too. He wasn't all about that flippant catchphrase 'I'm free!' But that's what made him. When that show first started he was just one of the salesmen, but they soon saw a star."

Inman's long-term partner, Ron Lynch, is said to be "devastated" at his death.

I'm from The Netherlands and that serie is on re-runs all the time here and it still gets great ratings just like it deserves it's one of the funniest shows ever.Mr Humphries will be missed but he leaves a lot of laughs behind

When I was home sick from work I would sometimes watch it because BBC America airs it at 2pm, and sometimes PBS airs it on Saturday nights. It was hilarious. No wonder it still pulls in viewers. It was risque without being out and out gross and raunchy.

I've seen a few minutes of this show here and there on PBS. I thought it was pretty good.

Sad news on his passing.

While we're on the subject of British tv shows...anyone ever watch "Keeping Up Appearances"?

While we're on the subject of British tv shows...anyone ever watch "Keeping Up Appearances"?

Sometimes but I don't like the lead character.Onslow and Daisy are hillarious tho!

Sometimes but I don't like the lead character.Onslow and Daisy are hillarious tho!

I cringe when she yells "Richarrrrrrrrd!" I felt bad for the husband. He just wanted to live a regular life and his wife was so obsessed with being upper-class.

Hahaha....Daisy and Onslow were pretty funny....so was Rose and Daddy.

I liked Haycanith (sp?), but felt so sorry for Richard.

Elizabeth was funny too, especially when she would spill her coffee every time Hayacninth's phone would ring.

What about the off screen characters such as Sheridan with his 'friend' and Violet with gthe big house and room for a pony

What about the off screen characters such as Sheridan with his 'friend' and Violet with gthe big house and room for a pony

And don't forget the Mercedes.

Yeah, she never does pick up on the fact that her son is actually gay.

That show is pretty funny I have to admit.