Mr. Humphries 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." Mr. Humphries Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries is a fictional character from the BBC1 comedy show, "Are You Being Served?". He was played by John Inman from 1972 to 1985. The character was played by actor Jason Watkins in the 2016 revival which formed part of BBC Television's Landmarks of Comedy season. Mr. Wilberforce Claybourne Humphries, born 1938/9, is the junior menswear assistant. His sexuality is
Mr. Humphries derisory comments or jokes about his perceived sexuality 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.