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
Are You Being Served? John Inman, Mollie Sugden, Frank Thornton, Wendy Richard, and Nicholas Smith reprised their characters from the television show while the characters of Mr. Lucas, Mr. Grainger, and Mr. Mash were recast. The play had basically the same plot as the film version which would debut the next year, though Young Mr. Grace's role was omitted entirely and Mr. Mash had less to do than Mr. Harmon in the film. Reviews for the play were mixed; a writer for the Blackpool "Diarist of the Stage" declared it the funniest show he'd seen in thirty years, while Michael Leapman from "The Times",