Are You Being Served? the first series on 14 March 1973. Although the first series was aired in the same timeslot as "Coronation Street" on ITV, consequently receiving relatively little attention, the repeats shown later in the year were much more successful. The show became a ratings hit, and after a successful 13-year run, "Are You Being Served?" came to an end on 1 April 1985. Of the original cast, only Frank Thornton, Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Wendy Richard and Nicholas Smith appeared in all 69 episodes of the programme's 13-year run; these five later featured in the sequel sitcom, "Grace & Favour" (also
British sitcom successful of all British sitcoms, began in 1981 and was the most durable of several series written and created by John Sullivan. Other hits included the political satire "Yes Minister" (1980–84) and its sequel "Yes, Prime Minister" (1986–88), Esmonde and Larbey's suburban sitcom "Ever Decreasing Circles" (1984–89) and the sci-fi-comedy "Red Dwarf" (1988–). Other shows such as "'Allo 'Allo!" (1984–92) were reminiscent of 1970s sitcoms such as "Are You Being Served?" and "Dad's Army" unsurprising in light of the fact that all three involved the writer/producer David Croft and two were co-written by Jeremy Lloyd. Also worth mentioning is the