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
Are You Being Served? format was exhausted, it was suggested the characters could be moved to a new location. In 1992, most of the original cast reunited for "Grace & Favour" (known as "Are You Being Served Again!" in the United States and Canada). The new series followed the characters after Young Mr. Grace's death, when they are forced to run a hotel in a dilapidated manor house that was purchased using their pension fund. "Grace & Favour" ran for two series. In October 1976, a stage adaptation of "Are You Being Served?" ran at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Directed by Robert Redfarn,