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
Last of the Summer Wine (series 31) having a loyal fan base. To commemorate the show's final appearance, the BBC broadcast "Songs of Praise" from Holmfirth, and a special of "Countryfile" about Holmfirth and the surrounding area (where the series was primarily filmed). The "Countryfile" special aired on 25 July straight after the first episode of the final series. "Songs of Praise" from Holmfirth aired on 29 August, the day the last ever episode was broadcast. That final episode, "How Not to Cry at Weddings" was dubbed "The Very Last of the Summer Wine" in the "Radio Times" edition dated 28 August - 3 September 2010. That