"Are You Being Served?" Happy Returns (TV Episode 1978) Poster

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8/10
Birthday laughs.
Sleepin_Dragon10 December 2019
Young Mr Grace has turned 71, and the staff of the ladies and gentlemen's department put on a show, with magical characters Little Alice aged four, Little boy Blue and of course the fairy prince.

This isn't what you'd call a high brow comedy, but it was never meant to be, what it is, is half an hour of pure joy. The best laughs come from the actual physical joy you can see etched on the faces of the cast, Inman, Sudgen and Bannister in particular. They all manage to keep it together, but you can just see the desperation to laugh is there.

Bannister larking about with his horn is a comedy delight, it's very funny.

It's a fine series send off. 8/10
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7/10
Happy Returns
Prismark1024 December 2020
Happy Returns is a Christmas special where both the staff of Grace Brothers and the actors can let their hair down a little.

It is also young Mr Grace's birthday and he gets stuck in the lift with Miss Bakewell. No wonder he looked a little weak.

While Mr Grace goes off for a birthday lunch at a fancy restaurant, lunch is on him for the rest in the staff canteen.

The highlight of the episode. The show the staff of Grace Brothers put on for young Mr Grace's birthday. Mr Humphries is the fairy prince. It is right up John Inman's street. A panto trooper.

You can see the cast are up for this, although the singing quality is a bit variable.

I was amused to see actor Michael Halsey turn up as the proper fairy prince. He usually popped up as the guest villain in a bucketful of US shows.
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10/10
A different comedy for a different age
ls177hq10 April 2009
When reviewing this series it's necessary for it to be put into the historical context for when it was made. This was pre political-correctness in an age where "carry on" was king.

This episode is simply fun to watch, the cast are clearly throughly enjoying themselves as can be evidenced by the number of times you catch a performer beginning to laugh just before the camera cuts away from them.

If you want high drama or serious prose I recommend one of the Bronte's or Shakespeare.. if you want a damn good laugh I recommend Are You Being Served.
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