You're free!

Actor Frank Thornton whose death was announced today, aged 92, was one of last two survivors of the BBC hit sitcom Are You Being Served? which ran from 1972 to 1985. Its humour relied heavily on sexual innuendo and double entendres which were liberally employed. Recently my wife and I have been watching a re-run of another sitcom of the period 'Allo 'Allo!. We have frequently looked at each other in disbelief at some of the double entendres. I doubt that they would be allowed today which is ironic since the actuality is now constantly thrust in our faces. The picture above is taken from a clip which well illustrates the tensions but free acceptance of difference at that time without all the baggage that we are now expected to carry at the behest of the gay lobby pushing unwelcome legislation through Parliament and rubbishing the Christian faith. 

As floor walker Capt Peacock symbolised the standards of yesteryear when the customer was paramount giving rise to the catch phrase "Are you being served?" followed by "Are you free? directed at one of the sales assistants, often the camp Mr Humphries. Perhaps there was a naive innocence in those days which others in their PC hats will now regard as hypocrisy but at least we had a good laugh compared with the misery constantly pumped out today. 

Capt Peacock, you're free! RIP