BBC bosses have turned down two new episodes of Are You Being Served?
The classic comedy was revived by the corporation in 2016 as part of a sitcom season.
Top writer Derren Litten, 50, was hired to pen new scripts and told it would be back for a full series — so he finished three instalments.
But after just one episode had aired, execs backtracked and pulled the plug on the show.
It means there are two ready-made episodes that fans won’t get to see.
Sherrie Hewson, 70, who played Mrs Slocombe in the revival, is frustrated by the decision.
(Image: BBC/Scott Kershaw)
She said: “When Derren wrote it, they said they were going to go for a series. But at the time there were a lot of comedy shows being brought back.
“The criteria was that if you got four or five million viewers, you would go to a series. We got seven million for our pilot. But they took Porridge to a series instead.”
It is thought Beeb execs dropped the series over fears it would offend viewers.
The pilot sparked complaints about Mr Humphries, played by Jason Watkins, 54, being too camp.
(Image: Still)
And there were even moans about Mrs Slocombe making her famous “pussy” jokes.
The BBC has struggled to find comedy hits in recent years with sitcoms including Warren, Quacks and Don’t Forget The Driver all being axed.
Are You Being Served? was watched by 22million viewers at its peak.
Debuting in 1972, the series followed the staff in the menswear and womenswear section of a London department store, named Grace Brothers.
(Image: BBC/Scott Kershaw)
An enormous success both in the UK and overseas, it inspired a film of the same name, as well as a spin-off series titled Grace & Favour.
Are You Being Served? came to an end in 1985, having made stars of the likes of Frank Thornton, Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Wendy Richard and Nicholas Smith.
It has since become one of the most iconic sitcoms in TV history.
Hear the full interview with Sherrie on hit podcast Soap From The Box.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
