A silver service
The sitcom lasted for 13 years, but just 69 episodes were filmed. All of them were co-written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, who also created Allo Allo. Lloyd once worked in a department store, which was a source of inspiration for the situations in the show.

A Berry big mistake
Mike Berry, who played Mr Spooner in later seasons, was in a popular 60s band called Mike Berry and the Outlaws. At the peak of their success, Mike became friendly with a then unknown band named The Beatles, who offered to write material for his group. Mike declined the offer.

If you're onto a good thing
The show was so popular that a film version was made in 1977 to cash in on its success. The script borrowed heavily from gags in the show, but the premise was that the staff were on their summer holiday from Grace Brothers. There was also a stage production based on the TV scripts.

Cracker of a start
The stars of the show became household names, but the sitcom wasn't quite the big break for Robbie Coltrane. The comic had a part in the episode Calling All Customers, but you couldn't actually see him - he was the voice of a lorry driver talking to Mrs Slocombe on a CB radio.

A job to dye for
Mollie Sugden (Mrs Slocombe) really did dye her hair those outrageous colours when the show began. She later switched to wearing wigs after her hair was left damaged from all the dyeing.

Mr Lucas's P45
Why the character of Mr Lucas disappeared was never explained in the show. He was there in one episode and gone the next, maybe because the actor who played him, Trevor Bannister, left so abruptly. Differing stories claim he was either busy with his stage work, or unable to agree a new contract with the BBC.

Ain't broke, don't fix it
Not only was there a film spin-off, but there were also two foreign versions of the show. An Australian version was made with John Inman returning as Mr Humphries - he was sent to Australia to work in a department store owned by Mr Grace's Australian cousin. The American remake was called Beanes of Boston, but it never made it past the pilot stage.