To celebrate 60 years since Hancock's Half Hour began, the BBC is remaking many of its classic sitcoms, with a raft of prequels, sequels and remakes coming to BBCs 1, 2 and 4 this summer.
Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served?, Porridge and Up Pompeii! are getting modern follow-ups by today's comedy writers, while Steptoe and Son, Till Death Do Us Part and Hancock's Half Hour itself will see 'lost' episodes remade on BBC4.
Are You Being Served? is a direct continuation of the department store sitcom, set in 1988 with a new cast. Prison comedy Porridge, originally starring Ronnie Barker, will follow Fletch's grandson as he's banged up for cybercrimes. Young Hyacinth is a one-off special following the snooty Mrs Bucket (pronounced Bouquet, we're led to believe) as she tries to move from lower middle class to the ranks of the upper middle class.
Classics all, but it's BBC4 that might feature the biggest culture shock – the bigoted Alf Garnett in Till Death Do Us Part is a long way from today's politically correct culture.
That said, the festivities will be kicked off by a special live episode of a modern classic: Mrs Brown's Boys.
After more than 30 years off the air, Are You Being Served? is coming back – and it's serving up a brand new cast too.
From faithful sitcom servants to Bafta-winning actors and soap favourites, the BBC has brought together an impressive cast to try and recapture the magic of the original department store comedy.
But who's measuring up to the original cast? Find out about all the new faces below:
Mr. Humphries – Jason Watkins
The Bafta-winning star of The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies is suiting up to play menswear assistant Mr Humphries, originally played by John Inman.
Mrs. Slocombe – Sherrie Hewson
Reaching for the hair dye yet, Sherrie? The Coronation Street, Benidorm and Loose Women star, who also featured in Celebrity Big Brother 2015, is preparing for the role of head of ladies fashion Mrs Slocombe, originally played by Mollie Sugden.
Captain Peacock – John Challis
He was Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, but now Challis is moving up in the world, playing the stuffy Captain Peacock, first portrayed with perfect pomposity by Frank Thornton.
Mr. Grainger – Roy Barraclough
Long-serving menswear manager Mr Ernest Grainger will be played by Coronation Street star and comedy actor Roy Barraclough. The character was first brought to life by actor Arthur Brough.
Mr. Harman – Arthur Smith
Comedian and writer Arthur Smith is trusty maintenance man Mr Harman, making a nuisance of himself on the shop floor. The character was originally played by Arthur English.
Miss. Brahms – Niky Wardley
The Catherine Tate Show comedian Niky Wardley is set to play cocky Cockney assistant Miss Shirley Brahms. She was originally portrayed by Wendy Richard, who went on to ply her trade on EastEnders.
Original source: RadioTimes.com
Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served?, Porridge and Up Pompeii! are getting modern follow-ups by today's comedy writers, while Steptoe and Son, Till Death Do Us Part and Hancock's Half Hour itself will see 'lost' episodes remade on BBC4.
Are You Being Served? is a direct continuation of the department store sitcom, set in 1988 with a new cast. Prison comedy Porridge, originally starring Ronnie Barker, will follow Fletch's grandson as he's banged up for cybercrimes. Young Hyacinth is a one-off special following the snooty Mrs Bucket (pronounced Bouquet, we're led to believe) as she tries to move from lower middle class to the ranks of the upper middle class.
Classics all, but it's BBC4 that might feature the biggest culture shock – the bigoted Alf Garnett in Till Death Do Us Part is a long way from today's politically correct culture.
That said, the festivities will be kicked off by a special live episode of a modern classic: Mrs Brown's Boys.
After more than 30 years off the air, Are You Being Served? is coming back – and it's serving up a brand new cast too.
From faithful sitcom servants to Bafta-winning actors and soap favourites, the BBC has brought together an impressive cast to try and recapture the magic of the original department store comedy.
But who's measuring up to the original cast? Find out about all the new faces below:
Mr. Humphries – Jason Watkins
The Bafta-winning star of The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies is suiting up to play menswear assistant Mr Humphries, originally played by John Inman.
Mrs. Slocombe – Sherrie Hewson
Reaching for the hair dye yet, Sherrie? The Coronation Street, Benidorm and Loose Women star, who also featured in Celebrity Big Brother 2015, is preparing for the role of head of ladies fashion Mrs Slocombe, originally played by Mollie Sugden.
Captain Peacock – John Challis
He was Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, but now Challis is moving up in the world, playing the stuffy Captain Peacock, first portrayed with perfect pomposity by Frank Thornton.
Mr. Grainger – Roy Barraclough
Long-serving menswear manager Mr Ernest Grainger will be played by Coronation Street star and comedy actor Roy Barraclough. The character was first brought to life by actor Arthur Brough.
Mr. Harman – Arthur Smith
Comedian and writer Arthur Smith is trusty maintenance man Mr Harman, making a nuisance of himself on the shop floor. The character was originally played by Arthur English.
Miss. Brahms – Niky Wardley
The Catherine Tate Show comedian Niky Wardley is set to play cocky Cockney assistant Miss Shirley Brahms. She was originally portrayed by Wendy Richard, who went on to ply her trade on EastEnders.
Original source: RadioTimes.com
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