Ep 7. The Father Christmas Affair

The show Are You Being Served? is a British sitcom set in a department store called Grace Brothers. Season 4 episode 7, called The Father Christmas Affair, revolves around the store's annual Christmas display and the various hijinks that occur during the preparations for it.

At the start of the episode, the store managers, Mr. Rumbold and Mr. Grace, announce that the Christmas display will have a "Father Christmas" theme, meaning that all of the decorations and props will center around the figure of Santa Claus. This leads to a flurry of activity amongst the staff, who begin to come up with ideas and schemes to make the display the best it can be.

One of the main plotlines in the episode involves the character of Mr. Lucas, a young and cocky salesman who frequently clashes with the more experienced staff members. Mr. Lucas comes up with the idea of dressing up as Father Christmas himself and appearing as part of the display, but his plan backfires when he gets stuck inside of the costume and has to be rescued by the other staff members.

Meanwhile, Mr. Humphries, a flamboyant and effeminate sales assistant, takes it upon himself to create a special "magical" section of the display that will capture the attention of shoppers. He enlists the help of the store's resident seamstress, Mrs. Slocombe, to create a series of costumes and props that he believes will dazzle customers.

As the preparations for the display continue, tensions begin to rise amongst the staff members. Mr. Grainger, an older and more timid salesman, becomes increasingly frustrated with the chaotic nature of the planning and threatens to quit if things don't improve. This prompts Mr. Rumbold to call a meeting with the entire staff, where he attempts to reign in the disorganization and bring some order to the proceedings.

As the big day arrives, the staff members are all dressed up in their costumes and ready to perform for the shoppers. However, things don't go as planned when Mr. Lucas - still bitter about his failed Father Christmas stunt - sneaks in and disrupts the display. Chaos ensues, but the staff ultimately pull together to put on a successful and memorable Christmas show.

Overall, The Father Christmas Affair is a fun and festive episode that showcases the strengths of the show's cast and humor. With its mix of slapstick comedy, witty dialogue, and memorable characters, it's a great example of why Are You Being Served? remains beloved by fans of sitcoms.