Foreword (Jeremy Lloyd): The basis of all good comedy is a realistic substructure on which fantasy can be played, and _Are You Being Served?_ is definitely grounded in reality.

Introduction (Adrian Rigelsford): The comedy roots of _Are You Being Served?_ stretch back some ten years before the series began.

Chapter 1: Much of the success of _Are You Being Served?_ rests with the characters and the actors playing them.