Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries

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name	Frederick John Inman
date of birth	28 June 1935
sun (zodiac) sign	Cancer (the Crab) - water sign
ruling planet	the Moon
character name	Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries
tenure on the show	1972-1984
Humphries' status	asst. salesman 1972-1981 senior salesman 1983-1984
catchphrases	"I'm free!" "MEN'S wear..."

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Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries, a character played by the talented (Frederick) John Inman, is by far the most beloved member of the clothing staff of Grace Brothers department store, in the AWESOME Britcom Are You Being Served? (AYBS?). John Inman's character, possessed of quite a small role ("surely you don't object to me only having a little one") in the 1972 pilot episode, quickly developed and grew in popularity to become, by the show's end in 1984, the most featured member of the Grace Brothers staff, along with Mollie Sugden's character Mrs. Slocombe. And the focus is well-deserved. Mr. Humphries is by far the most entertaining member of the staff, with Mrs. Slocombe running a VERY close second.

Every character on AYBS? has their quirks/theme/signature gag oh you get the idea... At any rate Mr. Humphries' main "thing" is that his sexuality is ambiguous. He constantly acts like a stereotypical gay male: limp-wristed, never walking always flouncing, obsessed about keeping a youthful appearance, going gaga over cute guys, dressing in drag (he doesn't do it as well as RuPaul, though), etc. However we also learn in the pilot episode that Mr. Humphries has been sent to "blue" clubs by his doctor for therapy (it was the 1970's; they weren't too smart then...). And when Mr. Lucas asks Clayborne if the therapy worked his reply is: "That's none of your business." Consequently, throughout the thirteen years that the show was on no one, not even Mr. Humphries himself, could quite be sure of his sexuality. He prides himself in being "versatile" and knowing "many different positions." The rest is left to your imagination!

Although most of us gay men are innately likable (there's some stereotyping for ya), Mr. Humphries is not just popular for his hazy sexual preference: he is the most honest and caring of the Grace Brothers staff, and if he ever lies it is almost always to save someone else's neck. He dresses in drag to save Mrs. Slocombe's job (not that he wouldn't dress in drag anyway ^_^), steps in during an argument between Miss Brahms and Captain Peacock, and has supported almost every staff member when they needed someone to stick up for them or cover for them. The sharpness of his wit is matched by sensitivity of his soul (hey, he has a Paddington Bear!) and he will cry at the drop of a hat. When wearing his working clothes he is the best dressed and when not working he's the most outrageously dressed. Being of a personable nature he makes friends with all sorts of people (which "never ceases to amaze" Captain Peacock): punk rockers, lorry drivers, mud wrestlers, and tall girls in the patisserie. Furthermore, whenever Grace Brothers involves itself in a theatrical/musical production or advertising campaign, Mr. Humphries is the leader/producer steering the other staff members in the right direction. He *is* the most "experienced" and "versatile" of the staff, having tried everything from skateboarding to work, having relationships via CB-radio with truck drivers (who know him as Little Boy Blue), dressing in drag (a swimsuit!) to win money for himself and his co-workers, mud wrestling, roller-disco, and the wildest fancy-dress parties.

Mr. Humphries maintains a close relationship with his mother, calling her on a regular basis. Although he maintained a friendly yet distant attitude to the ladies when they first moved in on the men's department floor (their arrival was the reason for the distance), Mr. Humphries quickly changed in a few years and eventually became one of Mrs. Slocombe's best friends. It is rumored in the packing department that he has a tiny penis, and Mr. Humphries himself isn't above insinuating the same. Oh, and he was also in the navy... "for a week or two." As mentioned before he keeps in quite close touch with his mother (how can he not if he still lives with her?) and is a master of the culinary arts. Wilberforce always gets annoyed when someone automatically assumes that an anonymous friend he mentions is a guy, and he gets defensive whenever his mother mentions the vicar. But ah, you'll never know what it is about the vicar that makes him defensive!

Mr. Humphries, although very popular, was (and is) a controversial character, disliked by many: first of all, many people hated gays in general, and those who were accepting of homosexuals disapproved of the fact that Mr. Humphries only served to further the stereotypes created by bigoted people. But all in all he is liked, because even if he only confirms the inaccurate views of the narrow-minded, he also proves that gay men are just like (and perhaps even better than) everyone else... to a point!