Are You Being Served Star Dies

Mr Inman, star of TV sitcom Are You Being Served? died early this morning. The actor aged 71, died in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, at 4am after being ill for some time.

Despite being best known for his performances as Mr Humphries in the long running and popular comedy, Mr Inman was also a star in the world of pantomime.
Inman's partner of 35 years Ron Lynch is said to be “devastated” at his death.

The actor suffered from hepatitis A - an inflammation of the liver which he believed was caused through eating contaminated food - and had been taken into hospital for tests after problems with his liver. His health problems in 2004 were the second scare in three years, after he spent three days in intensive care in 2001. Then at 65, he was admitted with breathing difficulties to St Mary's, the same hospital as where he died today.
JOHN Inman played camp salesman Mr Humphries in the comedy series Are You Being Served? for a decade from the mid-1970s.

He starred alongside Wendy Richard, who went on to play Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, as well as Molly Sugden, Frank Thornton and Trevor Bannister.

Are You Being Served? ran on the BBC from 1972 to 1985 and depicted the antics of the staff of Grace Brothers, an old-fashioned department store.

Inman's character, Mr Humphries, the senior sales assistant in the menswear department, was known for his catchphrase “I'm free” and for his overt campness.

Often attacked by gay groups offended by his stereotypical portrayal of a theatrical homosexual, although he argued that his sexual orientation was never stated.