The English actor Arthur Brough, who achieved fame as senior clothing
salesman Mr. Grainger on the BBC-TV comedy series Are You Being Served? (1972) in the 1970s,
after almost half-a-century on the stage, was born Frederick Arthur
Baker on February 26, 1905 in Petersfield, Hampshire, England. After
indulging in amateur theatrics with future star Alistair Sim, Brough attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in
the early 1920s. After graduating, he joined a Shakespearean theatrical
troupe where he met his wife-to-be, actress Elizabeth Addeyman. After
they married, they used their wedding dowry as collateral to rent the
Leas Pavilion, a repertory theater in Folkestone.
Arthur both ran the company and acted in the shows, and once the new
Folkestone rep was established, he began establishing new repertory
companies in Bradford, Bristol, Blackpool, Keighley, Leeds, Lincoln,
Oxford and Southampton, as well as other acting companies throughout
the country. With the advent of World War II, he enlisted in the Royal
Navy, where he served for the duration. Upon being demobilized, he
resumed his acting career by reopening the Folkestone rep.
Arthur Brough dedicated his life to the theater, and "Are You Being
Served?" co-star Mollie Sugden credits him with helping train a generation of
actors. In the 1950s, he established repertory theaters at Southend and
Eastbourne. However, with the rise of television, he predicted the
eclipse of repertory theater as a viable entertainment venue. In the
50s, he began seeking roles in the mass media, appearing in small roles
in movies and television. His daughter, Joanna Hutton, said about his
forecast of the decline of repertory theater, "He was very astute and
unsentimental about it. He realized the era was over and that he must
diversify. One of the first jobs he did away from the stage was the
film Der grüne Mann (1956) with Alastair Sim."
According to his daughter, he found it hard adjusting from stage to
screen at first. "He realized how hammy he was. He used to take the
mickey out of himself; he'd always acted in a Shakespearean manner and
suddenly realized he had to tone down his performance for film."
Brough appeared in a wide variety of small and bit parts, including a
small role opposite Jayne Mansfield in Sie pfiff - und die Kerle kuschten (1960), and made guest
appearances in TV shows such as Das Haus am Eaton Place (1971), Dad's Army (1968), and Freie Hand für Barlow (1962). He also continued to appear in theatrical productions,
including Half a Sixpence (1967), playing a shopkeeper. The Folkestone Rep continued
until 1969 before closing.
Throughout his time on the hit show, Brough's personal life was beset
with sadness, as his beloved wife was seriously ill.
A crisis hit "Are You Being Served?" after it completed its fifth
season (1977). All was going well: Producer David Croft had hired Bob Spiers,
a BBC director who'd recently directed Das verrückte Hotel - Fawlty Towers (1975) and who later helmed the
Emmy-winning Absolutely Fabulous (1992), to direct the sixth season. However, on Easter
Sunday 1978, Arthur Brough's wife of 50 years, Elizabeth, passed away,
and the emotionally devastated Brough announced he was quitting acting.
According to his daughter, he stayed with her for a few weeks, during
which time David Croft] and Jeremy Lloyd made contact to say they were
writing him into the next series. But unfortunately he died before
filming commenced.
Brough died six weeks after his wife, on May 28, 1978, in Folkestone.
Croft decided not to have another actor take over the part of Mr.
Grainger, so his character in "Are You Being Served"? was replaced by
Mr. Tebbs, played by James Hayter.
His co-workers have fond memories of working with Arthur, who - as his
daughter noted - "was a highly respected actor who'd spent forty years
in the profession." At the time of Arthur's death, David Croft said:
"Arthur created a living character who was the inspiration for much of
the humour His personality made him a pivot round which a whole lot of
laughter and affection revolved."
