Now, imagine dropping this guy into the already chaotic world of Grace Brothers. You’ve got Mrs. Slocombe worrying about her pussy (the cat, you heatherns), Mr. Humphries being “free,” and Mr. Grainger moaning about the war. And then there’s Spooner, calmly saying, “I’ll just pop to the kindergarten in the cow” (cow in the kindergarten—don’t ask).
It was a perfect storm of silliness. He didn’t replace the beloved Mr. Grainger—he was his own brand of beautiful chaos. The writers even gave him a running gag where he’d get into heated arguments with Mr. Rumbold, the store manager, and then accidentally insult him with a spoonerism. Poor Rumbold never stood a chance.
And let’s not forget his relationship with Mr. Grossman. Those two had a dynamic like an old married couple—except Spooner would ask for a “folden grish” (golden fish) and Mr. Grossman would just sigh. It was pure, British, groan-worthy gold.
The Secret to His Charm
Why did we love him? Because he was never mean. His spoonerisms weren’t cruel jokes; they were just little mental hiccups. He was dignified and daft at the same time.
Frank Thornton played him with such gentle authority that you actually believed he was a top salesman. You’d think, “Yes, this man knows his fabrics... even if he calls a tweed jacket a ‘tweed jack-it.’”
He also had a fantastic habit of using spoonerisms to deflect awkward questions. A customer would ask, “Is this suit too small?” and Spooner would reply, “Not at all, it’s a perfect squitty” (squatty perfect—wait, no). The customer would be so confused they’d just buy it anyway. Power move.
Mike Berry - Mr Spooner in 'Are You Being Served?' - dies aged 82
