Biography

Mollie Sugden

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Best remembered as 'Mrs. Slocombe' on the British comedy "Are You Being Served?" Mollie Sugden was born in Keighley, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. She attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Her first television role came in 1962 with the series "Hugh and I," which ran for four seasons. In 1972, she won the role of the head of the ladies department at Grace Brothers Department Store, 'Mrs. Betty Slocombe,' on "Are You Being Served." Her character was known for her change in hair color, as well as her affection for her cat. The series ran between 1972 and 1985. She reprised the role in the 1990s for the short live revival, "Grace & Favour." After the initial run of "Are You Being Served" ended in 1985 she continued to work on television including the series "My Husband and I," in which she starred with real-life husband, William Moore. In 2002, she was honoured on her 80th birthday with the "Celebrating Mollie Sugden: An Are You Being Served? Special" Mollie Sugden died after a long illness at age 86, just months after her "Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard.
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous

The role of Mrs Slocombe, which incorporated the catchphrase "And I am unanimous in this!", continual references to her "pussy", and frequently changing, exotic hair colors.

After the first episode of of Are You Being Served? (1972), she decided her hair was too plain for the outrageous personality of Mrs. Slocombe, so she bleached it white, then dying it a different colour for each subsequent episode in the first season. Unfortunately, the ends of bleached hair become "spongy," causing the dyes never to entirely wash out. Her twin 10 year old boys didn't appreciate being picked up from school "by a mother with multi-coloured ends." So, after the first season, when she saw the show was a hit, she asked the BBC to supply her with wigs instead of dying her hair a different colour every week.
Was compared with Lucille Ball by John Inman, who stated that both Ball and Sugden were among the very few actresses who were never afraid to do or accept anything for a laugh (such as having a pie thrown in the face or acting downright silly).
She remained great friends with the surviving cast members of Are You Being Served? (1972), attending several of their funerals before her own death, including John Inman in 2007 and Wendy Richard in 2009, just a few months before her own death.
After living a quiet life in Dorking Surrey Mollie passed away at Royal Surrey Hospital on the 1st July 2009 with her twin sons by her side.
Upon her death, she was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and her ashes were scattered in the property's rose garden as per her last wishes.

[on her Are You Being Served? (1972) character] I've always been very fond of her - she is so vulnerable and silly. But she's got absolutely no sense of humor. That's why the most daring of double meanings in the show are delivered deadpan. I must say, sometimes I've got as far as the dress rehearsal before I've realised the double meanings myself!
[on Harold Bennett and his playing of Young Mr Grace] Harold was a super person. He had a rather naive, innocent quality for all his messing about with the girls. He did it with a sort of childlike quality that somehow wasn't offensive.
[on Mrs Slocombe's "pussy" references] As far as she is concerned she is talking about her cat. The only thing to do is play it absolutely straight. If you don't do it like that it would be very offensive.

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