"I'm Free!"

John Inman, best known as Mr. Humphries from Are You Being Served?, has died.

This makes me very sad, folks; I'm an Anglophile by nature, I think, but the Anglophilia was really jump started by Are You Being Served? and the other PBS Britcoms. Mr. Humphries was my favorite character and his portrayer a wonderful gentleman who was beloved by everyone who knew him. It is truly a sad loss; he will be sorely missed.

Though the character's fey, campy qualities are considered problematic by some, I always thought Mr. Humphries was actually a very positive portrayal of a gay man (especially for the 1970s). He was accepted and loved by his peers, had a rich and varied social life, and was, frankly, probably the most sensible one on the show. In sum, he was fabulous, in every sense of the word, and that's not a bad thing for a young gay to see on the TV sceen.

My sincerest condolences go out to his partner, friends, family, and fans. Farewell, John Inman, and thank you for the laughter.