The comic actor, John Inman, has appeared in more than 40 pantomimes and is known as “the best dame in the business”. But it was the BBC comedy series Are You Being Served?, in which he played Mr Humphries with the camp cry, “I’m free”, that bought him worldwide fame. It was set in a decaying department store, with a cast of outrageous characters. Gay groups attacked the stereotyping of the limp-wristed male. Inman was, however, voted the funniest man on television. When it ended in 1985 after 69 episodes it went on to achieve cult status in America where they thought the character was too over the top to be taken seriously. John Inman is taking time off in his West London home, though he is treating himself to a crystal chandelier and a meal of oysters, steak and kidney pudding and champagne with some of his friends at a favourite restaurant, naturally in Maiden Lane. John Inman is 68 today. RGT
Howard Barker, playwright and poet, 59; Correlli Barnett, author, 78; Stan Barstow, writer, 77; Kathy Bates, actress, 57; Mel Brooks, director and actor, 79; Ken Buchanan, boxer, 60; Charles Bush, headmaster, Eastbourne College, 53; Lord Carswell, a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, 71; Kenneth Cooper, chief executive of the British Library, 1984-91, 74; Lord Darwen, 67; Sir Harold Evans, Editor of The Sunday Times, 1967-81, and The Times, 1981-82, 77; Sir Peter Gadsden, Lord Mayor of London, 1979-80, and chairman of PPP Healthcare Foundation, 76; Jack Gold, film director, 75; Lord Gray of Contin, MP (C), Ross and Cromarty, 1970-83, Minister of State, Department of Energy, 1979-83, 78; Sir Peter Gregson, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry, 1989-96, 69; Deborah Moggach , novelist, journalist and scriptwriter, 57; Sir William Nicoll, director-general of the Council of European Communities, 1982-91, 78; Sir David Scholey, banker, 70; Sir Cyril Smith, MP for Rochdale, 1972-92, 77; Lord Wright of Richmond, Permanent Under-Secretary of State and Head of the Diplomatic Service, 1986-91, 74 .