Trevor Bannister of Are You Being Served? Dies at 76
Trevor Bannister, Are You Being Served? Favourite Mr Lucas, has died aged 76 his family have announced.
His brother, John Bannister, confirmed that the actor suffered a heart attack at an allotment in Thames Ditton while repairing a shed, yesterday.
Trevor was best known for his role in the 1970s department store sitcom Are You Being Served? which his character, Mr Lucas, appeared as a junior sales assistant in the menswear department. He first appeared in the 1972 pilot. He made a popular ‘double act’ within the series alongside Mr Humpfries – the late actor John Ingman who died in 2007. Bannister quit the BBC ratings winner in 1979 after feeling the part had become less important, he was replaced by Mike Berry as Mr Spooner.
Also in the 1970s Bannister appeared in Crossroads as twin brothers Keith and Ken Willets – playing both roles. A storyline saw his character Keith become involved with a ‘dodgy’ casino which Clifford Layton (actor Johnny Briggs) was also concerned with.
Pictured in Crossroads with co-star Ann George who played char lady Amy Turtle
In Crossroads the pair of cheeky brothers also tried to con the motel by only paying one occupancy rate rather than for the double. They swiftly left Kings Oak when owner Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon) sussed them out. In more recent times he’d appeared in serial Coronation Street (reunited with Briggs as Mike Baldwin) and oldies sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.
Earlier spots included appearances in Z Cars and The Avengers. He also had a long career in the world of theatre spanning five decades.
Trevor was born in Durrington, Wiltshire and was the youngest child with two older siblings. He learned his performance skills at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts after two years with the National Service.
He is survived by his second wife Pam and three sons.
