I'm Free!

Legendary British comic actor John Inman broke down many boundaries by playing the camp Mr Humphries in the long-running sitcom Are You Being Served? The show ran for thirteen years, had a spin-off movie and attracted millions of viewers in the UK. Inman's character, whose innuendos were adored by viewers, invariably got the biggest laughs - and this at a time when being gay was largely frowned upon. Away from television, he soon became one of the most in-demand pantomime actors, making a small fortune over several decades. Yet it was as Mr Humphries that he was best loved and the reason he was regarded as a national treasure. In his private life, Inman was secretive about his sexuality until he married his long-term partner Ron Lynch in a civil ceremony in London in 2005. He died two years later following a long battle with hepatitis. Featuring revealing interviews with many of Inman's surviving cast mates and colleagues, I'm Free! uncovers the full story of a man who was adored by millions and who broke down barriers by simply being himself.

DAVID CLAYTON is an acclaimed biographer, whose titles include The Richard Beckinsale Story, The Curse of Sherlock Holmes: The Basil Rathbone Story and 'You Dirty Old Man!': The Authorised Biography of Wilfred Brambell (all published by The History Press).