He did not return to
Are You Being Served? (1972) after his first season on the show, even
though he intended to, as he was made a better offer NOT to appear on
it. He had been doing the TV voice-overs for Mr. Kipling's
Cakes, but the firm did not like him playing Mr. Tebbs, as they thought
the character was unpleasant and it would hurt their product's
image. When Hayter defied Mr. Kipling's request that he quit the show,
saying he would continue in the part, the firm offered him three times
his BBC salary if he terminated his connection with "Are You Being
Served?". According to co-star
Nicholas Smith, who was co-starring in a farce
with Hayter during the off-season, "I said, what was he going to
decide? 'Well, my boy,' he growled, 'if they will pay me three times as
much not to do it, then I won't do it. At my time of life I have no
more ambition!'" Hayter, who had replaced
Arthur Brough on the show, was
himself replaced by
Alfie Bass, who also lasted just one season.
