 Composer and conductor Ronnie Hazlehurst , who has also produced themes for such series as Are You Being Served ? , Yes Minister , and Only Fools and Horses , created the theme for the show . The BBC initially disliked Hazlehurst 's theme , feeling it was not proper for a comedy programme to have such mellow music . He was asked to play the music faster for more comedic effect but eventually his original slower version was accepted . 
