The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin

Originally spanning 3 series, the first series of The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin was based on the novel The Death of Reginald Perrin by David Nobbs and adapted for television by the author.

Reginald Iolanthe Perrin

This was a much darker sitcom than most British comedies of the time (the first series went out on the BBC in the autumn of 1976). The central character was portrayed by Leonard Rossiter who rather uniquely was also starring in another hit sitcom, Rising Damp over on ITV.

The strength of Rossiter's character acting gave no problems to the audience seeing him in two very different roles.

In Reggie Perrin, Rossiter was given the task of playing a depressed and confused middle aged man on the verge of a breakdown and playing it seriously and for laughs. The scripts obviously helped but very few actors could have made Reggie such a loved and remembered character.

When discussing casting ideas Nobbs had thought Ronnie Barker would be a good lead, however a busy Barker was unavailable and BBC head of comedy Jimmy Gilbert suggested Leonard Rossiter.

There's a nice little website with a full series breakdown and other information here.

Whilst the central character was pivotal, the supporting cast were excellent and it is difficult to find any flaws with them.

Pauline Yates was Reggie's wife Elizabeth, she was calm and cool headed, probably the most sensible character, yet she occasionally showed her own eccentricities. Her greetings to Reggie both at the start and end of his working day added to Reggie's frustrations with his repetitive life.

Probably the most famous of the support characters is CJ, played by John Barron. I will know use the phrase that has become a part of the English lexicon, I didn't get where I am today without knowing a good catchphrase when  hear it. CJ was the embodiment of the 'system' Reggie wanted to escape from.

Then there was Reggie's family, daughter Linda and son in law Tom ("I'm not a people person"), brother-in-law Jimmy (The fabulous Geoffrey Palmer) who was often having a cock-up on some front or other, usually the catering front, in the first series there was also glimpses of Reggie and Elizabeth's son Mark, the out of work actor. Ironically Mark didn't appear in the second season his character getting work on a theatre tour meant the actor portraying him ended up out of work.

Reggie's co workers were his much lusted after secretary Joan Greengrass (Coronation Street's Sue Nicholls), the inept Doctor, Doc Morrissey and the yes men David Harris-Jones (Super) and Tony Webster (great).

Leonard Rossiter agreed to do a second series if writer David Nobbs would first write that as a novel too, believing that this added to the style of the sitcom. I'm inclined to think that series 2 is better than the first one.

If you haven't seen The Fall & Rise then buy the box set or catch it somewhere.


So without too many spoilers, here is Reggie ordering an Italian lunch



and a nice day at the zoo