The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–1979)

BBC Television comedy detailing the fortunes of Reginald Iolanthe Perrin. Disillusioned after a long career at Sunshine Desserts, Perrin goes through a mid-life crisis and fakes his own ... See full summary »

Stars:

Leonard Rossiter, Pauline Yates, John Barron

7 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Leonard Rossiter	...	Reginald Perrin (21 episodes, 1976-1979)
Pauline Yates	...	Elizabeth Perrin (21 episodes, 1976-1979)
John Barron	...	C.J. (20 episodes, 1976-1979)
Sue Nicholls	...	Joan Greengross (20 episodes, 1976-1979)
Trevor Adams	...	Tony Webster (20 episodes, 1976-1979)
Bruce Bould	...	David Harris-Jones (20 episodes, 1976-1979)
Sally-Jane Spencer	...	Linda Patterson (16 episodes, 1976-1979)
John Horsley	...	Doc Morrissey (14 episodes, 1976-1979)
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Jimmy Anderson (13 episodes, 1976-1979)
Tim Preece	...	Tom Patterson (9 episodes, 1976-1977)

Storyline

BBC Television comedy detailing the fortunes of Reginald Iolanthe Perrin. Disillusioned after a long career at Sunshine Desserts, Perrin goes through a mid-life crisis and fakes his own death. Returning in disguise after various attempts at finding a 'new life', he gets his old job back and finds nothing has changed. He is eventually found out, and in the second series has success with a chain of shops selling useless junk. That becomes so successful that he feels he has created a monster and decides to destroy it. In the third and final series he has a dream of forming a commune which his long suffering colleagues help bring to reality. Unfortunately that also fails and he finds himself back in a job not unlike the one he originally had at Sunshine Desserts.

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Plot Keywords:

flight of fancy | daydream | suburbia | midlife crisis | office | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

Reggie Online

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 September 1976 (UK)

Also Known As:

Caída y auge de Reginald Perrin

Filming Locations:

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (21 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reginald Perrin's full name is Reginald Iolanthe Perrin. His middle name is due to the fact that he was born during a performance of the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera "Iolanthe." His initials also make up the acronym RIP for "Rest in Peace," the designation for a deceased person, a reference to his repeated phony suicides.

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Quotes

C.J.: The computer has processed the results of the smelling.
Reginald Perrin: Ah!
C.J.: Exactly. As you so rightly say "Ah!" This is what smell number one reminded its smellers of: five people - mountains, four people - snow, three people - fresh water, two people - large forest, one person - Bolivian unicyclist's jockstrap!
Reginald Perrin: This is extraordinary, C.J.!
C.J.: Smell number two: nine people - herbs, one each for: lavender, thyme, marjoram, spice factory, heather and Bolivian unicyclist's jockstrap!
Reginald Perrin: This is astonishing, C.J.!
C.J.: ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Men About the House (2010)

User Reviews

IMO One of the very best Comedy Series ever made

First I must confess to a crush on Elizabeth (Pauline Yates).

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is one of those rare comedy series that I can watch over and over without tiring of it. Its easy to become attached to the characters as they are all lovable (even CJ). In fact I even missed the original actor who played Tom (Reggie's 'Straggely-mustached,Bearded-Prig' Son-in-Law) in the first two series when he was replaced by another actor in Series three. I felt this unfortunate because by that time the 'original' Tom had really got the part down to a tee.

I first saw this show as a young lad in England when it was originally released in the mid '70s so I'm probably a little biased - it certainly has much nostalgic value to me, but judging by the ratings the show has so far (9 out of 10 ), I think I'm right in my estimation of this as a 10.

Also, I feel the late Leonard Rossiter gave a very great gift to many many people - he made Reggie on of the most enduring and well-loved characters in British comedy. He was the perfect Reggie Perrin.