The Memorial Service (20 Oct. 1976)

Calling himself Martin Wellbourne ,an alleged friend of the deceased newly arrived from Brazil,and sporting a curly beard, Reggie gate-crashes his own memorial service where a vague vicar ... See full summary »

Writer:

David Nobbs (by)

Stars:

Leonard Rossiter, Pauline Yates, John Barron

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Leonard Rossiter	...	Reginald Perrin
Pauline Yates	...	Elizabeth Perrin
John Barron	...	C.J.
Sue Nicholls	...	Joan Greengross
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Jimmy Anderson
Trevor Adams	...	Tony Webster
Bruce Bould	...	David Harris-Jones
Sally-Jane Spencer	...	Linda Patterson
Tim Preece	...	Tom Patterson
Charmian May	...	Miss Pershore
Gerald Sim	...	the Vicar
David Warwick	...	Mark
John Forbes-Robertson	...	Henry Possett
Dorothy Frere	...	Mrs. C.J.
Peter Mackriel	...	the Waiter (as Peter MacKriel)

Storyline

Calling himself Martin Wellbourne ,an alleged friend of the deceased newly arrived from Brazil,and sporting a curly beard, Reggie gate-crashes his own memorial service where a vague vicar plugs Mark's new play and people seem to miss Reggie less than he had hoped. Elizabeth is engaged to Henry but recognizes Reggie immediately. She allows him to romance her and plays along with his deception,finally agreeing to marry him,as Martin. Linda has also seen through the disguise but Elizabeth tells her to say nothing as Reggie is clearly much happier in his new skin. He even gets his old job back as Martin.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1976 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

"Here are the gun-boots you ordered, Madam!"

Having faked his own death and 'reincarnated' himself as buck-toothed sewage farm worker 'Donald Potts', Reggie is still unhappy. Believing him dead, Elisabeth has once again hooked up with her old sweetheart Henry Possett ( John Forbes-Robertson ).

Disguised as Reggie's old friend from Brazil - the curly-headed, bearded Martin Wellbourne - Reggie gatecrashes the memorial service. The Vicar ( Gerald Sim ) annoys C.J. by making references to Mark's one line in a new play ( quoted above ). Jimmy keeps nodding off and snoring, Tom sneezes a lot, and a bird twitters in the rafters.

'Martin' attends a small party in Reggie's honour. Everyone he meets gets his name wrong. Reggie is disappointed not to receive a more fulsome tribute from his son Mark ( David Warwick ). Elisabeth spots something oddly familiar about the man from Brazil...

The first series of 'Fall & Rise' ended in magnificent style with this episode, with Reggie's 'Martin' romancing and proposing to Elisabeth, and being offered a position at Sunshine Desserts. Surprisingly absent from the service is Doc Morrissey; presumably he stayed away for fear of bumping into C.J., who had recently fired him. Reggie's Uncle Percy Spillinger ( Tony Sympson ) is also absent. Maybe Davina Letts-Wilkinson ( Virginia Balfour ) proved too much for him.

Over the course of seven weeks, the show pulled off the difficult feat of becoming both cult viewing and a mainstream hit. Catchphrases such as 'I didn't get where I am today' and 'A cock-up on the catering front' were to be heard in both workplaces and school playgrounds. A second series was guaranteed.

Funniest earwig ( sorry, moment ) - Elisabeth asks 'Martin' how he knew where the lavatory in the Perrin household was. 'Martin' replies that Reggie told him in one of his letters. He signed one off with the words: 'I must go to the lavatory which by the way is located at the top of the stairs....'.

Time for me to conclude this parsnips ( sorry, review! ).