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The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

The history of classic comedy shows. A look at 1970s sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, including interviews with writer and stars.

The behind the scenes story of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin reveals how unlikely a comedy success Reggie really was. In writer David Nobbs's original book, The Death of Reginald Perrin, the central character's midlife crisis saw him to a mental hospital - hardly the stuff of comedy. And when the writer was told to take the jokes out of the first draft of the script to make the show funnier it was clear Reggie Perrin was going to be unusual on television too.

Despite not getting his first choice of Ronnie Barker to play the lead, writer David Nobbs created a hero for a generation and changed British comedy by proving that sitcom could be successful with a serial storyline.

The show has connections to The Two Ronnies, Steptoe and Son, Fawlty Towers, The Good Life and Fairly Secret Army.

Narrated by Julia Sawalha, interviewees include Geoffrey Palmer, John Barron, Sue Nicholls, John Horsley, Tim Preece, writer David Nobbs and producers John Howard Davis and Gareth Gwenlan.

30 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Julia Sawalha
Participant Geoffrey Palmer
Participant John Barron
Participant Sue Nicholls
Participant John Horsley
Participant Tim Preece
Participant David Nobbs
Participant John Howard Davis
Participant Gareth Gwenlan
Director Kevin McMunigal
Series Producer Toby Stevens

Broadcasts

Sitcom Season

Celebrating sitcoms with a season of programmes across the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.