British Comedy Guide
The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin. Image shows from L to R: Reginald Perrin (Leonard Rossiter), Doc Morrissey (John Horsley). Copyright: BBC
The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin

The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1976 - 1982
  • 21 episodes (3 series)

A midlife crisis sitcom about a bored executive who fakes his own suicide and seeks to reinvent himself in a desperate search for purpose and contentment. Stars Leonard Rossiter, Pauline Yates, John Barron, Sue Nicholls, John Horsley and more.

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Press clippings

British comedy's US disasters

As media continues to become more globally inclusive (largely thanks to the rise of streaming services) the idea of remaking anything to fit another culture is gradually becoming more of an outdated concept. But in the past, American TV producers have repeatedly tried and failed to remake many beloved British sitcoms with terrible consequences.

Jazzy Janey, The Comedy Blog, 2nd September 2023

BBC Four to repeat comedy classics

To link in with the celebrations of 100 years of the BBC, from Saturday 22nd October BBC Four will begin broadcasting classic episodes of sitcoms and sketch shows.

British Comedy Guide, 14th October 2022

Reggie Perrin returning to the BBC

Radio 4 is to air a two-part adaptation of David Nobbs' 1975 novel The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin, with David Haig in the title role.

British Comedy Guide, 20th September 2022

Golden oldies winning TV ratings war

Despite some episodes being more than 50 years old, classic Home Guard comedy Dad's Army repeated for the umpteenth time on BBC Two still attracts more than 1.1million viewers and, on a typical day, is the channel's most-watched programme.

Richard Webber, The Daily Express, 6th April 2021

How Reginald Perrin made middle-class monotony funny

David Nobbs's landmark 1970s sitcom was dark, melancholic and often profound. And its long absence from our screens has only made it better.

Tom Fordy, The Telegraph, 9th March 2021

The story of The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin

Rossiter may not have been writer's first choice but he rose to challenge.

Richard Webber, The Sunday Post, 5th February 2020

Reginald Perrin musical in development

A comedy musical based on David Nobbs's hit comedy creation The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin is in development.

British Comedy Guide, 30th April 2019

Fawlty Towers tops Radio Times greatest British sitcom list

Fawlty Towers has come out top of a list of the greatest British sitcoms, as compiled by Radio Times magazine.

British Comedy Guide, 9th April 2019

The top 10 British sitcoms of the 70s

The 1970s is rightly lauded as the golden age of British sitcom.

Greg Jameson, Entertainment Focus, 1st December 2018

BBC Comedy Sitcom Signature Tunes

There is one element in the sitcom which is overlooked - the signature tune. Evocative 30 second sequences of tightly-composed music which set the tone for the half-hour which follows. Without you realising it, that signature tune embeds itself in your psyche. From now until the end of your life, that tune will be a shortcut to the time when that sitcom made the first and greatest impact on you.

Jon Jacob, BBC Blogs, 2nd September 2016

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