The Perrin Page

The Perrin Page is a tribute to the Reginald Perrin books by David Nobbs,
the BBC TV series The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976-1979),
and its 1996 sequel The Legacy of Reginald Perrin.

"Reggie Perrin is one of the funniest characters ever to emerge from the world of the commuter." --Daily Express

"Reggie Perrin is a sweaty, charming, paunchy, sad, hilarious man. He inhabits an intriguing, mundane world. A world in which everyone jogs along quite nicely, and then, suddenly out of the blue, nothing happens. But in a most exciting way. A world where the ordinary suddenly occurs when you least expect it. Our world. But, unlike most of us, Reggie sets out to change it. His failure to do so is completely successful... I laughed two hundred and eighty seven times and cried twice." --Ronnie Barker

"The line 'I didn't get where I am today by wearing underpants with pictures of Ludwig Van Beethoven on them' made me laugh for a fortnight." --Stephen Fry

David Nobbs began his career in 1958, as a general reporter on the Sheffield Star. His TV writing career began in 1963 with That Was The Week That Was and continued with script/material writing for the likes of Ken Dodd, The Two Ronnies, Barry Cryer and Les Dawson. He's been a novelist since the early '70s.

"As a boy, I lived in Orpington, and I used to watch all the commuters with their briefcases, rolled umbrellas, and bowler hats - yes, they did exist, it's not just a stereotype - going back and forth. It made a deep impression on me, and I thought, 'I hope I don't end up doing that'. I never encountered the Reggie experience firsthand. I just sort of projected myself onto it."

One of the charms of the books and the series is that the characters are so neat, archetypal, and predictable, except for Reggie.

"I've known lots of 'I'm a something person' persons and assorted yes-men and self-inflated bosses. Most of the characters are made up from life experiences. The idea was to make them archetypal in their own right and then have Reggie as the eccentric one."

The whole business of mid-life burnout didn't really emerge until the '80s. Do you feel ahead of your time?

"I would like to think that. It can't merely be left to science-fiction writers to predict or satirize a kind of possible future. When the shows have been repeated, a lot of it still seems relevant, which is always a great relief to me. Also, I've consistently had lots of letters from people who relate to Reggie's lifestyle. And that's gratifying but disturbing."

"Well, John Stonehouse, the labour minister, did something very similar before the book was published but after it was written, and I often read that someone has 'done a Reggie Perrin'... but I think it's just a question of finding your own way to shake yourself out of the monotony of whatever situation you're in. With careful planning, I can imagine people actually escaping, but that wasn't really the point. Reggie's untold wealth turned out to be a prison of a different kind. It's more about keeping the spirit of your existence alive."

"He regrets the fact that adults lose the child-like qualities of absurdity and silliness, and he wishes to recreate that in adult form. He's not a party-political figure; he's not frivolous, but the problems in society that lead him to behave as he does are the things that generally happen, regardless of which party is in power."

"Well, I have left open the possibility of doing more, but I've left myself a hard task. Legacy is as absurd as it gets, and a sequel would have to be even more absurd. Which would be, um, absurd. If I have a good idea, and if this works on the telly, then maybe..."

The Books

Reginald Perrin Books by David Nobbs

Other Books by David Nobbs

The Television Series

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Episode Guide
SERIES ONE, based on The Death of Reginald Perrin Episode One (1976-09-08) Every day at the office is a little drearier for Reggie, and home life has problems. He takes his first tentative steps toward freedom. Episode Two (1976-09-15) Everyone thinks that Reggie needs a month's holiday. C.J. agrees -- and gives him the afternoon off. The weekend is no better with a nightmarish family outing in a safari park. Episode Three (1976-09-22) Elizabeth is away so Reggie decides to play and invites his secretary to join him. But fate -- in the shape of the family -- stops him from translating fantasy into reality. Episode Four (1976-09-29) Reggie, still without his wife, gives a dinner party with Mr. and Mrs. C.J. as the guests of honour. There is no food. Episode Five (1976-10-06) After a disastrous, drunken public speech, Reggie creates the world's first loganberry slick -- on C.J.'s trout stream -- and stages a suicide. Episode Six (1976-10-13) Reggie tries and discards various identities, ending as Donald Potts, jobbing gardener, ex-convict and ex-drunkard. He learns that Elizabeth is to marry again. Episode Seven (1976-10-20) As Martin Wellbourne, just back from Brazil, Reggie woos and wins Elizabeth. C.J. makes him director of the newly-created Reginald Perrin Memorial Foundation.	SERIES TWO, novelized as The Return of Reginald Perrin Episode One (1977-09-21) Tired of carrying on the masquerade, Reggie tells Elizabeth who he really is. Then C.J. finds out the truth and Reggie gets fired. Episode Two (1977-09-28) Reggie can't find another good job. Elizabeth is offered a job by C.J. but doesn't tell Reggie where she is working. Episode Three (1977-10-05) Life as the sole breadwinner causes problems for Elizabeth, who finally gets fired by C.J. Meanwhile, Reggie's job search leads him to an idea that will change his life. Episode Four (1977-10-12) Reggie opens Grot, which stocks things that are of no value whatsoever, and sells them at high prices to people who will find them of no possible use. He makes a fortune. Episode Five (1977-10-19) Perrin Enterprises goes from strength to strength. Reggie employs C.J. and all of his old colleagues as Grot goes into Europe. Episode Six (1977-10-26) Reggie, tiring of success, decides to destroy Grot and employs four men ideally suited for the job. They make the company even more prosperous. Episode Seven (1977-11-02) Reggie can do nothing to shock people and destroy Grot, so an extreme solution to his welcome success is forced onto him -- the same action he took once before.	SERIES THREE, novelized as The Better World of Reginald Perrin Episode One (1978-11-29) Reggie finds success in business turning sour. So he decides to form a commune in which there will be no competitive spirit whatsoever. Episode Two (1978-12-06) The staff have been trained. The doors of Perrins are wide open. But where is the public? Episode Three (1978-12-13) The slow trickle becomes a fast one. The treatment the clients receive is amazing -- and so are the results. Episode Four (1978-12-20) Perrins is in full swing and communal social evenings produce scenes never before witnessed at 21, Oslo Avenue, Botchley. Episode Five (1978-12-27) Reggie's venture has become an enormous success, but how long can it last? Already there are ominous signs. Episode Six (1979-01-03) The community is under attack from within and without -- and it seems that nothing can stop the rot. Episode Seven (1979-01-10) Reggie is offered a job at Amalgamated Aerosols, but the sweet smell of success still eludes him.
BOXING DAY SPECIAL Special five-minute episode aired during "The Funny Side of Christmas". No plot details available.(1982-12-27)

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Episode Guide

SERIES ONE, based on The Death of Reginald Perrin

Episode One (1976-09-08): Every day at the office is a little drearier for Reggie, and home life has problems. He takes his first tentative steps toward freedom.
Episode Two (1976-09-15): Everyone thinks that Reggie needs a month's holiday. C.J. agrees -- and gives him the afternoon off. The weekend is no better with a nightmarish family outing in a safari park.
Episode Three (1976-09-22): Elizabeth is away so Reggie decides to play and invites his secretary to join him. But fate -- in the shape of the family -- stops him from translating fantasy into reality.
Episode Four (1976-09-29): Reggie, still without his wife, gives a dinner party with Mr. and Mrs. C.J. as the guests of honour. There is no food.
Episode Five (1976-10-06): After a disastrous, drunken public speech, Reggie creates the world's first loganberry slick -- on C.J.'s trout stream -- and stages a suicide.
Episode Six (1976-10-13): Reggie tries and discards various identities, ending as Donald Potts, jobbing gardener, ex-convict and ex-drunkard. He learns that Elizabeth is to marry again.
Episode Seven (1976-10-20): As Martin Wellbourne, just back from Brazil, Reggie woos and wins Elizabeth. C.J. makes him director of the newly-created Reginald Perrin Memorial Foundation.

SERIES TWO, novelized as The Return of Reginald Perrin

Episode One (1977-09-21): Tired of carrying on the masquerade, Reggie tells Elizabeth who he really is. Then C.J. finds out the truth and Reggie gets fired.
Episode Two (1977-09-28): Reggie can't find another good job. Elizabeth is offered a job by C.J. but doesn't tell Reggie where she is working.
Episode Three (1977-10-05): Life as the sole breadwinner causes problems for Elizabeth, who finally gets fired by C.J. Meanwhile, Reggie's job search leads him to an idea that will change his life.
Episode Four (1977-10-12): Reggie opens Grot, which stocks things that are of no value whatsoever, and sells them at high prices to people who will find them of no possible use. He makes a fortune.
Episode Five (1977-10-19): Perrin Enterprises goes from strength to strength. Reggie employs C.J. and all of his old colleagues as Grot goes into Europe.
Episode Six (1977-10-26): Reggie, tiring of success, decides to destroy Grot and employs four men ideally suited for the job. They make the company even more prosperous.
Episode Seven (1977-11-02): Reggie can do nothing to shock people and destroy Grot, so an extreme solution to his welcome success is forced onto him -- the same action he took once before.

SERIES THREE, novelized as The Better World of Reginald Perrin

Episode One (1978-11-29): Reggie finds success in business turning sour. So he decides to form a commune in which there will be no competitive spirit whatsoever.
Episode Two (1978-12-06): The staff have been trained. The doors of Perrins are wide open. But where is the public?
Episode Three (1978-12-13): The slow trickle becomes a fast one. The treatment the clients receive is amazing -- and so are the results.
Episode Four (1978-12-20): Perrins is in full swing and communal social evenings produce scenes never before witnessed at 21, Oslo Avenue, Botchley.
Episode Five (1978-12-27): Reggie's venture has become an enormous success, but how long can it last? Already there are ominous signs.
Episode Six (1979-01-03): The community is under attack from within and without -- and it seems that nothing can stop the rot.
Episode Seven (1979-01-10): Reggie is offered a job at Amalgamated Aerosols, but the sweet smell of success still eludes him.

BOXING DAY SPECIAL

Special five-minute episode aired during "The Funny Side of Christmas". No plot details available.(1982-12-27)

The Videos

There was an early BBC Video release of two tapes, containing edited versions of the first and second series. These tapes are missing almost half the transmitted footage.

Sound Clips

Signature tune (.WAV, 373 KB) · A new day dawns! (.AU, 20KB) (.WAV, 28KB)

The Sequel: The Legacy of Reginald Perrin

Writer David Nobbs comments: "I didn't get where I am today by looking backwards, so it was a great surprise to me when I suddenly realised that I had thought of an idea for a new Reggie series. Even then, I wouldn't have written it if I'd thought that there was risk of spoiling the memory of the original with something of less quality. The Legacy of Reginald Perrin is about the large number of old people in our society, and about redundancy and insecurity in the work place, and I believe it is as relevant to the 1990s as the originals were to the 1970s."

In the sequel, Reggie has died and left all his old friends each �1 million, provided they do "something absurd" with the money.

Attention US viewers: The Legacy of Reginald Perrin is available to PBS stations, even if they tell you otherwise! Contact your PBS station and request The Legacy of Reginald Perrin!

The Legacy of Reginald Perrin Episode Guide
Based on The Legacy of Reginald Perrin Episode One (1996-09-22) Reggie Perrin is definitely dead, killed by a falling billboard advertising the insurance company with which he was insured. But what does his legacy reveal? Reggie's friends and relations gather for a reading of his will, and discover it to be a morning that will change their lives. Episode Two (1996-09-29) Reggie's friends and family must be absurd if they want their �1 million share of his estate. C.J. didn't get where he is today by being absurd, and nor, it seems, did anyone else. But then a plan is hatched. Episode Three (1996-10-06) Plans for the revolution are lukewarm at first, as Doc Morrissey, C.J. and Tom are more concerned with gaining Ms. Hackstraw's favors, while the others' canvassing of seniors is a total failure. Episode Four (1996-10-13) Gradually, ideas start coming to the group. Jimmy's mind is as blank as ever, but the team gradually begin to piece together a policy. But there is a cloud on the horizon. Episode Five (1996-10-20) C.J. is being unusually nice to everyone, so Jimmy nominates Tom and David to put him under surveillance to find out what he's up to. The Bloodless Revolution of Senior Citizens and the Occupationally Rejected get their first new recruit, Tom and Linda and Hank and Joan get married, and David unfortunately has rather too much to drink at the reception. Episode Six (1996-10-27) Jimmy unveils an incredible plan involving fictitious old people's organizations and every bus in England. Everyone believes this plan, though brilliant in its absurdity, will fail, but it mushrooms into an assured success. Episode Seven (1996-10-31) BROSCOR make its bold takeover move, but who has betrayed them? And Miss Hackstraw makes a determination about the distribution of Reggie's estate.

The Legacy of Reginald Perrin Episode Guide

Based on The Legacy of Reginald Perrin

Episode One (1996-09-22): Reggie Perrin is definitely dead, killed by a falling billboard advertising the insurance company with which he was insured. But what does his legacy reveal? Reggie's friends and relations gather for a reading of his will, and discover it to be a morning that will change their lives.
Episode Two (1996-09-29): Reggie's friends and family must be absurd if they want their �1 million share of his estate. C.J. didn't get where he is today by being absurd, and nor, it seems, did anyone else. But then a plan is hatched.
Episode Three (1996-10-06): Plans for the revolution are lukewarm at first, as Doc Morrissey, C.J. and Tom are more concerned with gaining Ms. Hackstraw's favors, while the others' canvassing of seniors is a total failure.
Episode Four (1996-10-13): Gradually, ideas start coming to the group. Jimmy's mind is as blank as ever, but the team gradually begin to piece together a policy. But there is a cloud on the horizon.
Episode Five (1996-10-20): C.J. is being unusually nice to everyone, so Jimmy nominates Tom and David to put him under surveillance to find out what he's up to. The Bloodless Revolution of Senior Citizens and the Occupationally Rejected get their first new recruit, Tom and Linda and Hank and Joan get married, and David unfortunately has rather too much to drink at the reception.
Episode Six (1996-10-27): Jimmy unveils an incredible plan involving fictitious old people's organizations and every bus in England. Everyone believes this plan, though brilliant in its absurdity, will fail, but it mushrooms into an assured success.
Episode Seven (1996-10-31): BROSCOR make its bold takeover move, but who has betrayed them? And Miss Hackstraw makes a determination about the distribution of Reggie's estate.

Links

"I didn't get where I am today by eating meat!" There's no cock-up on the catering front at Veggie Perrin's® in Plymouth, England.

Reggie Online is Paul Fisher's splendid, tickety-boo official David Nobbs/Reginald Perrin page.

Another unofficial site is at Grot.

Thanks to

for making The Perrin Page a Pick of the Week for April 7, 2000!

David Sparks, who played Rosewall ("Terrific!") in the final episode of The Fall and Rise..., has a page.

Join the Grot mailing list and connect with Perrin fans from around the world!

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Thanks

	The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Hardback: Victor Gollancz, May 1975 *(originally titled The Death of Reginald Perrin)* Reprinted as The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin: Paperback: Mandarin, June 1990 Paperback (U.S. edition): Mandarin, 1995
	The Return of Reginald Perrin Hardback: Victor Gollancz, 1977 Paperback: Mandarin, December 1990
	The Better World of Reginald Perrin Hardback: Victor Gollancz, 1978 Paperback: Mandarin, December 1990
(out of print)	The Complete Reginald Perrin Includes the full texts of The Death of Reginald Perrin, The Return of Reginald Perrin, and The Better World of Reginald Perrin. Hardback: Methuen, October 1990, ISBN 0 413 63880 4
	The Legacy of Reginald Perrin Hardback: Methuen, November 1995, ISBN 0 413 69760 6 Paperback: Mandarin, August 1996
	The Reginald Perrin Omnibus Paperback: Mandarin, August 1999 Buy from Amazon.co.uk now!

David Nobbs and Reggie Perrin

The Books

Reginald Perrin Books by David Nobbs

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

The Return of Reginald Perrin

The Better World of Reginald Perrin

The Complete Reginald Perrin

The Legacy of Reginald Perrin

The Reginald Perrin Omnibus