Based on the novel 'The Death of Reginald Perrin' by David Nobbs which was picked up by Ronnie Barker, for whom Nobbs was writing for at the time, and taken to producer (later head of BBC Comedy) Gareth Gwenlan who pushed for a TV series. Barker wanted to play Perrin but due to other commitments he couldn't fit in the time to his busy schedule. Leonard Rossiter was chosen to play Perrin and the rest is history as they say. Sadly, due to certain themes deemed unfit for family viewing in the 1970s (incest, depression in the workplace, mental health issues, infidelity, terrorism, poor senior management) the TV series couldn't follow the novels too faithfully which dealt with such issues though are a 'must read' for fans of the TV shows. That said, the show caught the 1970s Zeitgeist - especially huge changes in the world of business; mainly the breakdown between management and workers - beautifully without seeming dated today.
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
(1976–1979)
An often overlooked 1970's British classic.
20 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers