The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
Disillusioned after a long career at Sunshine Desserts, Perrin goes through a mid-life crisis and fakes his own death. Returning in disguise after various attempts at finding a 'new life', he gets his old job back and finds nothing has changed. He is eventually found out, and in the second series has success with a chain of shops selling useless junk. That becomes so successful that he feels he has created a monster and decides to destroy it. In the third and final series he has a dream of forming a commune which his long suffering colleagues help bring to reality. Unfortunately that also fails and he finds himself back in a job not unlike the one he originally had at Sunshine Desserts.
After nearly 20 years apart all the characters are brought together by the death of Reggie Perrin. After attending the funeral they are all summoned to Geraldine Hackstraw's office (the solicitor dealing with reggie's estate) to hear the reading of the will. Everyone is left a million pounds on the condition that they carry out an absurd act the level of absurdity to be judged by Ms Hackstraw
Eager to claim their share of Reggie's fortune, everyone embarks on individual attempts at absurdity, but fail dismally. They decide to pool their resources but wong as a group is less than effective until they adopt Jimmy as their unlikely leader!
Joan introduces a new face to the group. Hank, Joan's new boyfriend. Is voted into the team in their quest for absurdity. Deciding to form the Bloodless Revolution of Senior Citizens and the Occupationally Rejected (BROSCOR), everyone sets out on a recruitment drive for new members. Ms Hackstraw, meanwhile recieves constant invites to dinner from certain members of the team eager for her affections.
A dearth of ideas dampens morale until Jimmy (trying to pass Elizabeth's ideas off as his own, with her consent, of course) suggests splitting into two units: one as a Think Tank, the other as a Policy Research Unit. Things get a bit confusing when Jimmy decides being leader means he has to be on both units. Romance is in the air once again for Tom and Linda, who try rekindling their love for each other. C.J. begins acting suspiciously.
C.J is not himself (or so everybody thinks) because he is being incredibly nice. Suspicious of his motives, Jimmy nominates Tom and David to keep an eye on C.J. to find out what is behind his sudden change of mood. BROSCOR gets its first recruit. The double wedding of Tom and Linda, and Hank and Joan takes place, and David unfortunately drinks to much at the reception.
After the wedding reception, David (nursing a hangover) worries that he may have blown the security surrounding the group's idea for taking over the Goverment. Jimmy has an inspiration that becomes extremely complex; he also begins a relationship with Ms Hackstraw.
It is the day of the revolution and thousands of OAPs converge on London in coaches hijacked by the team for their bloodless revolution. As well as marching on Whitehall to take over the Goverment, the team nominate Jimmy to oust Angela Rippon from her seat on the national news in order to deliver an appeal on TV in support of the revolution. Sadly, it seems as if the authorities have been tipped off and prevent the OAPs from descending on Parliament. It is judgment day: Ms Hackstraw gives her verdict on the team's attempts at being absurd, and on the future of her relationship with Jimmy.
Reggie decides to open a commune helping people to live in peace and harmony. But first he needs staff...
Having recruited all the old faces, Reggie welcomes his one and only guest to "Perrin's"
After an unique advertising campaign, "Perrin's" gains another guest.
Business is booming and Reggie is content... but for how long?
Money and jewelery begin to disappear at Perrin's and a female guest starts to be suggestible with the male staff.
Perrin's loses face in the community as McBlane attacks a Salvation Army woman and there is a backlash against his "Peacekeeping Force"
Perrin's closes and everyone says their goodbyes. Reggie gets a new job but finds himself again working for C.J. and his brother F.J. Is the coast calling again?
Reggie and Elizabeth's quiet Christmas morning is interrupted by family, friends, coworkers, and even a tramp. On December 27th, 1982, at 8.05pm, Frank Muir introduced an hour of sitcom shorts specially made for the Christmas season. The sixty-minute programme was entitled "The Funny Side Of Christmas", and featured five- to ten- minute, and mostly one- or two- scene, situations of some of the BBC's most popular programmes of the time - all of which are now defined as 'classic television'.
Maintaining his identity as Martin Wellbourne becomes more wearing for Reggie. Revealing his true identity to CJ does not go down well...
Reggie is reduced to working at a pig farm. Elizabeth decides to get a job, gaining a new admirer and becoming the bread winner but isn't keen to let Reggie know where, leading him to suspect she is having an affair.
Reggie confronts CJ and hatches a plan for a very unusual shop after talking to Jimmy.
Reggie asks CJ for a start-up loan to establish his shop Grot which becomes a huge success selling all sorts of useless products.
Sunshine desserts goes bankrupt and Reggie hires his old coworkers and boss to Grot.
Reggie is bored with his success and plans to destroy Grot by hiring totally unsuitable personnel.
Reggie's plan fails. He tries more extreme tactics which also fail. Only one more thing left to do...
Reggie's life as a sales executive at Sunshine Desserts is getting too much for him and the strain is starting to show.
Reggie's plans for a relaxing weekend are scuppered when the family decides to visit a safari park.
Elizabeth is away, so Reggie decides to invite his secretary Joan over for a secret tryst... but constant visitors from family and friends prevent this.
With Elizabeth still away, Reggie hosts a dinner party (without any food) for his business associates.
After a disastrous public speech to the Fruit Association at Bilberry Hall, Reggie decides to take drastic action...
After his fake suicide, Reggie tries out a number of different new identities.
Reggie returns as Martin Wellborn, attends his own memorial service, and wins back Elizabeth.
Plot of this episode is not specified yet. Please check back later for more update.
Reggie and Elizabeth's quiet Christmas morning is interrupted by family, friends, coworkers, and even a tramp. On December 27th, 1982, at 8.05pm, Frank Muir introduced an hour of sitcom shorts specially made for the Christmas season. The sixty-minute programme was entitled "The Funny Side Of Christmas", and featured five- to ten- minute, and mostly one- or two- scene, situations of some of the BBC's most popular programmes of the time - all of which are now defined as 'classic television'.
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Release | 1976-09-08 |
| Producer |