BBC to remake classic sitcom

Martin Clunes and Fay Ripley will be amongst the cast of BBC One’s planned remake of the classic sitcom series The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin which originally ran in the late 1970s and starred Leonard Rossiter.

BBC One announces today that it will revive the classic British sitcom The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin. Martin Clunes will take on the title role of Reggie Perrin and lead an impressive cast including: Fay Ripley (Cold Feet), Wendy Craig (Butterflies, The Royal), Geoffrey Whitehead (Worst Week Of My Life), Neil Stuke (Game On) and Lucy Liemann (Moving Wallpaper). Simon Nye, the writer behind Men Behaving Badly, will team up with the writer and creator of the original Seventies show, David Nobbs, to pen this reimagining which will transmit later this year. The series will comprise of six 30-minute episodes and will be as relevant today as it was then.

“I am really excited about Reggie Perrin returning to our screens. It feels as fresh and sharp now as it did all those years ago. It will be a vital part of our overall comedy offering on the channel.” Jay Hunt, Controller BBC One

Reggie Perrin retells the story of a sales executive on the edge. An average man finding it increasingly difficult to put up with the monotony of life, the disappointing marriage, the office grind and the daily commute. Rebellion begins to build in his mind, in the form of increasingly surreal flights of fancy. And, slowly, Reggie begins to say what he really thinks, to his wife, to his boss, to his fellow commuters… and, most dangerously of all, to his new colleague, the beautiful Jasmine Strauss.

“To have combined the writing talents of David Nobbs and Simon Nye in a sitcom fronted by Martin Clunes is a dream come true. Added to which, they have come up with an inspired update, rather than a remake, of one of the greatest classic comedies of all time.” Lucy Lumsden, BBC Controller, Comedy Commissioning

The series was commissioned by Jay Hunt and Lucy Lumsden. It will be produced by Objective Productions (Peep Show, Star Stories).