TV series
Fantastically funny
Disillusioned after a long career at Sunshine Desserts, Reginald Iolanthe Perrin endures a midlife crisis and fakes his own death. Returning in disguise after various attempts at finding a 'new life', Perrin gets his old job back and finds nothing has changed. He is eventually found out, and later finds success with a chain of junk shops. However, it becomes so successful that he feels he has created a monster and decides to destroy it.
Availability
Checked Sep 1, 2026
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin premiered September 8, 1976. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Disillusioned after a long career at Sunshine Desserts, Reginald Iolanthe Perrin endures a midlife crisis and fakes his own death. Returning in disguise after various attempts at finding a 'new life', Perrin gets his old job back and finds nothing has changed. He is eventually found out, and later finds success with a chain of junk shops. However, it becomes so successful that he feels he has created a monster and decides to destroy it.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Maintaining his identity as Martin Wellbourne becomes more wearing for Reggie. Revealing his true identity to CJ does not go down well...
Directed by Gareth GwenlanWritten by David NobbsGuest stars John Horsley
Episode 2
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.
Directed by Gareth GwenlanWritten by David NobbsGuest stars Terence Conoley, Glynn Edwards
Episode 3
Reggie confronts CJ and hatches a plan for a very unusual shop after talking to Jimmy.
Directed by Gareth GwenlanWritten by David NobbsGuest stars Glynn Edwards
Episode 4
Reggie asks CJ for a start-up loan to establish his shop Grot which becomes a huge success selling all sorts of useless products.
Directed by Gareth GwenlanWritten by David NobbsGuest stars Terence Conoley
Episode 5
Sunshine desserts goes bankrupt and Reggie hires his old coworkers and boss to Grot.
Directed by Gareth GwenlanWritten by David Nobbs
Episode 6
Reggie is bored with his success and plans to destroy Grot by hiring totally unsuitable personnel.
Directed by Gareth GwenlanWritten by David NobbsGuest stars John Horsley, Robert Hillier, Abigail Morgan
Episode 7
Reggie's plan fails. He tries more extreme tactics which also fail. Only one more thing left to do...
Directed by Gareth GwenlanWritten by David NobbsGuest stars John Horsley
Episode information updated Sep 19, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
Leonard RossiterReginald 'Reggie' Iolanthe Perrin
John BarronCharles Jefferson / 'C.J.'
Sue NichollsJoan Greengross
John HorsleyDoc Morrissey
Geoffrey PalmerJimmy Anderson
BBC OneUnited Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
