Reginald Perrin Creator David Nobbs Dies

David Nobbs, the comedy writer best known as the creator of Reginald Perrin, has died at the age of 80.

Nobbs, from North Yorkshire, also contributed to The Two Ronnies, Ken Dodd, Tommy Cooper and Frankie Howerd during his career.

The series ran from 1976 to 1979 and starred Leonard Rossiter as Reggie and Pauline Yates as his wife Elizabeth.

The novels follow the story of a middle-aged middle manager, Reginald “Reggie” Perrin, who is driven to freaky behaviour by the pointlessness of his job. I remember walking up the road from the town centre at the end of the night and saw some police cars outside a pub.

“The idea came into my head and that’s what surfaced all those years later”.

Nobbs’ most recent novel was The Second Life of Sally Motram, published in paperback in summer 2014 by HarperCollins.

Stephen Fry said: ‘Oh no!

“I didn’t get where I am today by not knowing what a genius David Nobbs was. When I was a novice, it thrilled me when I made him laugh”.

John Cleese has led tributes to Nobbs on Twitter, describing him as “a lovely kind, gentle man with a delicious sense of humour”. “First worked with him on the Frost Report in 1966; then on many films for Video Arts”, wrote John Cleese.

“He wrote many top-class shows and books”.

Little Britain star Matt Lucas added: “Reggie Perrin and A Bit Of A Do were masterpieces”. David Nobbs has died.

During his six-decade career, Nobbs wrote 20 novels – which included stokes about his popular character, Reginald Perrin.

Nobbs’ death will be commemorated with a humanist funeral. “His writing was always sharp and acutely aware of what made people tick”, said BHA chief executive Andrew Copson.

“Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas In Wales had a great effect on me and reminded me greatly of my holidays in Swansea growing up”, he said.

‘He was a British humourist in the best tradition: strong characters, warm wit, great fun, and deep understanding of human frailty’.

His characters, including the boorish CJ with his self-satisfied “I didn’t get where I am today without…” catchphrase, became part of the national consciousness.

A Bit Of A Do, featuring two families, one posher than the other, at public events was another of his huge hits, commanding audiences of 15 million.

The news was announced by the British Humanist Association, of which he was patron.