...claims Reggie Perrin creator

Veteran comedy writer David Nobbs has criticised modern comedy for being coarse and vulgar.

The 68-year-old creator of The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin says today's sitcoms have forgotten about humour in the drive to shock.

He told Teletext: "I think too much TV comedy relies on vulgarity and swearing. They sacrifice surprising the audience or using wit.

"The comedian I enjoyed working with most during my gag-writing days was Les Dawson. He had a passion for words and was daring.

"A lot of comedians today are lightweight. They don't take risks."

But he admitted to liking The Office, saying:" There were some similarities between David Brent and Reggie Perrin (above), but Brent is a monster, which Reggie never was."

Nobbs was speaking to publicise his new autobiography I Didn't Get To Where I Am Today... Click here to buy the book from Amazon at a £5.40 discount.

Published: 3 Apr 2003