Reggie Perrin creator David Nobbs dies at 80

David Nobbs, the creator of Reginald Perrin, has died at the age of 80.

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

Over his long career, Nobbs also wrote for The Two Ronnies (including the famous 'pisspronunciation' sketch), Ken Dodd, Frankie Howerd, Tommy Cooper and Dick Emery.

John Cleese, who worked with him on the Frost Report, said on Twitter that he was a ‘lovely kind, gentle man with a delicious sense of humour’.

Ricky Gervais paid tribute to Nobbs, by borrowing a catchphrase from his most famous series, tweeting: ‘I didn't get where I am today by not knowing what a genius David Nobbs was. RIP.’

And Stephen Fry said: 'Oh no! David Nobbs has died. I liked him very very much. Such a brilliant comic writer and such a kind, wise man.'

Born in Orpington in 1935, Nobbs began his career in journalism getting his first break in comedy as a writer on That Was The Week, That Was, hosted by David Frost.

He wrote 20 novels, including those based around Reginald Perrin, which were turned into the classic TV series starring Leonard Rossiter in 1976 then revived in a contemporary version starring Martin Clunes in 2009.

Among his other work, he also wrote ITV comedy-drama A Bit Of A Do, starring David Jason and Gwen Taylor, which aired in 1989 and Fairly Secret Army, starring Geoffrey Palmer in a similar role to the one he took in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.

Nobbs became a humanist after his mother’s death, saying in a 2010 interview: ‘I no longer fear the moment when I will cease to exist, I no longer resent my mortality, I no longer worry about the brevity of life.’

British Humanist Association chief executive Andrew Copson said: ’David Nobbs had a special talent and we were all honoured to have worked with him over his years as a Patron of the BHA. He was a British humourist in the best tradition: strong characters, warm wit, great fun, and deep understanding of human frailty.

‘His writing was always sharp and acutely aware of what made people tick. David was a passionate individualist – he believed that meaning was something we were all charged with creating in our own lives – and he was a creator of memorable characters.

‘At the same time, he wrote beautiful stories which captured the essence of the human experience, tapping into the emotions and experiences we all share. His books and scripts got to the heart of what it is that makes us human.’

Nobbs’ death will be commemorated with a humanist funeral. He is survived by his wife, Susan, four stepchildren, eight step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.

Here is Nobbs speaking in a 2013 BBC interview:

Published: 9 Aug 2015