The Fall and Rise of Reginald PerrinEpisodes Guide

When Reginald Perrin set out for work on Tuesday morning, he had no intention of calling his mother-in-law a hippopotamus. But he did, and from then on everything began to change.

Reggie Perrin needs a month's holiday but all he gets is an afternoon in a safari park with his wife, daughter, son-in-law and their two "tiny adults".

While Elizabeth is away, Reggie asks Joan, his secretary, to come over for a business meeting but he actually intends to start an affair with her. A stream of visitors causes his plan to go awry.

Reggie's revolt against the normality of his life is becoming brazen. While Elizabeth is away, he hosts a dinner party without any food.

Reggie decides to put an end to it: he says goodbye to Joan, makes a drunken speech to the British Fruit Association, says goodbye to Elizabeth, floods a river with loganberry essence and fakes his own suicide.

After his fake suicide, Reggie tries out his new life in which he can be anyone and go anywhere. However, he realises that he wants Elizabeth. He reveals himself to Linda but finds that Elizabeth is to re-marry.

Reggie attends his own memorial service in disguise and re-enters Elizabeth's life as an old friend of Reggie, Martin Wellbourne. Elizabeth and Martin get on so well that they decide to marry.

Reggie has returned from his wanderings disguised as his old friend Martin Wellbourne. He has remarried Elizabeth and gone back to Sunshine Desserts.

Reggie's fortunes have taken another downward turn. Elizabeth's, however, begin to prosper - in a way that Reggie would not like, if he were ever to find out.

The luck of the Perrins reaches its lowest ebb. Jimmy, sacked from the army, makes Reggie an offer he can all too easily refuse, and inadvertently gives him the idea that will transform his life.

Reggie has decided to open a shop. But this is no ordinary shop, and its effect on Reggie's life is far from ordinary.

Reggie's business Grot is now very successful and he decides to give jobs to his former colleague Tony, secretary Joan and boss C.J. However trouble arises as there is still an attraction between him and Joan and now his wife Elizabeth wants a job too.

The success of Perrin Products and Grot has got out of hand. Reggie employs four men whom he believes ideally suited for destroying his empire from within. But nothing he does ever turns out right.

Fed up with the success of Grot, his company, Reggie is determined to shock his way to self-destruction, but it seems that however absurd his behaviour people can no longer be shocked.

Reggie, not content with disappearing, has a new idea for a venture: a community for the middle-aged and middle-class. He sets out to recruit staff.

The staff of Perrins complete their amazingly rigorous training programme and the community's doors are thrown open to the general public. But the expected rush doesn't materialize.

The slow trickle of visitors to Reggie's Community increases and becomes a fast trickle. The treatment they receive is astonishing, and so are the results.

Perrins is now in full swing with guests and money pouring in. The council planning department takes an interest. Some of the guests reveal their innermost secrets.

Reggie's community has become an enormous success after a television feature, but how long can it last?

A jinx has hit the community. It is under attack from within and without and it seems that nothing can stop the rot. Reggie gets grumpier throughout and shows it.

Reggie is offered a job at Amalgamated Aerosols, but the sweet smell of success still eludes him.