A renowned author and screenwriter behind the beloved Reginald Perrin series, crafting humorous and relatable stories that captivate audiences.
David Nobbs, a renowned English comedy writer, is best known for creating the iconic television series The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, adapted from his own novels. The series, which aired from 1977 to 1979, followed the story of a man living an escapist fantasy in response to the mundanity of his daily commute, starring Leonard Rossiter as Perrin.
Nobbs was born on March 13, 1935, in Orpington, Kent. He received his education at Marlborough College and St John's College, Cambridge. Before becoming a comedy writer, Nobbs worked as a reporter for the Sheffield Star.
He began his career in comedy as a writer for That Was The Week That Was in the early 1960s. Nobbs went on to write for many of Britain's comedy performers over the years, including Kenneth Williams, Frankie Howerd, Les Dawson, and The Two Ronnies.
Nobbs' most notable work is, of course, the Reginald Perrin series, which includes six novels. The fourth novel, Reginald Perrin Explains, was published in 1976, while the sixth and final novel, The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, was published in 1995.
In addition to the Perrin series, Nobbs wrote several other novels, including Obstacles to Young Love (1971), The Cucumber Man (1975), and It Had to Be You (2011). He also wrote the comedy-drama series A Bit of a Do (1989) and the Henry Pratt series of novels.
Nobbs was a passionate humanist and a believer in the ideals of secularism. He was a longstanding Patron of the British Humanist Association and used his writing to explore humanist ideas about the nature of people and relationships.
In particular, Nobbs cited his novels Obstacles to Young Love and It Had to Be You as two books strongly influenced by humanism. He believed that there are just as many of the Christian virtues to be found among the faithful as among non-believers.
Nobbs won the British Humor Award for Best Television Comedy Script in 1977 for The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. He also won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Programme in 1978 and the BAFTA TV Award for Best Writer in 1979.
David Nobbs passed away on August 8, 2015, but his work continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by audiences around the world. His legacy as a master of British comedy writing is unmatched, and his contributions to humanism and secularism are still felt today.
Nobbs' work inspires us to challenge our beliefs, to question the norms, and to find the humor in even the most mundane aspects of life. He will always be remembered as the creator of Reginald Perrin, but his impact goes far beyond that iconic character.
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