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Geoffrey Perkins

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684: 33: 591:(They) set the people that produce programmes in direct opposition to the people responsible for actually paying for and broadcasting them. There have been occasions when you say, 'Let's just make a deal', knowing everyone is unhappy; where no one gets the budget they want to make their programme. There are people who are inspired by that, but I'm not one of them. 573:'s Head of Comedy, requesting his contract stipulated "his continued role as a programme producer," as well as overseeing the department. He stayed in this role until 2001, growing increasingly dissatisfied at "official BBC snootiness about comedy". 326:, the producer of the pilot. Perkins assisted the notoriously slow writer in finishing the scripts, before John Lloyd was drafted in to write large sections of the later episodes. Perkins also drew upon the resources of the 576:
Perkins meticulously read 30 new scripts every week, but "found himself culturally marginalised at the BBC," saying: "Unfortunately, the term sitcom implies a great disdain. People say it with a curl of their lips." Under
442: 783:, the controller of BBC One that he was too old to make another comedy sketch series. Enfield approached Geoffrey Perkins with his ideas, which Perkins helped Enfield develop into the first series of 821:, which caused his heart to stop suddenly. The jury decided that Perkins had probably already died when he fell under the wheels of the lorry and as such the coroner recorded that he died from " 1252: 584:, Perkins also felt "hamstrung by the inevitable bureaucracy," which not only hindered programme-making, but saw Perkins spending "more time on budgets" than more creative pursuits. 153:(22 February 1953 – 29 August 2008) was a British comedy producer, writer and performer. He was BBC head of comedy between 1995 and 2001, and produced the first two radio series of 832:
was broadcast, a week after his death. The first episode was dedicated to his memory and instead of the usual closing credits, featured a short tribute to him and concluded with an
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in late 2001. In this role, he was able to pursue a more hands-on role in the "creative side of programme-making." For Tiger Aspect, Perkins produced programmes including
437:, winning the Monaco Radio Award for the show, and penning a 1987 tie-in book with Deayton and Jeremy Pascall. In 2005 Perkins had cameos in the fourth radio series of 1175: 1270: 314: 284: 155: 392:. Perkins portrayed a character called Mike Flex, a young cocky disc jockey. Perkins and Deayton wrote much of the series and later it was transferred to 1067: 1036: 1401: 1426: 1421: 1371: 1366: 1361: 801:
Perkins died on 29 August 2008. It had been initially thought that Perkins died from injuries sustained in the accident involving a
1416: 541: 1436: 1406: 1386: 1307: 715: 703: 528: 1391: 603: 224:. He did not last long in the field of commercial shipping. In 1977 drawing upon his work for the Oxford Revue, Perkins joined 1162: 409:
Perkins is credited with writing the joke about Ringo not being the best drummer in The Beatles, frequently misattributed to
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worked. Perkins essentially played a fictional version of himself from the first series with a fictional version of writer
1441: 1396: 1218: 1068:"Mornington Crescent Game – I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue! ~ i-m-sorry-i-haven-t-a-clue.co.uk ~ the 'antidote to web sites'" 785: 388:, "which poked fun at the amateurishness of some local radio broadcasting". It went on to run for seven series and won a 1124: 558: 134: 1096: 265: 169: 683: 659:
Having left the BBC, Perkins became a creative director and executive producer for independent production company
1381: 32: 201:. He took an early interest in drama in 1970, and he worked with Clive Anderson to write a charity revue called 1411: 160: 476:
which is an independent television and radio production company. Hat Trick produced comedy programmes for the
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of Perkins forgetting his lines in a sketch absent from the transmitted series. On 8 November 2008,
738:, Perkins appeared in small cameo roles in several of the comedy programmes he produced, including 842: 758: 721: 665: 535: 233: 209: 1311: 367: 876: 752: 641: 473: 467: 237: 1356: 1351: 1336: 547: 370:. Prior to its leap from the revue to the radio, the production toured and appeared at the 355: 327: 8: 1222: 746: 522: 229: 173:. In December 2008 he posthumously received an Outstanding Contribution to Comedy Award. 1053: 864: 636: 1302: 1204: 1332: 709: 621: 481: 402: 351: 241: 213: 198: 190: 1140: 1239: 1179: 1163:"Did John Lennon really say Ringo "Wasn't Even the Best Drummer in the Beatles"?" 1128: 818: 790: 727: 217: 186: 822: 817:
in April 2009 determined that Perkins had suffered from an undiagnosed case of
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aired an evening of programmes in tribute to Perkins, comprising episodes of
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During Perkins' time as Head of Comedy, the BBC produced such hits including
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TV comedy guru Geoffey Perkins was killed by heart attack, probe told
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In 1986, Perkins married Lisa Braun, who was BBC studio manager on
1037:"Geoffrey Perkins: Writer, producer and former head of BBC comedy" 269:(launched five years earlier). It introduced the incomprehensible 837: 833: 346:
In 1980, Perkins co-wrote and featured in the radio sketch show
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to help create the groundbreaking audio effects for the series.
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In 1995, he resigned from Hat Trick and returned to the BBC as
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of 1974 and 1975. After his time at Oxford, Perkins joined the
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for Best Situation Comedy dedicated their awards to Perkins.
880: 802: 852:(which the BBC was given special permission to broadcast by 514:. As a result Perkins developed shows for both performers, 393: 1271:"Brand is a winner and Ross a loser on comedy's big night" 354:
shows, and initially based around the comedy parody group
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assigned Perkins to help revitalise the comedy panel show
251:. The couple lost their first child to cot death in 1986. 477: 678: 828:
On 5 September 2008 the second series of the re-titled
417:. It was broadcast on Radio Active on 6 October 1981. 276: 587:
Perkins felt that the changes in how the BBC was run,
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Perkins left the BBC in 1988, to become a director of
645:, the first of which was screened at Christmas 2001. 220:, where he was put to work studying waste timber in 557:for Hat Trick; the shows won many awards including 285:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)
879:on 6 December 2008. The recipients of both of the 1048: 1046: 1014: 1012: 1343: 1031: 1029: 956: 954: 952: 950: 948: 946: 944: 942: 940: 938: 936: 934: 932: 930: 928: 926: 701:Perkins' writing credits for television include 429:colleague and co-writer Deayton, later produced 924: 922: 920: 918: 916: 914: 912: 910: 908: 906: 1043: 1009: 445:), as the producer of the radio show on which 37:Geoffrey Perkins hosting Channel 4 panel game 1026: 989: 985: 983: 506:by suggesting he adapt it along the lines of 273:game which would become an enduring success. 903: 488:. The first main production of Perkins was 212:and while a student directed and wrote for 980: 793:. The series was broadcast in April 2007. 520:, which was hosted by Elton, sketch show 208:Perkins read English literature while at 16:British comedy writer, producer and actor 1219:Comedy executive killed in road accident 1091: 1089: 704:The World According To Smith & Jones 682: 502:whom he got to develop the character of 1344: 868:looking at Perkins' career in comedy. 398:Grand Prix and Silver Rose of Montreux 380:The Oxford Revue Presents Radio Active 1402:People educated at Harrow High School 1176:Comedy head takes parting shot at BBC 1086: 992:"Media: Serious about funny business" 862:, together with a special edition of 796: 679:Television writing and acting credits 564: 350:, revised and adapted from the early 308:Perkins produced the first series of 101:Comedy writer, producer and performer 1268: 716:Harry Enfield's Television Programme 529:Harry Enfield's Television Programme 456: 315:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 278:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 156:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 1427:20th-century English businesspeople 779:In 2006, Harry Enfield was told by 420: 218:Ocean Transport and Trading Company 13: 1422:20th-century English screenwriters 1259:(Scottish Record and Sunday Mail). 1236:"Comedy producer dies in accident" 990:James Rampton (19 December 1995). 873:Outstanding Contribution to Comedy 374:, after which it was picked up by 291:"The intellectuals compared it to 14: 1453: 1372:Alumni of Lincoln College, Oxford 1292: 887:for Best Comedy Programme and to 1367:21st-century English male actors 1362:20th-century English male actors 1251:Burns, Janice (17 April 2009). " 871:He was posthumously awarded the 762:. He also hosted the panel game 302:Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 31: 1417:British male television writers 1269:Gray, Sadie (7 December 2008). 1262: 1245: 1229: 1212: 1198: 1186: 1169: 1155: 648: 333: 254: 135:Best Comedy Programme or Series 1437:Male actors from Hertfordshire 1407:Road incident deaths in London 1387:English male television actors 1133: 1116: 1060: 856:, as part of the tribute) and 1: 1392:English television executives 896: 176: 163:with creating the panel game 1193:Geoffrey Perkins at the IMDb 883:awarded on 27 April 2009 to 461: 183:Harrow County Grammar School 7: 1195:. Accessed 3 September 2008 962:"Geoffrey Perkins obituary" 734:In addition to starring in 639:to star in a new series of 342:Radio Active (radio series) 10: 1458: 1442:Writers from Hertfordshire 1397:English television writers 652: 526:with Elton, and Enfield's 465: 339: 282: 266:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue 170:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue 161:one of the people credited 1141:"Radio Active Remembered" 1127:27 September 2007 at the 631:. Perkins also persuaded 431:The Uncyclopaedia of Rock 372:Edinburgh Festival Fringe 129: 121: 113: 105: 97: 78: 48: 30: 23: 1113:Fenton Stevens' web site 542:Whose Line Is It Anyway? 1209:, accessed 3 March 2009 843:The Catherine Tate Show 789:, starring Enfield and 759:The Catherine Tate Show 722:Harry Enfield and Chums 666:The Catherine Tate Show 536:Have I Got News For You 533:Perkins also developed 300:— Geoffrey Perkins, on 210:Lincoln College, Oxford 197:, with whom he ran the 151:Geoffrey Howard Perkins 53:Geoffrey Howard Perkins 1382:English comedy writers 1312:British Film Institute 698: 593: 368:Michael Fenton Stevens 297: 1412:Hat Trick Productions 1143:. Radioandtelly.co.uk 877:British Comedy Awards 753:One Foot in the Grave 686: 642:Only Fools and Horses 589: 474:Hat Trick Productions 468:Hat Trick Productions 289: 232:department alongside 181:Perkins attended the 1337:British Comedy Guide 548:Drop The Dead Donkey 356:The Hee Bee Gee Bees 328:Radiophonic Workshop 117:Lisa Braun (m. 1986) 1377:BBC radio producers 1223:The Daily Telegraph 966:The Daily Telegraph 747:Operation Good Guys 523:The Man from Auntie 378:for a pilot called 322:, taking over from 271:Mornington Crescent 230:light entertainment 165:Mornington Crescent 1432:People from Bushey 1056:. 8 November 2008. 1054:"Extreme measures" 1020:"Geoffrey Perkins" 865:Comedy Connections 797:Death and tributes 699: 637:Nicholas Lyndhurst 604:The Thin Blue Line 565:BBC Head of Comedy 443:The Quandary Phase 396:television as the 249:Hitchhiker's Guide 1242:, 29 August 2008. 1226:, 29 August 2008. 1183:, 23 October 2001 1103:on 7 October 2008 1074:on 28 August 2008 1022:. 31 August 2008. 815:coroner's inquest 669:for the BBC, and 457:Television career 214:The Oxford Revues 148: 147: 106:Years active 1449: 1333:Geoffrey Perkins 1308:Geoffrey Perkins 1299:Geoffrey Perkins 1286: 1285: 1283: 1281: 1266: 1260: 1249: 1243: 1233: 1227: 1216: 1210: 1202: 1196: 1190: 1184: 1173: 1167: 1166: 1159: 1153: 1152: 1150: 1148: 1137: 1131: 1120: 1114: 1112: 1110: 1108: 1099:. Archived from 1093: 1084: 1083: 1081: 1079: 1070:. Archived from 1064: 1058: 1057: 1050: 1041: 1040: 1033: 1024: 1023: 1016: 1007: 1006: 1004: 1002: 987: 978: 977: 975: 973: 968:. 31 August 2008 958: 622:The Royle Family 579:Director-General 421:Later radio work 358:, consisting of 304: 259:Department head 242:Griff Rhys Jones 199:debating society 191:Michael Portillo 85: 63:22 February 1953 62: 60: 35: 25:Geoffrey Perkins 21: 20: 1457: 1456: 1452: 1451: 1450: 1448: 1447: 1446: 1342: 1341: 1295: 1290: 1289: 1279: 1277: 1275:The Independent 1267: 1263: 1250: 1246: 1240:BBC News Online 1234: 1230: 1217: 1213: 1203: 1199: 1191: 1187: 1180:The Independent 1174: 1170: 1161: 1160: 1156: 1146: 1144: 1139: 1138: 1134: 1129:Wayback Machine 1121: 1117: 1106: 1104: 1097:"R-active.HTML" 1095: 1094: 1087: 1077: 1075: 1066: 1065: 1061: 1052: 1051: 1044: 1035: 1034: 1027: 1018: 1017: 1010: 1000: 998: 996:The Independent 988: 981: 971: 969: 960: 959: 904: 899: 819:channelopathies 799: 791:Paul Whitehouse 681: 657: 651: 567: 470: 464: 459: 423: 344: 338: 306: 299: 287: 281: 257: 187:Nigel Sheinwald 179: 138: 93: 87: 83: 74: 64: 58: 56: 55: 54: 44: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1455: 1445: 1444: 1439: 1434: 1429: 1424: 1419: 1414: 1409: 1404: 1399: 1394: 1389: 1384: 1379: 1374: 1369: 1364: 1359: 1354: 1340: 1339: 1330: 1322: 1314: 1305: 1294: 1293:External links 1291: 1288: 1287: 1261: 1244: 1228: 1211: 1197: 1185: 1168: 1154: 1132: 1115: 1085: 1059: 1042: 1039:. 4 June 2023. 1025: 1008: 979: 901: 900: 898: 895: 885:Harry and Paul 830:Harry and Paul 823:natural causes 798: 795: 786:Harry and Paul 765:Don't Quote Me 690:Don't Quote Me 680: 677: 653:Main article: 650: 647: 610:Jonathan Creek 571:BBC Television 566: 563: 491:Spitting Image 466:Main article: 463: 460: 458: 455: 425:Perkins, with 422: 419: 415:Jasper Carrott 340:Main article: 337: 332: 288: 283:Main article: 280: 275: 256: 253: 195:Clive Anderson 178: 175: 146: 145: 131: 127: 126: 123: 119: 118: 115: 111: 110: 107: 103: 102: 99: 95: 94: 88: 86:(aged 55) 82:29 August 2008 80: 76: 75: 65: 52: 50: 46: 45: 40:Don't Quote Me 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1454: 1443: 1440: 1438: 1435: 1433: 1430: 1428: 1425: 1423: 1420: 1418: 1415: 1413: 1410: 1408: 1405: 1403: 1400: 1398: 1395: 1393: 1390: 1388: 1385: 1383: 1380: 1378: 1375: 1373: 1370: 1368: 1365: 1363: 1360: 1358: 1355: 1353: 1350: 1349: 1347: 1338: 1334: 1331: 1329: 1328: 1327:The Telegraph 1323: 1321: 1320: 1315: 1313: 1309: 1306: 1304: 1300: 1297: 1296: 1276: 1272: 1265: 1258: 1254: 1248: 1241: 1237: 1232: 1225: 1224: 1220: 1215: 1208: 1207: 1201: 1194: 1189: 1182: 1181: 1177: 1172: 1164: 1158: 1142: 1136: 1130: 1126: 1123: 1119: 1102: 1098: 1092: 1090: 1073: 1069: 1063: 1055: 1049: 1047: 1038: 1032: 1030: 1021: 1015: 1013: 997: 993: 986: 984: 967: 963: 957: 955: 953: 951: 949: 947: 945: 943: 941: 939: 937: 935: 933: 931: 929: 927: 925: 923: 921: 919: 917: 915: 913: 911: 909: 907: 902: 894: 892: 891: 886: 882: 878: 875:award at the 874: 869: 867: 866: 861: 860: 859:The Fast Show 855: 851: 850: 845: 844: 839: 835: 831: 826: 824: 820: 816: 813:; however, a 812: 809:High Street, 808: 804: 794: 792: 788: 787: 782: 781:Peter Fincham 777: 775: 771: 767: 766: 761: 760: 755: 754: 749: 748: 743: 742: 737: 732: 730: 729: 724: 723: 718: 717: 712: 711: 706: 705: 696: 692: 691: 685: 676: 674: 673: 668: 667: 662: 656: 646: 644: 643: 638: 634: 630: 629: 624: 623: 619: 617: 616:The Fast Show 613: 611: 607: 605: 601: 599: 592: 588: 585: 583: 580: 574: 572: 562: 560: 556: 555: 550: 549: 544: 543: 538: 537: 532: 530: 525: 524: 519: 518: 517:Saturday Live 513: 510:'s character 509: 505: 501: 500:Harry Enfield 497: 494:where he met 493: 492: 487: 483: 479: 475: 469: 454: 452: 451:Douglas Adams 448: 444: 440: 436: 435:Capital Radio 432: 428: 418: 416: 412: 407: 405: 404: 399: 395: 391: 387: 386: 381: 377: 373: 369: 365: 364:Angus Deayton 361: 357: 353: 349: 343: 336: 331: 329: 325: 321: 317: 316: 311: 310:Douglas Adams 305: 303: 296: 294: 286: 279: 274: 272: 268: 267: 262: 252: 250: 245: 243: 239: 235: 231: 227: 223: 219: 215: 211: 206: 204: 200: 196: 192: 188: 184: 174: 172: 171: 166: 162: 158: 157: 152: 144: 143: 137: 136: 132: 128: 124: 120: 116: 112: 108: 104: 100: 98:Occupation(s) 96: 91: 81: 77: 72: 71:Hertfordshire 68: 51: 47: 42: 41: 34: 29: 22: 19: 1326: 1325:Obituary in 1318: 1317:Obituary in 1278:. 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He is 109:1972–2008 92:, England 73:, England 1125:Archived 834:out-take 687:Hosting 672:Benidorm 598:Coupling 508:Frank Oz 400:-winner 122:Children 1310:at the 838:BBC Two 881:BAFTAs 811:London 697:, 1990 559:Baftas 551:, and 498:, and 130:Awards 114:Spouse 90:London 67:Bushey 43:, 1990 803:lorry 293:Swift 139:1995 1303:IMDb 1282:2013 1149:2013 1109:2008 1080:2008 1003:2013 974:2013 772:for 756:and 736:KYTV 725:and 710:KYTV 635:and 625:and 484:and 433:for 403:KYTV 394:BBC2 366:and 240:and 193:and 167:for 79:Died 49:Born 1335:at 1301:at 1255:". 825:". 805:in 731:. 693:on 482:ITV 478:BBC 413:or 228:'s 1348:: 1273:. 1238:, 1088:^ 1045:^ 1028:^ 1011:^ 994:. 982:^ 964:. 905:^ 846:, 750:, 744:, 719:, 713:, 707:, 561:. 545:, 539:, 480:, 453:. 406:. 382:. 362:, 312:' 244:. 205:. 189:, 69:, 1284:. 1165:. 1151:. 1111:. 1082:. 1005:. 976:. 618:, 612:, 606:, 600:, 531:. 441:( 125:3 61:) 57:(

Index


Don't Quote Me
Bushey
Hertfordshire
London
Best Comedy Programme or Series
Father Ted
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
one of the people credited
Mornington Crescent
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
Harrow County Grammar School
Nigel Sheinwald
Michael Portillo
Clive Anderson
debating society
Lincoln College, Oxford
The Oxford Revues
Ocean Transport and Trading Company
Liverpool
BBC Radio
light entertainment
Cambridge
John Lloyd
Griff Rhys Jones
David Hatch
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
Mornington Crescent
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)
Swift

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