Geoffrey Perkins
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Jon C

Original Poster:

3,214 posts

277 months

Friday 29th August 2008
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I know this got a brief mention in the 'Mornington Crescent' thread, but the passing of such a giant of recent British comedy surely deserves its own thread.

jeevescat

880 posts

241 months

Saturday 30th August 2008
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BBC News said:
The former BBC TV head of comedy has died in a road accident in London.

Geoffrey Perkins, 55, worked for many years for BBC Radio, where he created the game Mornington Crescent in I'm Sorry Haven't a Clue.
He also produced the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, one of the most successful radio shows ever made.

He became head of comedy for BBC TV with highlights of his TV career including The Catherine Tate Show, The Fast Show and Channel 4's Father Ted.

'Embraced talent'

BBC director of vision Jana Bennett said she was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the news.

"Geoffrey Perkins was an outstanding creator of countless comedy hits on the BBC and elsewhere, and a very distinguished former BBC head of comedy.
"He embraced comedy talent to create unique programmes which will be enjoyed for a very long time to come. All of our thoughts are with Geoffrey's family at this very sad time."

He left his role as a BBC radio producer to work at Thames TV for a brief period.
His many television credits include Spitting Image, Saturday Night Live and Friday Night Live, The Harry Enfield Television Programme, which he also co-wrote, and Ben Elton - The Man From Auntie.
Awards
He produced the topical drama A Very Open Prison for BBC Two and the first series of the BAFTA award-winning Father Ted for Channel 4.
A writer, producer and performer, Mr Perkins became BBC TV's head of comedy in May 1995.
He was previously a director of Hat Trick Productions, one of the UK's leading independent production companies, for eight years.

On leaving the BBC, he joined Tiger Aspect productions.
His latest production for the BBC with Tiger Aspect, Harry and Paul, with Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, starts next week.

His credits as executive producer at the BBC included The Fast Show, Happiness, My Hero, 2 Pints of Lager, My Family, Coupling, and Big Train. He also co-produced both series of Ben Elton's The Thin Blue Line.
His writing credits include Radio Active and KYTV, co-written with Angus Deayton and winner of the Silver Rose Of Montreux, and Norbert Smith - A Life, co-written with Harry Enfield which also won the Silver Rose of Montreux and an International Emmy.

audidoody

8,598 posts

286 months

Saturday 30th August 2008
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Got up, had breakfast, kissed his wife, and got hit by a truck.

Instant lights out.

Could have happened to anyone of us. Be careful out there.

Ferg

15,242 posts

287 months

Saturday 30th August 2008
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What a shame. I shall watch my 'Big Train' DVDs as a tribute. smile

oobster

7,687 posts

241 months

Saturday 30th August 2008
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audidoody said:
Got up, had breakfast, kissed his wife, and got hit by a truck.

Instant lights out.

Could have happened to anyone of us. Be careful out there.
Is that what happened? BBC News just said a road accident.

Shame, he's worked on many many shows that have been absolute classics.

The Hypno-Toad

13,308 posts

235 months

Saturday 30th August 2008
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This is very sad.

He was one of those people, who if had ever met in real life, I would have to have said thank you to. THHGTTG was a major influence on me in my formative years and from what I gather from a number of books it would never have existed if it wasn't for Mr Perkins. Nor would Father Ted. Nor would The Fast Show.
Hopefully he's met up with Douglas and they're laughing about how rubbish the THHGTTG movie was.

RIP.frown

Jon C

Original Poster:

3,214 posts

277 months

Saturday 8th November 2008
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Tribute night on BBC2 now.

Genius

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

285 months

Sunday 9th November 2008
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Anybody know the circumstances of the road accident...?

jeevescat

880 posts

241 months

Sunday 9th November 2008
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He collapsed in the street and was hit by a flatbed lorry.

Bloody awful.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

285 months

Sunday 9th November 2008
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Blimey...