Reggie Perrin

Reginald Reggie hates his cozy, well-paid but boring routine life as in Groomtechs department head of disposable razors. This time, crazy, power-hungry CEO Chris orders Reggie and his over-eager, half-wit sycophant assistants Anthony and Steve to come up with a novel use for pumice. Meanwhile Reggies wifes feminist discussion group crowds him out of his own living room.

Still dissatisfied with his lot Reggie considers that perhaps he would make a good teacher and goes to Nicolas school to give a talk about his work. This is surprisingly well-received and so he invites a school party to visit Groomtech. This,however,does not go according to plan. Perhaps he will not be a teacher after all.

Reggie hoped riding a cool bike would relieve his anger about British Rail and his non-happening sex life (even now the spousal agendas dont clash, Nicolas period does), and bragged about it in advance, but that proves another painful experience. CEO Chris needs to learn about the company and deliver daunting promises to the board after a year of (mis)management. Reggie coaches him tirelessly, even during the weekend, but is deeply disappointed.

Whilst deciding against suicide Reggie sees himself at a crossroads and resigns from Groomtech,planning to lead a self-sufficient life growing his own vegetables. But money is tight,Nicola is fearful for her job and the best the Job Centre can offer Reggie is shelf-stacking. Mother is planning to marry Nicolas dad and the therapist is rubbish. With Groomtech facing their largest decrease in disposable razors in years and Chris begging him to return,should Reggie sacrifice his principles and once more chain himself to the capitalist life?

Determining "not to lose touch with reality",Reggie makes sweeping changes,banning ties and introducing the wearing of slippers,a tea-lady and a bouncy castle to bounce ideas around in. He also gives strangers lifts in his company car. When the boss expresses disapproval Reggie changes the firms name to Grot and announces that it will make only useless things. Nicola,now sacked,is bored at home,spending her time mending basket chairs, whilst her father tells Reggie he has cold feet about marrying his mother.

Reggie resists the boards efforts to make him conform and stalls when told he must sack a staff member,an announcement which sends Anthony and Steve falling over themselves to keep in with their boss. Told that Groomtech will ultimately be sold and he will be fired ,Reggie plots his revenge,including a naff and sexist advertising campaign featuring a leering Chris Jackson. He is so busy working on this he neglects Nicola and when he tries to make up for it with a birthday surprise,he ends up getting the surprise as he finds her in bed with David.