Leonard Rossiter

[David Challinor]

Thinking about the excellent Radio Times Guide to Comedy by Mark Lewisohn I remember being struck by his section on LEONARD ROSSITER, who in the mid-70's was simultaneously playing two well-loved comedy characters on TV. Rigsby (Rising Damp) and Reggie Perrin. I believe Lewisohn said this is unique, and I can't think of anything or anyone managing to do something similar. It just goes to show how talented Rossiter was. Anyone have any views/think of another comic actor who achieved top ratings, at the same time, playing two characters as he did?

[Steve Crook]

David Challinor:

â€Â¦thinking about the excellent Radio Times Guide to Comedy by Mark Lewisohn I remember being struck by his section on LEONARD ROSSITER, who in the mid-70’s was simultaneously playing two well-loved comedy characters on TV. Rigsby (Rising Damp) and Reggie Perrin â€Â¦ I believe Lewisohn said this is unique, and I can’t think of anything or anyone managing to do something similar. It just goes to show how talented Rossiter was. Anyone have any views/think of another comic actor who achieved top ratings, at the same time, playing two characters as he did?

What about Ronnie Barker?

"Porridge" and "Open All Hours" overlapped and he was still doing "The Two Ronnies" at the same time.



Steve

[Tony Pendrey]

And of course his long time partner Ronnie Corbett, who starred in the BBC sitcom "Sorry" which did overlap his tenure in the "The Two Ronnies". How you compare this with Messrs Rossiter and Barker is a matter of taste, although personally I did like "Sorry" a lot.

[Hackett]

And overlapping Ronnie Barker and Leonard Rossiter, Richard Beckinsale. He played Alan Moore in "RISING DAMP" 1974-78 with Rossiter and Lennie Godber in "PORRIDGE" 1973-77 with Barker.

Nicholas Lyndhurst played Raymond Fletcher in "GOING STRAIGHT" 1978 with Ronnie Barker and Wendy Craig's son Adam in "BUTTERFLIES" 1978-83. 1981 he started playing Rodney Trotter in "ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES" by the last episode of that in 2003 he had also slipped in (no pun intended) "MICHEAL BARRYMORE" 83, "THE TWO OF US" 1986-90, "THE PIGLET FILES" 1990-92 and "GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART" 1993-99.

[Steve Crook]

So I think the consensus is that the Radio Times guide was a bit misleading (i.e. they got it totally wrong).



Of course that's not to take anything away from Leonard Rossiter's performances. They were two great series.



Steve

[JamesM]

There is one distinction, only Leaonard Rossiter, all the others were in BBC shows whilst Mr Rossiter held is own on two rival channels, ITV and BBC.

[JamesM]

There is one distinction, only Leaonard Rossiter, all the others were in BBC shows whilst Mr Rossiter held is own on two rival channels, ITV and BBC.



Apart from Richard Beckinsale (correction)

[deckard]

Does anyone remember Leonard Rositer's portrayal of Joseph Pujol( Le Petomane) the great French "fartiste" - perfect casting! With my deplorable schoolboy humour, I found the subject matter hilarious! A bit of trivia regarding Le Petomane,(courtesy of the IMdb) Peter Sellars and David Niven were interested in playing him but were advised not to by their agents - shame. I can certainly picture Peter Sellars doing it, after the famous out-take lift scene! Regards, Decks.

[Hell_driver]

I remember this film with some mirth myself, and still remember the bit when the 21 gun salute finale had to be dropped from the proceedings. moon hysteric

[Bobj]

On the subject of Leonard Rossiter does anyone remember a one off TV film featuring him as a rather seedy and cowardly private detective. I think it was called ' The Machine Gunner ' and it was shown on ITV.

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by Bobj@Feb 17 2005, 11:12 PM

On the subject of Leonard Rossiter does anyone remember a one off TV film featuring him as a rather seedy and cowardly private detective. I think it was called ' The Machine Gunner ' and it was shown on ITV.

It was called just Machinegunner (1976).

IMDb plot summary: A 'machinegunner' (West Country slang for a debt-collector), turns amateur sleuth but finds himself in hot water with local criminals.



Steve

[Hackett]

He was great as Mr.Sowerberry in "OLIVER" 1968 perfect casting.

[Nanook of the North]

I admired Rossiter and saw him two nights before he died as the lead in Joe Orton's Loot.



Recently read a biography which confirmed what I had heard from others - nobody in the industry liked him although they all respected his professionalism but certainly not the fact that he was a domineering, humourless control freak.



I remember Richard Beckinsale's obit. in the Guardian: "Richard Beckinsale's death is just too heartbreaking for words" - and so it was

[samkydd]

(Steve Crook @ Jan 25 2005, 03:54 PM)

Of course that's not to take anything away from Leonard Rossiter's performances. They were two great series.



Steve

I read David Nobbs' book The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin on a long train journey as a youngster, and the first series was terrific. I had this image in my mind of what it must be like to be a commuter and working in a place like Sunshine Desserts, trying to take seriously something as ridiculous as a new product called a Cumquat Surprise! This stood me in good stead because since leaving school I've never taken any job very seriously and no matter how important and fantastic the product is in whatever industry, it all just another Cumquat Surprise with unimaginative people in identical suits trying to seriously believe in it!



I've done the train commute to London a few times over the years with its stereotypical Reg Perrin passengers. I used to get on in the morning when the train was fairly empty, and after a few days I realised that some people sat in the same seats and did the same things every morning. Just for fun I'd deliberately sit in an empty seat that I knew someone at the next stop would usually sit in, and the look of absolute panic and terror in their faces that someone had broken their routine was incredible.



The letters in the Sunshine Desserts sign which kept falling off reminds me now of a hotel not far from here, and they have a similar sign stating BALLROOM. Over the months some of the bulbs have gone and now it's just B R OM! I mean why bother, just take the thing down!

[ollie]

Leonard Rossiter ;

" Getting your head down darling "

"Good idea"



cheers Ollie.

[Jackdaw]

(deckard @ Jan 30 2005, 03:36 PM)

Does anyone remember Leonard Rositer's portrayal of Joseph Pujol( Le Petomane) the great French "fartiste" - perfect casting! With my deplorable schoolboy humour, I found the subject matter hilarious! A bit of trivia regarding Le Petomane,(courtesy of the IMdb) Peter Sellars and David Niven were interested in playing him but were advised not to by their agents - shame. I can certainly picture Peter Sellars doing it, after the famous out-take lift scene! Regards, Decks.

Put me down as a schoolboy too,Decks.Loved that film.

By the way have you seen the British Petomane white hope,Mr.Methane?

An act so bad, it's good.Part of the act involves having talc tipped over his green Lycra-clad nether regions,thus serving as an indicator of the air turbulence.

As Mark Radcliffe once said,"When it comes to a Nativity concert,it's always a toss-up between the Coventry Choristers and Mr.Methane".



Jacky

[Haystack]

I loved La Petomaine .. there's a scene where I think his sergeant is walking up and down in front of the squad .. and the "sound effect" is of his squeaking shoes .. really hilarious ...



I'm gonna repeat myself here though .. and relate to an earlier post .. The Waterloo Bridge Handicap .. was just exactly about the commuter journey into London on a train .. and the "race" across the bridge ... anyone remember it ???? .. I managed to record the second half of it .. would love to get the whole film..



Cheers



Haystack

[Captain Casper]

In all honesty, I think Porridge would have worked with a lot of other actors because the script and supporting cast were superb.



The finest sitcom was without doubt, Reggie Perrin. Rossiter was born to play that role.

[stevie boy]

I saw an episode of Rising Damp last night and Rossiter was just fantastic. Superbly assisted by all the cast including Henry McGee as a con man,just fabulous

[julian_craster]

A good selection of clips to view on-line can be found at the Leonard Rossiter

website:



Leonard Rossiter.com



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