Steve Crook

Just announced on the news, Geoffrey Perkins has been killed in a road accident

Steve

CaptainWaggett

Blimey - on Marylebone High Street. I wander up and down there all the time and the traffic is never very fast. He produced some great stuff and was a good performer too - Radio Active stands up very well for a topical show.

smudge

Mrs Smudge just told me.

How terrible.

Respect.

Smudge

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

penfold

The comedy scene on TV and Radio, from the seventies until now, would have been very different without him. If Hitchikers Guide had been his only hit he would have achieved something wonderful - but there was much more. Very sad....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

CaptainWaggett

There'd be no Mornington Crescent ...

mrs_emma_peel

Geoffrey Perkins RIP

Lorry crash kills comedy producer
by Lawrence Conway of The Independent
Saturday, 30 August 2008

“One of the leading figures in British television and radio comedy was killed in a road accident yesterday. Geoffrey Perkins, a former head of comedy for the BBC, had written and produced shows for comedians including Harry Enfield, Catherine Tate and Angus Deayton.
The 55-year-old was hit by a flatbed lorry on Marylebone High Street in central London. It is believed he may have collapsed and fallen into the path of the vehicle. A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "The 55-year old victim was given emergency first aid at the scene but was pronounced dead."
Mr Perkins made his name at the BBC producing The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy – one of the most successful radio shows ever made. During his six years at BBC Radio, he produced 20 different programmes and 200 individual shows, and created the game Mornington Crescent for Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.
He became BBC TV's head of comedy in 1995, having previously been director of Hat Trick Productions, one of the leading independent production companies, for eight years.
He left the BBC again in 2001 to join Tiger Aspect Productions. Former colleagues were shocked by his death. Jana Bennett, the BBC's director of vision, said last night:
"Geoffrey was an outstanding creator of countless comedy hits. 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."

A life in laughter
Geoffrey Perkins had many radio and television credits. At the BBC, he produced The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, the first BBC Radio comedy in stereo. As a director of Hat Trick Productions, his shows included Have I Got News For You. Other early successes included the popular Spitting Image, Saturday Night Live, Friday Night Live, and Ben Elton – The Man From Auntie. Later, as BBC TV head of comedy he oversaw The Royle Family, Men Behaving Badly and The League Of Gentlemen. After leaving the BBC again in 2001 to join Tiger Aspect Productions as its creative director, he produced several shows for the corporation, such as The Catherine Tate Show and The Fast Show. He co-wrote The Harry Enfield Television Programme. His latest production, Harry And Paul, with Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, is due to start on the BBC next week.”

Very sad, shocking, tragic news.
Geoffrey Perkins 22nd February 1953 – 29th August 2008
RIP

Mrs Emma Peel

Dame Starry

They think that he may have fainted and fallen into the road in the path of an oncoming lorry - which then drove off, but was later found.
Some reports say that he was 55, but Imdb has him as only 51.



He was a very good actor; I recently saw him in an episode of Operation Good Guys.

RIP, Geoffrey.

DS x.

GRAEME

Horrible news. I met him a few times when he was head of comedy. I have to say he was usually a bit drunk - that's my memory not a suggestion of what happened, I'm sure this is just a tragic accident.

He really care about comedy - even if he didn't commission my effort! A great loss.

All men leak.

EHV_Emmetts

I was shocked when I read this news on the BBC website earlier.

I first remember seeing him in a BBC show called KY TV - a spoof about a rubbish satellite station.

R.I.P. Mr. Perkins.

julian_craster

See British Television section for obituaries:

http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/br...ins-r-i-p.html

CaptainWaggett

Tomorrow's edition of Radio 4's Archive Hour is a tribute to Geoffrey Perkins