Geoffrey Perkins 1953- 2008

If like me, you're a really big comedy fan, there are few moments in life more memorable and enjoyable than sitting in front of the tv or radio watching or listening to your favourite show.

The name Geoffrey Perkins came up at the end of so many of these shows for me, that I started to remember the name - not something as a young comedy fan I would ever do consciously. But he just produced so many great shows that the name stuck. And over the years, hearing the writers and actors involved in many of his projects talking, they always spoke of how inspiring, creative and instinctive he was about comedy - and how he still maintained that infectious boyish enthusiasm for his craft throughout everything he did.

There really are very few exceptionally-talented people involved in any endeavour and perhaps moreso in comedy, which is so hard to get right even once. But he got it right on so many occassions. Of course, he started off as a writer/performer and his first big hit was as one of the stars of Radio Active on Radio 4, alongside Angus Deayton. But, it's undoubtedly as a creative producer that he's made his biggest mark. Some of the many shows he is responsible for producing or bringing to the screen as BBC Head of Comedy include:

The Royle Family

The League of Gentlemen

Harry Enfield's Television Programme

The Fast Show

Then there's:
Father Ted - as director of Hat Trick Productions.
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - as producer of the original Radio 4 series.

On top of all that, he's the guy who created Mornington Crescent for 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.'

None of those shows, all iconic British comedy institutions in their own right, would have been the same, and many of them might not have existed at all, without the skill, passion and enthusiasm of Geoffrey Perkins.

All of us who love great comedy can remember as children, teenagers and adults, the great pleasure of watching our favourite shows and the joy of enthusiastically re-living our favourite scenes the next day with our friends - surely one of the greatest simple pleasures in life. Some very rare people can keep that enthusiasm going throughout their life, using it to create great comedy and enthuse other people.

I never met him, but I feel sure he must have loved what he did, because he did it so very very well for so very very long. And in amongst the sadness, there has to be celebration for a life well lived.

Thanks for all the great moments. Truly.