The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

Elizabeth has gone to stay with her sick mother so Reggie uses the opportunity for some afternoon delight with his glamorous secretary Joan, who proves herself to be up for it. Sadly, just as they are about to unleash their passions Reggie is visited, first by his layabout son, resting actor Mark, and then by Elizabeth's right-wing, scrounging brother Jimmy, wanting food. Eventually Joan, hiding from them in Reggie's bedroom, escapes down the drainpipe.

Scared by the fraudulent success of Grot, Reggie decides to kill off the monster he has created by giving executive posts to men he sees as incompetents - Doc Morrissey, Jimmy, Tom and an Irishman called Seamus in the hopes that they will destroy the shop chain. However the business goes on to even greater heights as a result, thanks to Tom's advertising slogans, leading to a television advert, and a useless machine made by Jimmy, which becomes the latest must-have item. He is mindful to sack them but feels he cannot fire in-laws and ends up by giving Seamus, who has seen through his ruse, a raise.

Reggie asks C.J. for a start-up loan to establish his shop Grot. C.J. thinks it's hush money to keep quiet about his hitting on Elizabeth and lends it to him. Grot sells highly unusual and often impractical things but people buy them,either because they are unique, such as square hula hoops, which in fact become a craze,or as presents for relatives they dislike, like Tom's turnip wine. Grot becomes a huge success and Reggie quickly has the wherewithal to repay the loan. However, when he returns to Sunshine Desserts to see his old boss he finds things have changed. Joan is now married to his former colleague Tony, and the firm is on the verge of collapse.