"Hullo, Reggie!"

[lostwiginity.livejournal.com]

I have a book series - TV series question:

Is it just in the book, or does Bertie find out Jeeves's first name in the show, too?

Comments

[closetofheroes.livejournal.com]

Bertie tells Brinkley that his uncle is sick? I don't remember that. I need to watch the series again. Oh wait - was it that moment when he realised he didn't fancy Brinkley's cooking?

When Brinkley first calls Jeeves 'Reggie' it seemed to be treated as if Bertie already knew. I wonder if they thought the idea of Bertie not even knowing the first name of his valet of so many years might be a bit hard for a modern audience to swallow. But I did love that revelation in the story - 'it never even occurred to me that he had a first name', and he mentioned what embarrassment would have been caused if it had turned out to be 'Bertie'. :D

I've mentioned this before, but I did love the fact that Jeeves called himself 'Witherspoon' in one of the novels, when it turned out in another story that Bertie actually had a distant Uncle called Reginald Witherspoon. Again, reinforcing the avuncular role.

[ironicbees.livejournal.com]

Yep. He makes up a fake sick uncle so he doesn't have to eat the funny-smelling meat pie.

I can't help wondering if he pretended he never knew Jeeves's name for so long to hide some of their closeness. Even if Jeeves never told him his name, I can't believe Bertie didn't hear it even once before, e.g. on a telegram or letter to Jeeves. If he went to Mabel & Biffy's wedding he'd probably hear Mabel calling him Uncle Reggie/Reginald or something.

I just read that story with Reginald Witherspoon last night and thought of your post about it. :)

[juliacarmen.livejournal.com]

"he mentioned what embarrassment would have been caused if it had turned out to be 'Bertie'."

Bertie was very nearly Reggie. Wodehouse's first name for him was Reggie Pepper, wasn't it?

[closetofheroes.livejournal.com]

Lol! I forgot that. Obviously a favourite name of PGW's.