Neil Godwin
Encyclopedia
Neil Godwin is a fictional character in the BBC
sitcom, The Office
, played by Patrick Baladi
. Neil first appeared in the second series of the show as the UK Manager of Wernham Hogg, newly promoted from manager of the Swindon
branch, thus making him David Brent
's new boss. He was mentioned by name in some episodes of the previous series (David was originally offered Neil's job) but he did not make an appearance.
Neil is everything that Brent mistakenly thinks he is himself: funny, talented, popular and competent. He quickly becomes the object of Brent's resentment and envy.
Throughout the series, Neil and David's biggest disagreement is David's management style. David allows his employees to accomplish their tasks by their own means, as long as they get the job accomplished, whereas Neil insisted that things be done a certain way. Neil is constantly seen criticizing David's methods, and finally makes David redundant because of it, as well as David's defensive attitude when questioned about it.
Although Neil is very good at his job, he occasionally comes across as rather mean and disingenuous. On one occasion, David catches him playing French cricket
in the office after Neil criticized him beforehand about office productivity. He confronted David about bringing his dog into the office, and laughed at a joke made by Chris Finch at the expense of David's Christmas party date, Carol. He is shown earlier in the series being friendly and laughing with Chris Finch.
In an interview with The Onion A.V. Club in January 2007, Ricky Gervais
(who created the show and played Brent) said he found Neil to be an unsympathetic figure.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom, The Office
The Office (UK TV series)
The Office is a British sitcom television series that was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. Created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the programme is about the day-to-day lives of office employees in the Slough branch of the fictitious...
, played by Patrick Baladi
Patrick Baladi
Patrick Baladi was born on 25 December 1971 and is an English actor.Baladi was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. His father is a gynaecologist from Libya, and his mother was a midwife...
. Neil first appeared in the second series of the show as the UK Manager of Wernham Hogg, newly promoted from manager of the Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
branch, thus making him David Brent
David Brent
David Brent is a fictional character in the BBC television mockumentary The Office, as well as a recurring character in the NBC series of the same name, portrayed by co-writer and director Ricky Gervais. Brent is a white-collar office middle-manager and the principal character of the BBC series...
's new boss. He was mentioned by name in some episodes of the previous series (David was originally offered Neil's job) but he did not make an appearance.
Neil is everything that Brent mistakenly thinks he is himself: funny, talented, popular and competent. He quickly becomes the object of Brent's resentment and envy.
Throughout the series, Neil and David's biggest disagreement is David's management style. David allows his employees to accomplish their tasks by their own means, as long as they get the job accomplished, whereas Neil insisted that things be done a certain way. Neil is constantly seen criticizing David's methods, and finally makes David redundant because of it, as well as David's defensive attitude when questioned about it.
Although Neil is very good at his job, he occasionally comes across as rather mean and disingenuous. On one occasion, David catches him playing French cricket
French cricket
French cricket is an informal game derived from the sport of cricket. There is only one batsman, and their objective is to not be dismissed by the other participants - who are fielders, or a bowler if they have possession of the ball - for as long as possible. The objective of the other...
in the office after Neil criticized him beforehand about office productivity. He confronted David about bringing his dog into the office, and laughed at a joke made by Chris Finch at the expense of David's Christmas party date, Carol. He is shown earlier in the series being friendly and laughing with Chris Finch.
In an interview with The Onion A.V. Club in January 2007, Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
(who created the show and played Brent) said he found Neil to be an unsympathetic figure.
There's only two people you shouldn't like, and that's Neil and Chris FinchChris FinchChris Finch is a character in the BBC comedy show, The Office. He is played by Ralph Ineson.Finch is an outside sales representative for the paper merchant Wernham Hogg, in whose Slough office the show is set, and as such is frequently on the road...
. Finch is a bully, he's one of those people who comes into a room and takes a piss out of someone else, and you laugh, but really you know it's your turn next. And Neil you shouldn't like, because he doesn't care. He was better than David Brent at his job, but it meant less to him than it did to David Brent.http://www.avclub.com/content/node/57393/2