It characterises Atkinson's comedy style, which is rigorously planned and scripted, often visual-based – comedy as performance, rather than as observation or discussion, observant of life as many of the routines were. Atkinson's talent for visual comedy has seen him described as "the man with the rubber face". In 1978 he was offered his own television series by ITV but turned it down in favour of Not the Nine O'Clock News, which also starred Pamela Stephenson, Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith.