"The League of Gentlemen" (1999) TV series 1999-2002

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

19 June 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Plot:

An interweaving narrative chronicling the antics of such diverse characters as: a transsexual taxi driver, a family obsessed with hygiene and toads, a fiery reverend, a carnival owner who kidnaps women into marriage, and a xenophobic couple who run a local shop for local people.

Plot Keywords:

Transsexual | Local Shop | Shop | Taxi Driver | Toad

Awards:

7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Mark Gatiss	...	Various / ... (19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Steve Pemberton	...	Tubbs Tattsyrup / ... (14 episodes, 1999-2002)
Reece Shearsmith	...	Edward Tattsyrup / ... (14 episodes, 1999-2002)
Paul Hays-Marshall	...	Barbara Dixon (9 episodes, 1999-2000)

Runtime:

30 min (18 episodes) | 60 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-11 (DVD) (2006) (season 2 & 3) | Finland:K-7 (DVD) (2005) (season 1) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Hadfield, High Peak, Derbyshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Most of the characters are inspired by real people that the gents have encountered.

Quotes:

Barbara Dixon: I've only been on the hormones 18 months. My nipples are like bullets.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Have I Got News for You: (#32.5)" (2006)

Are you local?

This show is THE definitive British sitcom for the new millennium. It is just hilarious. However, it is so dark and laced with black comedy that it's probably not for everyone. I know some people who don't appreciate it, but if you look past the sometimes stomach-churning humour it really it a fantastic show.

It has many good points. The fact that three men play virtually all the village inhabitants give it an uneasy air. Why does everyone look alike? It also leaves many stones un-turned, and lets you decide the diabolical doings behind closed doors. What does Hilary actually sell to his "special customers"? What does David really look like? What happened to Cousin Benjamin after he went to the local shop? Leaving the viewer to make their own assumptions is an excellent idea.

It also has a wide variety of characters that are just hilarious. There's Edward and Tubbs, the couple who run the local shop. In between terrorising customers and breast-feeding pigs, they are looking now for a 'no-tail', a mate for their son David. As Edward put it, "Our mother was lucky. She had us to carry on the line". This gives you an idea of the humour.

But the best character from the show is Pauline, the 'psychotic 48 year old lesbian' who took the classes for the unemployed until she was fired by the authorities for 'poor conduct' (make of that what you will). She now seems resigned to a life of 'waking up late and flicking myself off to Tricia' until she and former pupil Mickey (a revolting man who wants a fire engine) decide to kidnap Ross, the student who reported her to the authorities and now has her old job. The humour and interplay between these characters is classic.

The League Of Gentleman is a fantastic show, one that shocks and amuses you at the same time. As the sign says "Welcome to Royston Vasey. You'll never leave!". You'll never leave your TV set.