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League of Gentlemen could be making a 'Brexity' return

Mark Gatiss thinks Britain has become a "local country for local people"

League of Gentlemen could be making a 'Brexity' return
13 October 2016

We’re not even out of the European Union yet, but already Brexit has given us so much – a catastrophic drop in the pound, an even more catastrophic shortage of Marmite, and the promise of blue passports.

And it could be about to bestow its greatest gift so far – a comeback for deliciously dark comedy The League of Gentlemen.

Asked about a return on BBC6 Music’s Radcliffe and Maconie show yesterday, Mark Gatiss – purveyor of “special stuff” as the League's sinister butcher Hilary Briss – confirmed the Gentlemen have indeed discussed a reunion.

“We talked seriously about doing something,” said Gatiss. “We’re not quite sure what it is yet, but we would love to do something."

When asked if they’d do something entirely new or bring back old characters from the bizarre town of Royston Vasey – such as Edward and Tubbs, Pops, or Herr Lipp, to name a few of our favourites – Gatiss suggested that current politics could play into one of the show’s most famous aspects.

“I think we have become a local country for local people,” he said, “and wonder if there is something Brexity in us that we can do.”

Gatiss starred in the cult BBC comedy with Steve Pemberton and Reece Sheersmith, with the trio co-writing alongside Jeremy Dyson. It was last on screens in 2002, before 2005's The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse movie.

What could a Brexit-inspired return mean? Maybe an ultra-xenophobic update of TV’s most terrifying shop keepers? Or perhaps Papa Lazarou could come over here, stealing all our women and making them his wives?

Gatiss hinted that there could even be a ready-made guest star waiting in the wings.

“Michael Gove’s resemblance to Edward from the local shop is not a coincidence.”