The League of Gentlemen (2000): Could Royston Vasey Exist Today?

About this episode

Watch our YouTube playlist to find out more aboutThe League of Gentlemen and life in 2000 Click here to watch our chosen episode of The League Of Gentlemen on I-Player Hello, Dave? You're our wife now. This week we're taking a local trip for local people as The Problematic Gays head to Royston Vasey for The League of Gentlemen. We're focusing on Series 2, Episode 2 — “Lust for Royston Vasey,” first broadcast on 21 January 2000 — and asking how one of Britain's darkest, strangest and most grotesque comedies looks more than 25 years later. We go back to the beginnings of Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson's creation, from Bretton Hall and the Perrier Award to BBC Radio 4 and television, and explore the influences behind Royston Vasey's peculiar mixture of Hammer Horror, The Wicker Man, British sitcom and pitch-black comedy. Then it's time to meet the locals. There's Herr Lipp and his deeply uncomfortable interest in Justin; Tubbs and Edward facing the horrors of the outside world; Alvin attempting to escape Sunny's increasingly elaborate sexual appetites; Pauline and Mickey at the Burger Me takeaway; the deeply unpleasant Pop and his sons; Mr Chinn