Steve Pemberton

It says as much about the cultural inertia of this century as well as the passing of time that, crikey, it's almost 19 years since The League of Gentlemen first graced our screens, making stars of Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton and Mark Gatiss. They return in their grotesque guises to Royston Vasey; the fact that the actors have aged adds an extra layer of eeriness (and makeup) to their familiar creations.

The League Of Gentlemen: preview

The devil not only has the best tunes, he has the best comedy characters, too, and this lot must be in League with him.

The League of Gentlemen review

Still in a league of their own.

The League of Gentlemen 2017 review

A pitch-perfect reunion that's wonderfully horrifying.

The League Of Gentlemen Episode 1 review

Visual gags and references litter the frame for diehard fans to unpack.

The League Of Gentlemen series 4 episode 1 review

There's a delightful string of visual gags on the streets of the town, including signs in the boarded up shop fronts and Mrs Levinson's cleaner Iris dropping a bag of dog poo in a charity donations box, but as with the original show these aren't isolated sketches. Everything is linked...

Preview: The League Of Gentlemen, Episode 1, BBC2

he result is a clever blend of mainly familiar and briefly unfamiliar, which makes you feel as if the programme has never been away. Maybe it has evolved but not very far. "The world's moved on," we are told at one point. Not that much for Royston Vasey though. In a Good Way.

League of Gentleman specials: spoiler-free preview

Comedy revivals often feel a bit forced, but nothing here feels like its been dusted off or reheated.