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

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:

Taxi Driver | Shop | Transsexual | Taxi | Local Shop

Awards:

7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Mark Gatiss	...	Various / ... (19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Steve Pemberton	...	Tubbs Tattsyrup / ... (18 episodes, 1999-2002)
Reece Shearsmith	...	Edward Tattsyrup / ... (18 episodes, 1999-2002)
Jeremy Dyson	...	Various Characters / ... (11 episodes, 1999-2002)
Paul Hays-Marshall	...	Barbara Dixon (9 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Directed by
Steve Bendelack		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)

Series Writing credits
Jeremy Dyson		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Mark Gatiss		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Steve Pemberton		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Reece Shearsmith		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)

Series Produced by
Jon Plowman	....	executive producer (19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Jemma Rodgers	....	producer / associate producer (19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Jeremy Dyson	....	assistant producer (14 episodes, 1999-2002)
Sarah Smith	....	producer (6 episodes, 1999)

Series Original Music by
Joby Talbot		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)

Series Cinematography by
Rob Kitzmann		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Peter Edwards		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Adam Windmill		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Will Yarrow		(6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Peter Hallworth		(6 episodes, 2000)
Tony Cranstoun		(6 episodes, 2002)
Nick McPhee		(5 episodes, 1999)

Series Production Design by
Grenville Horner		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Sarah Kane		(12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Ruth Winn		(6 episodes, 2000)

Series Art Direction by
Sarah Kane		(7 episodes, 2000-2002)

Series Costume Design by
Yves Barre		(19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Amanda Hooley		(12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Scott Langridge		(12 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Makeup Department
Helen Johnson	....	hair stylist / makeup artist / ... (13 episodes, 2000-2002)
Martine Randall	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Vanessa White	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Diane Chenery-Wickens	....	makeup designer / hair stylist / ... (7 episodes, 2000-2002)
Xanthia White	....	assistant hair stylist / assistant makeup artist (6 episodes, 2002)
Julie Francis	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (5 episodes, 1999)
Peter Norcliffe	....	moldmaker: Robert Allsopp and asscociates (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Stephen Abrahams	....	production manager (6 episodes, 2000)
Jill Hallowell	....	production manager (6 episodes, 2002)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lydia Currie	....	assistant director (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Duncan Gaudin	....	assistant director (7 episodes, 1999-2000)
Anna Brabbins	....	assistant director (7 episodes, 2000-2002)
Samuel Leek	....	assistant director (7 episodes, 2000)
Liz Summers	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 2000)
Guy de Glanville	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 2002)
Mel Nortcliffe	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2002)
Aden Turner	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 2002)
Ben Rothwell	....	assistant director (5 episodes, 1999)
Jon Garbett	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1999)
Jonathan Leather	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1999)

Series Art Department
Ian Tully	....	property buyer (18 episodes, 1999-2002)
Trevor Daniels	....	properties / prop master (17 episodes, 1999-2002)
Noel Deegan	....	properties / stand-by props (13 episodes, 2000-2002)
Kevin Waite	....	construction manager (12 episodes, 2000-2002)
Ben Sweet	....	props (7 episodes, 2000)
Laurence Archer	....	dressing props (6 episodes, 2002)
Robina Kelly	....	assistant art director (6 episodes, 2002)
Barry Kirkham	....	dressing props (6 episodes, 2002)
Mike Nicholson	....	storyboard artist (6 episodes, 2002)
Ruth Winn	....	assistant art director (6 episodes, 2002)
Eric Levey	....	properties (5 episodes, 1999)
Dickson Peschek	....	properties (1 episode, 1999)
Rob Sellers	....	properties (1 episode, 1999)
Darren Wisker	....	properties (1 episode, 1999)

Series Sound Department
David Hall	....	location sound / sound recordist / ... (19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Ben Brookes	....	location sound (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Chris Greaves	....	studio sound (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Fentum	....	sound effects editor / dubbing mixer (7 episodes, 2000-2002)
Nigel Heath	....	dubbing mixer (7 episodes, 2000-2002)
Robin Green	....	sound editor / dubbing mixer (7 episodes, 2000)
Chris Burdon	....	dubbing mixer (6 episodes, 1999)
Peter Gates	....	dubbing mixer / dubbing editor (6 episodes, 1999)
Rick Williams	....	dubbing mixer (6 episodes, 1999)
Nick Fry	....	dubbing mixer (6 episodes, 2000)
Jamie Ballinger	....	boom coordinator (6 episodes, 2002)
Lisa Curry	....	boom operator (6 episodes, 2002)
Gareth Hall	....	sound: studio (6 episodes, 2002)
Dan Morgan	....	sound editor (6 episodes, 2002)
Alison Ross	....	boom operator (6 episodes, 2002)
Arthur Graley	....	foley editor (unknown episodes)
Mervyn Moore	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Mark Danbury	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)
Evan Green-Hughes	....	effects designer / special effects designer (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Angus Wilson	....	digital compositor (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Mark Danbury	....	visual effects (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Evan Green-Hughes	....	visual effects (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Steve Lucas	....	visual effects designer (6 episodes, 2002)
Jon Savage	....	visual effects designer (6 episodes, 2002)
Christian Manz	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Rod Woodruff	....	stunt coordinator (6 episodes, 2002)
Paul Kulik	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1999-2002)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Fritz Henry	....	gaffer (19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Andy Young	....	grip (19 episodes, 1999-2002)
Peter Edwards	....	lighting camera / location camera / ... (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Alan Walker	....	best boy / gaffer (7 episodes, 2000)
Kevin Boyle	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1999)
Vinny Cowper	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 1999)
Matt Ingham	....	studio camera operator (6 episodes, 1999)
Stan Robinson	....	vision engineer (6 episodes, 1999)
Ian Mussell	....	trainee grip (6 episodes, 2000)
Lily Fletcher	....	assistant camera (6 episodes, 2002)
Chris Greenwood	....	daily clapper loader (6 episodes, 2002)
David Manfield	....	best boy (6 episodes, 2002)
Jane Rousseau	....	location camera operator (6 episodes, 2002)
Steve Smith	....	assistant camera (6 episodes, 2002)
Bill Ashworth	....	assistant camera / camera operator (5 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Casting Department
Pam Alexander	....	casting advisor (6 episodes, 2002)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joanna Beatty	....	costume assistant (6 episodes, 2002)
Tom Reeve	....	costume assistant (6 episodes, 2002)

Series Editorial Department
Carol Abbott	....	vision mixer (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jenny Bozson	....	vision mixer (6 episodes, 2002)

Series Music Department
Mark Wyllie	....	music engineer (8 episodes, 2000-2002)
Joby Talbot	....	music arranger (4 episodes, 2002)

Series Other crew
Brian Abram	....	studio manager (18 episodes, 1999-2002)
Katie Tyrrell	....	production assistant / production coordinator (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Carlene King	....	location manager (12 episodes, 2000-2002)
Brett Wilson	....	location manager (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Pat Ward	....	animal handler (9 episodes, 2000-2002)
Les Powell	....	armorer / animal handler (7 episodes, 1999-2000)
Annie Beaver	....	studio manager (6 episodes, 1999)
Paul Grant	....	location manager (6 episodes, 1999)
Alison Passey	....	production accountant (6 episodes, 1999)
Tracyjane Read	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1999)
Claire Bridgland	....	production executive (6 episodes, 2002)
Maz Cooper	....	production finance associate (6 episodes, 2002)
Charlotte Lamb	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 2002)
Samuel Leek	....	location assistant (6 episodes, 2002)
Andy Morgan	....	location assistant (6 episodes, 2002)
Caren Williams	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 2002)
Chris Woodward	....	location fixer (6 episodes, 2002)
Pat Powell	....	animal handler (5 episodes, 1999)

Series Thanks
Ian Cashmore	....	acknowledgment (1 episode, 2000)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1999) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• BBC Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Comedy Central (2011) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release)
• Comedy Central (????) (USA) (TV) (original US airing)
• Polyband (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 1)

Special Effects

• Emergency House Special Effects

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  lighting

Also Known As:

Runtime:

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

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Hadfield, High Peak, Derbyshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

There is at least one horror movie spoof or reference to in every episode.

Quotes:

Geoff Tipps:Well, things finally started going my way ladies and gentlemen. In 84 both our mothers got badly sick, mine, thank God, she got better. But yours DIED didn't she Mike? Didn't she?
[Mike, in great pain and sorrow nods]
Geoff Tipps:Yeah, I won that. At least I won the mums!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Making 'Little Britain' Too (2004) (TV)

The Christmas Special

The League of Gentlemen is one of the most consistently entertaining series of recent years. Without a doubt, its finest hour (literally) came in the Christmas Special. This hour-long TV movie is based on the Amicus "portmanteau" horror films of the 1970's (cf. Tales from the Crypt, Asylum, The Uncanny et al.). Typically, these films would see a host (generally Peter Cushing) encounter a series of hapless individuals who would relate their horrific experiences, before the "unexpected twist" framing-story climax. This Christmas Special sticks religiously to that formula, with lugubrious vicar Bernice lending an unsympathetic ear to cheese-dreaming Charlie, vagrant Matthew and incompetent vet Dr Chinnery. Each of the three tales is as darkly comical as we've come to expect from the League, with Charlie's tale mixing line dancing and voodoo, Matthew's tale spoofing Hammer vampire movies, Romero's Martin and German expressionist films, and Chinnery's tale a piece of classic Victorian melodrama involving a cursed pair of monkey's testicles. But what raises this special far above the level of a beautifully made and affectionate pastiche is that all the tales (and particularly the first two) are not only genuinely frightening, but more convincingly so than most of Amicus' own efforts. The gory, unremitting horror of the climax of Charlie's tale, and the truly creepy sequences set within the Lipp household in Matthew's story have a real power to them. And the final, terrifying twist - 'It's nice to see you again, all grown up...' - is one of the most disturbing moments in TV history (no wonder it ended up in Channel 4's Top 100 Scary Moments programme).

Lavish, dark and compelling, The League of Gentlemen Christmas Special stands alongside Threads and Ghost Watch as innovative and frightening television, and is perhaps the best one-off programme made by the BBC in the last decade.