>> Meet the Gentlemen
The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse has brought Royston Vasey to the big screen at last. Brendan Sleeman meets the gents to talk dark humour, twisted characters and Cornwall.
Was it difficult deciding which characters to leave out of the movie?
Steve Pemberton: It was. Between the three of us we have 100 characters and we had to decide on a small group. When it came to deciding who would carry the main story, it just kind of chose itself. The more extreme characters didn't seem to be able to exist in the real world and do what we wanted to do, which was to try and integrate them into the world of us. It gave us the option to explore some of the characters we knew a bit less about and it felt less spin-offy because we didn't want it to be something that appeals to fans only.
As far as the humour is concerned, what aspects do you draw from your past?
Steve: It's probably less about what happened to us and due to spending a lot of time watching television with the curtains drawn. It's paid off (laughs). If you're a film fan you can see a lot of references in there and stuff that we've enjoyed.
Mark Gatiss: It's just drawing on our past love of other films.
In an age where the BBC consider it politically incorrect to show the George Mitchell Minstrels, how come you guys can get away with Papa Lazarou?
Steve: The BBC press department did compile this lengthy response to apologise in advance and it's never been used (laughs). I think that when you create a world like Royston Vasey, which is quite a nightmarish world, people know when you go into that world what the rules are and that it's a fictional thing. Clearly there's no intent with Papa Lazarou than to be a sort of disturbing nightmarish fairytale.
Where did Papa Lazarou come from? I'm from Cornwall and many of us down there relate to your characters.
Steve: I love Cornwall. Isn't that where they get big barrels of tar and set fire to them with black faces? You know, it's the wicker man isn't it? (laughs)
Mark: It's a synthesis because a lot of that is based on observation of a real Greek landlord who used to say on the phone, "Hello Steve."
Reece Shearsmith: It sounds so strange: I've got an idea, "Hello Steve". (laughs)
Steve: As we were writing, we came up with this idea of a carnival visiting town, so we threw that into the mix, then the make up. We were writing the scene and it just twisted on this moment when he said, "He thinks I'm his wife". (laughs) We said right, that's what it is, he collects these women. And, as you're writing it, sometimes you just have a moment of inspiration. It's very rare and when it does happen you cling on to it.
I remember watching that episode and, although it was scary at first, it became iconic.
Mark: I think the whole thing is weird. Going back to the political correctness debate, two things happen simultaneously: Anne Robinson can be hauled before the police for going on Room 101 and saying she doesn't like the Welsh, and yet on the rest of TV you can get away with absolutely anything. I don't really know what's going on there.
What would you say to those who feel that you are the real deal and Little Britain just isn't?
Mark: God bless you.
Steve: Matt (Lucas) and David (Walliams) are good friends of ours. We do our own thing and so do they; you don't think of it in those terms - we're doing very well and we have a film which we have always dreamed of doing, so we're very happy.
Mark: We do exist in a sort of bubble. We've known each other for 20 years and we just keep moving onto our next project. We occasionally cross-fertilise with people like Matt and David but mostly we just get on with our thing.
Reece: I've always felt we've been kind of outside, not deliberately, a bit like a dirty cat outside of the comedy world. I think it's because we regard ourselves as actors, not in a snooty way, but we have come from that background.
What will you be doing next, both as the League of Gentlemen and individually?
Mark: We have reached a natural crossroads. The BBC has asked us to do another series and we're going on tour in the autumn but we'll see.
Reece: I'm about to start As You Like It for three months and we have our tour to write as well.
I saw you in 2000 on tour in Bristol.
Mark: That was the first night wasn't it?
Yes, at the Colston Hall.
Steve: We're starting again in Bristol this time.
I remember wondering how you were going to pull it off live, but you did it so well and I was quite shocked at seeing it come together.
Steve: We were shocked ourselves. You don't know until the first time you do it whether you are going to be able to get on in time.
Mark: There's a funny thing where we would turn up in Bradford or somewhere and people didn't think we would come. They thought, somehow, we would have stand-ins.
Steve: Our next tour is called the League of Gentlemen Are Behind You and it's going to be a panto-themed thing (laughs). It's a new tour and each new thing is an experience.
Mark: I'm doing another series of Nighty Night next and I'm writing another Doctor Who as we speak, with my foot. (tapping his foot)
Steve: I'm about to star in the new Lassie film over in Ireland with Peter O'Toole. People ask me if I'm playing the dog and I say no, I'm playing the lead (laughs).