No, I’m sorry to disappoint you but they’ve not come up with a new series (well not just yet…) The Gents have been busy compiling a new book. Thanks to Deborah (Geoff Tipps Joke Writer) from Local Shop forum for posting the heads up on this little beauty which is sure to be gracing my bookshelf as soon as September comes around…
The League Of Gentlemen’s Book Of Precious Things
Now clearly I can’t do an advance review of it, but judging by their past efforts, and the care that they put into any endeavour, this book should be another gem which I can sit pouring over for hours and yet still manage to find that extra little detail when I pick it up again days later.
Their two previous books have been much more than just ‘TV tie in’ books, cobbled together by somebody who knows little about them and consisting of little more than screen grabs of the TV show. They have both been wonderfully creative in format and rich in detail (I’m sure Geoff’s art teacher would be proud 
)
The ‘Local Book For Local People‘ took on the format of a scrapbook created by the shopkeeper character Tubbs, found after the Local Shop burned down. An interesting premise which allowed them to include items such as newspaper clippings, photos, and other scraps (of the paper kind, not scraps of Special Stuff) found around Royston Vasey and simultaneously provide the reader with a new insight into their existing characters (providing the sections of backstory they would never have time for on television) and also introduce new ones. It also allowed them more freedom with material- they could include mock ups of television magazines, record covers and also show off their artistic ability’s- alot of the art-work was doodled or painted by themselves.
‘Scripts And That’ was not only a comprehensive documentation of their scripts from all three series plus the Christmas Special, but it again included exclusive behind the scenes photos and most exciting of all it had notes from The Gents themselves, which included doodles, deleted and never-before-filmed scenes, character ideas, lists of quicky-gags, newspaper cuttings and much more. It would have been so easy to simply put together s script book but, as ever, The Gents add that extra little flourish to make it something extra ’special’.
I do have a slight gripe about the new book however, it seems that despite them wanting to leave behind Royston Vasey…they just can’t seem to do so. Don’t ge me wrong, I think reading about their influences etc will be interesting and that they will create something fresh and creative allowing an insight into their work…but in a way I would love them to move on completely. We all thought their latest tour ‘The League Of Gentlemen are Behind You’ was a fond farewell to Royston Vasey, but it seems that the ‘village of the damned’ lives on, but just in another format.
“it seems that despite them wanting to leave behind Royston Vasey…they just can’t seem to do so.”
It’s that dilemma of trying to let go or move on from something thats been a part of their lives for so long. Maybe ‘you’ll never leave’is the literal truth…
They sort of explored that dilemma in The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse…
If they do return to Royston Vasey in their hoped for new series/project I’m sure they will come up with something new or put a completely different spin on the characters. They’ve never repeated themselves before & have always come up with something new & original – so fingers crossed.
You’re right – TLOGABY tour seemed like a last hurrah for the Royston Vasey characters. I saw it like that too.
I completely agree with you about their two previous books – such loving care & attention to detail! Both moved the bar up so high in relation to comedy & tv tie-in books – no one has come close to touching them since!