Many of the sketches & the scripts will be recognisable, but a surprisingly large amount of the material & some of the characters do not appear in the TV series & so for LoG completists the 'On the Town' collection is a must.

I loved Mr Ingleby, the tiny shopkeeper, the blacksmith with his
worldly advice (almost poetic in tone)& Mr McCunn (careful how you pronounce the name) the bone-headed PE teacher.

Bernice Woodall is Spent FM's DJ & agony aunt (rather than the vicar that she will become) & is absolutely hilarious
(love the choice of the highly appropriate records she plays immediately after one of her rants)& Barbara, the transexual cab driver has a far more central role in the radio series, including a rather touching romantic coupling with Mr Ingleby.

What is noticable about the radio series is the amazing energy & inventiveness on display - although some of sketches are more rushed & shorter than how they finally ended up in the TV series. The aural aspect of radio comedy - where images & sounds add so much to the humour - is also to the fore. They could never have done Mr Ingleby in the TV series but he works brilliantly here. The sound effects for Mr Chinnery's disastrous encounters with his pet patients are also wonderful (especially the Monica the cow episode!)

The radio series was recorded in front of a studio audience & clearly illustrates the League's brilliance as live performers. As usual, the acting is exceptional & the chemistry between the three performing members of the League a real joy to hear.

The radio series is more whimsical than the TV series (probably due to the fact that the series was broadcast in a 6.30PM slot) but considering the restrictions that this must have put on the material, it is still startling dark (definitely not typical Radio 4 6.30PM comedy fare!)

If you're a LoG fan you wouldn't want to miss out on having all six episodes of the fantastic 'On the Town' series - there's even the chance to hear Jeremy do the beginning & end announcements for each programme!


Amazing!   September 21, 2004
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I wasn't sure if I'd like this, as I've never bought an Audio CD before, but I'm such a fan of the Series I though I'd give it a go. Once I started listening it I couldn't stop, it was so hilarious. I absolutely love the 'new' Characters, the PE Teacher, Radclyffe (!!) that laugh! Legs Akimbo were fantastic as usual, I couldn't stop laughing. You'd never think this was made just for Radio, you can imagine every Character. Very, very impressive. Amazingly talented Gentlemen.


Brilliant, brilliant brilliant!   April 9, 2003
 12 out of 13 found this review helpful

League of Gentlement is shear and utter genius. If you are a fan of the TV show then you will love this audio CD. It is the original radio shows that formed the TV show. There are characters on the audio CD that do not appear on the TV show and it is worth buying it just to discover these characters.

You can listen to it over and over again and still be amused and awe struck by the brilliance of these performers.

What more can I say, other than BRILLIANT AND BUY IT.


Amazing Comedy from The League of Gentlemen   April 4, 2002
 35 out of 37 found this review helpful

If you have ever wondered what came before the TV series...if you have ever thought how do they get their idea's...if you have ever wanted to listen to other characters or hear more about much loved characters from the TV series...then this CD is for you!

This has been released on Audio Cassette for quite a while but its CD release will hopefully remind people of just how good this is!

Set in the fictional town of 'Spent' the story revolves around the arrival into town of 'Benjamin' who has come to Spent for an Interview at 'The Plant'. As with the TV series he stays with his Aunt and Uncle, The Dentons. Fans of the TV series will recognise this plot, however not is all as it may seem.

Fans will recognise some other characters also. Charlie and Stella, Barbara and Pauline.

Some other characters however are quite different. Bernice takes on the role of 'Local' Radio DJ and if you saw the 'live' local show for local people then this CD will go some way towards explaining the use of characters such as Pam Auschwitz and Mr Ingelby, the local shop keeper who uses a Curly Wurly for a ladder.

There is a seperate story being told as well. A different plot to the TV series and the ending at the Power plant is brilliant! Well worth buying!

It is great to hear where such great TV characters came from...