March/April 2004
News

'League of Gentlemen' writer at University

Co-creator of comedy series The League of Gentlemen Jeremy Dyson shared his secrets to success with students at the University recently.

Dyson presented a script-writing master class in front of a packed audience of about 200 students.

Department of Electronic Imaging and Media Communications (EIMC) lecturer Mark Goodall arranged the master class. He said: "Jeremy is a real renaissance man and he always has lots of things on the go at one time, so we were very lucky to hear from him."

Jeremy Dyson, right, with Department of Electronic Imaging and Media Communications (EIMC) lecturer Mark Goodall

The writer told the audience how he had turned his own, sometimes dark and bizarre, ideas into a product. He also showed footage from the cult BBC show.

Mark added: "Jeremy really inspired the people at the master class and told them that it was all about sticking to what you believe in.

"He told us that the idea of him giving a master class was actually pretty absurd, but he told the audience that they should follow their instincts."

Dyson, who is the only 'League' member who does not appear on-screen, met co-writers Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton while studying philosophy at Leeds University.

The freakish inhabitants of the town of Royston Vasey first appeared on television in 1999, winning an RTS award, BAFTA and the Golden Rose of Montreux for Best Entertainment.

Dyson has also co-written an episode of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) with Mark Gatiss, and written and directed the short film The Cicerones.

He has been writing fiction since 1987 and his books include the short story collection Never Trust a Rabbit, Bright Darkness and The Essex Files, co-written with Mark Gatiss.

16 April 2004

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