Benjamin returns to the mysterious town of Royston Vasey for a family funeral, the local council face their greatest threat yet, and the Tattsyrups set up a new ‘local’ shop.

Of the two ‘League’ events planned for 2018 – Justice and Gentlemen – the latter was most anticipated by most, coming some 15 years after Series 3, and 12 years since The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse. Twin Peaks and Blade Runner have both successfully returned this year after lengthy periods of rest, but is there still life in the Gents? Thankfully, yes.

As with Season 3, there’s no laugh track, meaning that the story plays out more like a grotesque drama than a comedy sketch show. There’s still the trademark puns and bizarre activity playing over the opening credits, but as the camera soars over the statue at the top of the high street, it’s clear that things aren’t going well in the fictitious Northern town. Most shops are boarded, there’s a sadness in the air, and if the name hadn’t already been taken by a real-life town, you could call this place Grimsby.

The story begins with Benjamin, the beleaguered nephew of the toad-loving Dentons, sitting in Barbara’s Bab’s Cabs taxi. Somewhat appropriately for someone who has undergone their own transformation, Barbara takes offence at Benjamin’s ‘out of touch’ vocabulary, which is at odds with the modern times that the characters find themselves in. Indeed, everyone in the town is older, but not necessarily wiser.

Core players Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton play 12-years-later versions of their trademark characters, fitting back into them like snug gloves (or in Gatiss’ case a snug bodysuit of pendulous breasts). Even though we haven’t seen them since the early 2000s, these characters have been continuing their lives, be it in new relationships, in hiding or incarceration. Having survived the Apocalypse, they now face the prospect of being deleted – removed from a county map to improve crime figures. The characters (and show) are fighting for relevance in 2017, and they’re not giving in without a fight.

Verdict: Imbued with a greater sense of pathos and melancholy than ever before, Royston Vasey’s residents prepare to fight for their existence, while still finding time for some hedgehog-exploding carnage. The town sign threatens ‘You’ll never leave!’ We’re just glad they’re back. 8/10

Nick Joy