Jeremy Dyson writes comedy-drama to star his old colleagues

The League Of Gentlemen have reunited for a new Radio 4 comedy-drama. 

Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton have all lent their voices to writer Jeremy Dyson’s new project, called High Cockalorum.

They are joined in the cast by Monica Dolan and Goldie Crane.

The show celebrates the Bradford City of Culture and was commissioned as part of BBC Contains Strong Language Festival, which takes place in the city in September.

Dyson is based in Bradford and High Cockalorum is set in West Yorkshire in 1978,  inspired by a true story. 

It tells of a ‘touching, funny and unlikely encounter’ between  Hollywood superstar James Mason – played by Gatiss –  and a humble lad from Leeds. 

Gatiss also plays a character called Marty, while Shearsmith plays Harvey, a librarian, and a DJ, with Pemberton as Pete, a parking attendant and an interviewer. 

High Cockalorum will be broadcast on BBC  Radio 4 on Thursday September 18 at 2.15pm.

It will also be played at a session as part of the Contains Strong Language Festival, followed by a Q&A session, although details have not yet been released.

Published: 28 Jul 2025