Image caption The original members of The League of Gentlemen are reuniting

The League of Gentlemen is to return to BBC Two for three special new episodes.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comedy, which began on BBC radio before moving to TV from 1999 to 2002.

Its comeback isn't a massive surprise - Mark Gatiss hinted at it last year. BBC Two controller Patrick Holland described it in Edinburgh on Wednesday as a "much anticipated return".

He also confirmed that Alan Partridge would return to the channel - but didn't give away any details.

All four of The League of Gentlemen's original creators - Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Jeremy Dyson, and Reece Shearsmith - will reunite for the new specials.

Pemberton told The Daily Mirror: "I think there is still an appetite for it, people still remember it, we are all still great mates and I see no reason why not. We won't rush it, it's something we want to go get it right."

Many fans were pleased to hear the news. "Words cannot express how excited I am for the League of Gentlemen's return," wrote Amy Genders on Twitter.

Niecy O'Keeffe wrote: "Envy all the young'uns who've never heard of The League of Gentlemen who get to be apprehensive, confused but ultimately amused & addicted."

Others were more apprehensive, however. Pete Kent wrote: "I don't know how to feel about this. The League of Gentlemen was superb but time & time again these returns of classics are awful."

And Robert Perry said: "Unpopular opinion: The League of Gentlemen was never actually all that funny, and the best thing about it was the theme music."

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