"One idea was to take Babs the transsexual taxi driver after her operation and chuck what remained of her genitals down the stairs and have someone pick them up. Then we thought, 'No you don't need to see that'."

It's nice to know The League Of Gentlemen have limits. From a group which has ongoing themes of inbreeding, disfigurement, wife collecting, S&M and a teacher's fixation with a student, this comes as a surprise.

"Believe it or not, we are quite respectful of the audience," says the League's Reece Sheersmith. "We've never had any official complaints about the TV show. We did when we were on radio but that was because it was after The Archers and people would tune in and catch the end."

Darker than the grim reaper's pocket, it's hard to explain why the League Of Gentlemen is funny but the grisly goings-on in the village of Royston Vasey seem to satisfy a macabre lust and not just in students and sadists.

Ticket sales for their second live tour have exceeded demand, resulting in extra dates all over the country.

"It's great," says Reece. "We've not been on TV for a while so I was dubious as to how it would sell. We're playing big venues, too. We're like the Rolling Stones.

"There's a massive cross-section audience-wise. There aren't many kids but you do look out and see one or two.

It's so strange. They come backstage and the mothers go, 'Here's little Nicky, he loves Papa Lazarou. Can you give him a hug?'"

Even though part of the new show takes the form of a panto (Pauline is the dame, Papa Lazarou is the bad guy and Micky is Buttons), it's definitely not suitable for children. There are two killings and a few more unpleasant surprises.

"We could just do a greatest hits show but we wanted to try a little bit harder. You might say a panto is the last indignity to throw at the characters but it somehow fits."

Having stepped away from Royston Vasey in the spring to star in As You Like It, Reece is happy to be back on stage.

"I like theatre life. It's nice to be regarded as an actor, although some people still don't see us that way. One bloke the other day said, 'So what is it you do? Is it acting?' I really quizzed him on it. I said, 'Well, what else could it be?' I think he wished he hadn't said anything, poor bloke."

With Rottingdean, which provided the original inspiration behind the show, close by, Brighton is a particularly important date on the tour. "You might get a real life Tubbs and Edward in the audience," says Reece. "Mind you, they won't want to leave the shop, will they?"

Starts at 7.30pm, Tickets from £21.50. Call 0870 9009100 INFO