Character
Papa Lazarou is a demonic circus master and collector of wives. He has a rasping voice, an indefinable accent, and a face like a black and white minstrel. In his first appearance he runs the Pandemonium Carnival, and has three diminutive helpers called Simba, Pebbil and Tiktik. He is seen to collect wives by forcing his way into women's homes posing as a humble peg-seller, then talking gibberish at them until they hand over their wedding ring. Once they do this he exclaims, "You're my wife now!"
Despite originally only appearing in one episode the character instantly became one of the most popular, and returned in the third series. He also has important supporting roles in the Christmas special and The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse, and appears in both of the League's live shows.
| “ | Boys and girls, do not be alarmed. The person you are about to meet is extremely dangerous. Remain in your seats at all times. Do not let this monster inside your head. He can... do things. | ” |
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—Papa Lazarou's introduction in The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You |
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The character is one of the most bizarre and mysterious of the League's. Some of the women in his 'book of wives', seen in series three, appear to have lived over a century ago. This hints at the character's unnatural lifespan, or perhaps even immortality. He can also speak with the voices of deceased people he has never met, a seemingly supernatural gift. He cannot however commune with the dead, as evidenced in the unconvincing medium act he performed when his circus came to Royston Vasey.
His first visit to the town ends when the noses of the circus audience start bleeding simultaneously. Out-weirded by Royston Vasey, he and the other circus performers flee. When he returns it is in the guise of Keith Drop, an actor. As Keith, he gets a job at the charity shop. This leads to his discovery when the husband of one of Lazarou's abductees finds some of his wife's jewellery among Keith's donations. Lazarou evades capture however, and it is revealed that he imprisons his wives and anyone who tries to follow him inside circus animals. In the third series audio commentary the League revealed this is just one of a number of things (many of which haven't been shown) that he does with his captives.
| “ | Please do what he says, he's a very dangerous man. He'll shit on you and set you on fire. | ” |
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—Mark Gatiss, Comic Aid |
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