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| 3 | %% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks! |
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| 9 | %% Please remember that zero context examples are not permitted. See the Administrivia page (Administrivia/ZeroContextExample) for more information. |
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| 12 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1600070432001488000 |
| 13 | %% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread. |
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| 15 | [[quoteright:300:[[Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy2019 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reggie_9.png]]]] |
| 16 | [[caption-width-right:300:"Cheerio, lads."]] |
| 17 | |
| 18 | %% |
| 19 | ->'''[=TheHelldragon=]:''' Shake your fist in angry, British rage, Tom!\ |
| 20 | '''[=NTom64=]:''' You can't see it, but my fist is wearing a monocle! |
| 21 | -->-- ''LetsPlay/HellfireCommentaries'', ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSh5Mfu-aEs=related Kingdom Hearts II commentary part 43]]'' |
| 22 | |
| 23 | Start with one cup(pa) [[BritsLoveTea tea]]. Mix in a hearty helping of [[UsefulNotes/BritishAccents posh, formal, excessively polite-sounding Received Pronunciation accent, or at least how you think it is pronounced]]. No one (except those pesky normal Brits) will notice. Add some StockBritishPhrases for seasoning, wot, wot. Add an Eton, Cambridge, or Oxford education. Stir in past military service as an officer for the Crown, preferably in a strife-torn colony of the British Empire. Blend in an interest in posh hobbies like equine sports. Throw it all in a top hat and stir with a [[HighClassGlass monocle]] over low heat for the 1000+ years in the history of UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire. Turn it out carefully, give him a PreppyName like "Sir Nigel Featherstonehaugh-Smythe"[[note]]"Featherstonehaugh" pronounced "Fanshawe", or possibly "Thomas"[[/note]], add a fancy prefix or suffix such as "the (Most) Honourable", "III" or "Esquire", and Bob's your uncle, you have yourself the [[IAmVeryBritish Britishiest British man]] to ever "cheerio" his way into the media-viewing-public's home. And no one (except those pesky British people) will be any the wiser that you're mixing dialectal phrases willy-nilly or throwing British slang around like Frisbees. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Such characters are generally English in style, since the defining characteristics are not usually seen as typical of the Scots, Welsh or Northern Irish. |
| 26 | |
| 27 | The Quintessential British Gentleman is a StockCharacter commonly found in decidedly not-so-British works, who encapsulates everything that non-Brits (most commonly Americans) think of when they think of that funny little island across the pond. Much like the {{Eagleland}}er is a {{Flanderized}} American, this chap is the {{Flanderized}} Brit. Common characteristics include: |
| 28 | |
| 29 | * A top hat or [[DashinglyDapperDerby bowler ("derby")]] and a HighClassGlass. |
| 30 | * A morning coat and striped trousers, or (if on his country estate) a tweed suit, usually with matching flat cap and possibly with plus-fours instead of slacks. |
| 31 | * Is a GentlemanAndAScholar who loves [[SmartPeopleSpeakTheQueensEnglish intellectual pursuits]], often [[AdventurerArchaeologist Adventurous Archaeology]] and joining scholarly societies. |
| 32 | * Lots of [[BritsLoveTea tea]], and occasionally crumpets. |
| 33 | * Being a member of an exclusive men's club with leather armchairs and wood-panelled library, where white-gloved waiters serve fine port. |
| 34 | * Enjoy posh activities such as equine sports and fox hunting on a country estate. |
| 35 | * Being either [[BritishStuffiness extremely polite, even-tempered and gentlemanly]], or [[UpperClassTwit so snobbish, pompous and arrogant only the equally snobby can stand him]]. |
| 36 | * Using archaic phrases such as "pip pip," "cheerio," and "guv'nor," even though these combine expressions from completely different dialects and from opposite ends of the class spectrum. |
| 37 | * A DistinguishedGentlemansPipe, often in the Calabash style (the style that erroneous stereotypes of Literature/SherlockHolmes made famous[[note]]The calabash connection originated with William Gillette's portrayal of Holmes on stage, as the straight clay pipes Holmes actually smoked were not as visible or useful for stage business[[/note]]). |
| 38 | * A crazy mustache, ideally waxed at the tips. If other facial hair is present, it will be a short and well-trimmed beard. |
| 39 | * Making lots of references to [[RoyalBlood the Queen]] (God Save Her!), or the King (God Save Him!), as appropriate (or most comically anachronistic) for the time period. |
| 40 | * An autoharp, harpsichord or piano playing Classical music in the background. |
| 41 | * A cane or umbrella, preferably with a fancifully shaped silver (or silvery) head, which will often be held in the crook of an arm. Robbers should watch out; that walking stick may be a SwordCane, or he may use the heavy metal ball in the handle to dispatch muggers. |
| 42 | * He is driven around in town in a Rolls-Royce. If he drives himself, its a sporty V12 Jaguar Sovereign. On the country estate, he has a Range Rover with four wheel drive. |
| 43 | |
| 44 | He's not always a product of lack of research. Sometimes, just as an {{Eagleland}}er is a [[AffectionateParody gentle poking-fun-at]] of Americans, so too might this fellow be a humorous, good-natured jab at the English (because this stereotype is, more precisely speaking, English rather than British) -- and done well, of course, even the Brits find it funny. In fact, many of the works listed were created by Britons, casually playing with their own stereotypes. (Britons, generally speaking, are good at SelfDeprecation.) Some Britons really do act like this, if not in everyday life, then at least recreationally. [[RuleOfFunny Because it's funny.]] |
| 45 | |
| 46 | Compare with that HawaiianShirtedTourist from {{Eagleland}}, and that [[AwesomeAussie bush-hatted fellow]] from the LandDownUnder. By the way, has nothing to do with the LordBritishPostulate, but plenty to do with StiffUpperLip. The Q.B.G is probably helpless without TheJeeves. See also the GentlemanSnarker, which is what the Quintessential British Gentleman probably was in his wild youth. |
| 47 | |
| 48 | Real British [[BlueBlood Gentlemanly]] behaviour is more subtle than speech or dress, involving the virtues of [[SacredHospitality hospitality]], rationality and [[TheStoic temperance]], the avoidance of irrational extremes, devotion to 'things held dear', rebellion against corruption, and [[StiffUpperLip courageous composure in the face of adversity]]. (However, some of these - like extreme composure - are sometimes seen in trope form). The fact that old-school British upper-class men were expected to be athletic while young, and highly competitive or even domineering, is usually left out of fictional descriptions of the type. Female examples are likely to be an EnglishRose. |
| 49 | |
| 50 | ---- |
| 51 | !!Examples: |
| 52 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 53 | |
| 54 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 55 | * ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'': England does act this way ''sometimes'', but he also has a short temper, foul mouth, and drinks, although it should be pointed out that being a gentleman doesn't necessarily equal amiability and huge amounts of tolerance -- many a gentleman is also a GentlemanSnarker, and not suffering fools gladly goes hand in hand with this trope. Even the most impeccable gentleman will still occasionally pepper his dialogue with a few well-placed "bloody's" and "buggers!". One of his image songs is called "Absolutely Invincible British Gentleman", which is ironically a [[BritishRockStar very modern rock song]], complete with {{Epic Riff}}s. |
| 56 | * ''Anime/{{Hellsing}}'': There are composed and polite gentlemen in expensive suits around the table as the enemies close in on them... in the end, Sir Integra proved to be the strongest gentleman of them all. |
| 57 | * Negi Springfield of ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' is a proto-version of this (at least at first), complete with tea. He seems to be drifting in a different direction. After becoming more of a Shonen hero (though not quite a [[IdiotHero standard]] one), however, he will still turn a diplomatic talk into a duel of honor between him and TheDragon over an argument about tea. |
| 58 | %% * The ''Anime/ReadOrDie'' franchise offers up plenty of examples, most notably Joe "Joker" Carpenter. %%% Note: Administrivia/ZeroContextExamples are not allowed on the wiki. |
| 59 | [[/folder]] |
| 60 | |
| 61 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 62 | %%* ''ComicBook/AmneyCrucisInvestigates'': The title character is the type written by a Brit. |
| 63 | * ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'': In ''Asterix and the Britons'', every Briton in an Iron Age version of this, complete with rowing skills, manicured lawns, wearing tweed and magnificent mustaches for their {{Stiff Upper Lip}}s, and of course decrying the fact that their adversaries are decidedly not gentlemen. That's just the original French version; the English translation takes it up a notch by having every sentence end in "wot?" and other SelfDeprecation jokes. |
| 64 | %%* ''ComicBook/DieAbrafaxe'': The eccentric Lord Conrad Hummingford, one of the Abrafaxe's competitors in a race around the world in 1898. |
| 65 | * ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'': In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWIssue48To50 Chaos Theory]]", Accord's design and personality are largely rooted in this archetype, of which he has the fitted coat, curling mustache, silver-headed cane, even temper, and studiously gentlemanly politeness. |
| 66 | [[/folder]] |
| 67 | |
| 68 | [[folder:Fanfic]] |
| 69 | * ''Fanfic/GodHelpTheOutcasts'': While he doesn't look like one, Dr. Cockroach is the most polite and cultured of the monsters. At one point, he evens makes a promise to Susan by giving his word "as an English gentleman". |
| 70 | %% * ''Fanfic/MyBravePonyStarfleetMagic'': Brain. |
| 71 | * ''Fanfic/NobledarkImperium'': Nemesor Zahndrekh behaves like a polite, cultured and posh British noble, largely due to him being crazy. He once asked the Imperium for help because of "A spot of trouble with a group of insectoid life forms", before contact was broken... which for those who read between the lines, means that he was under attack by a Tyranid Hive Fleet. |
| 72 | [[/folder]] |
| 73 | |
| 74 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 75 | * In ''Film/ABridgeTooFar'', a German officer walks up to the beleaguered British paratroopers under a flag of truce, and says "Be reasonable, gentlemen. Things cannot carry on like this. We need to discuss surrender terms." A British officer spurns him with contempt. "Absolutely not! We simply do not have the facilities to take you all prisoner!" |
| 76 | %%* Grp. Cpt. Lionel Mandrake, one of the characters played by Creator/PeterSellers in ''Film/DrStrangelove''. |
| 77 | * Sir Henry Vining in ''Film/FiveWeeksInABalloon'' (1962) is an upper class twit/snob version. |
| 78 | %%* The Mercedez Benz team in ''Film/TheGumballRally'', played by J. Pat O'Malley and Vaugn Taylor. |
| 79 | %%--> '''Andy [=McAllister=]:''' Sedately Barney, as befits our years and station in life. |
| 80 | %%--> [Barney squeals tires as they leave the parking lot] |
| 81 | * Music/TheBeatles encounter one during their train ride in ''Film/AHardDaysNight''. For context, the Beatles are in a cabin on a train when the QBG enters and adjusts the window to his liking without so much as acknowledging them; in the ensuing argument, the gentleman insists he has rights due to frequent usage of the train. |
| 82 | -->'''John:''' Knock it off, Paul, you can't win with his sort. After all, it's his train, isn't it, Mister? |
| 83 | -->'''Man:''' And don't take that tone with me, young man. I fought the war for your sort. |
| 84 | -->'''Ringo:''' I bet you're sorry you won. |
| 85 | * In ''Film/DrJekyllAndMrHyde1973'', Jekyll's friends are curious about whatever he's up to in his lab but are far too polite to ask, and can only assume it's a good thing. |
| 86 | %%* Jack Lemmon's French policeman character in ''Irma la Douce'' adopts another identity as one of these so that he'll be his HookerWithAHeartOfGold love interest's only client. |
| 87 | %%* In ''Film/TheItalianJob1969'', Creator/NoelCoward plays the Britishest British man to ever Brit in Britain. It's a parody. A very funny parody. |
| 88 | %%* Film/JamesBond, at least when played by Creator/RogerMoore. |
| 89 | %%* The Film/{{Kingsman}} organization in ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'' and ''Film/KingsmanTheGoldenCircle'' has this as its organizing theme and aesthetic, not surprising considering that the movies are affectionate homages to Roger Moore-era Bond films. |
| 90 | %%* Mr. Banks from ''Film/MaryPoppins''. At least, until Mary's message gets through. |
| 91 | %%* Pickering from ''Theatre/MyFairLady'' is very much a gentleman. |
| 92 | %%* Almost any character ever played by Creator/TerryThomas. Just look at the character's names: |
| 93 | %%** Sir Percy de Courcy (''Spanish Fly'') |
| 94 | %%** Arthur Critchit (''Film/VaultOfHorror'') |
| 95 | %%** Archibald Sinclair Beachum (''The Persuaders'') |
| 96 | %%** Clennery Tubbs (''Arthur! Arthur!'') |
| 97 | %%** Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (''Film/ThoseMagnificentMenInTheirFlyingMachines'') |
| 98 | %%** Sir Cuthbert Ware-Armitage (''[[Film/ThoseMagnificentMenInTheirFlyingMachines Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies]]'') |
| 99 | %%** Smythe Farquardt (''The Red Skelton Show'') |
| 100 | %%** James Franklin-Jones (''Comedy Playhouse: The Old Campaigner'') |
| 101 | %%** Sir Harry Washington-Smythe (''Rocket To the Moon'') |
| 102 | %%** Brig. Zachary Zilch (''The Daydreamer'') |
| 103 | %%** Lt.Col. J. Algernon Hawthorne (''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'') |
| 104 | %%** Captain J. (Jeroboam) Barker-Rynde PI (''Kill or Cure'') |
| 105 | %%** Lt. 'Piggy' Wigg (''Operation Snatch'') |
| 106 | %%** Cadogan de Vere Carlton-Browne (''Carleton-Browne of the F.O.'') |
| 107 | %%** Captain Romney Carlton-Ricketts (''Film/BlueMurderAtStTrinians'') |
| 108 | %%** Charles Boughtflower (''The Green Man'') |
| 109 | %%*** Note that despite being very British, a lot of these characters are decidedly ''not'' 'Gentlemen': Terry-Thomas was famous for his peerless performances as the Gentleman's antithesis, the [[DastardlyWhiplash despicable bounder and cad]].[[note]] The difference mainly comes down to a sense of honour: villainous Gentlemen generally have it, even if they don't let it apply to their 'lessers'. The cad freely lies, schemes, steals, and generally flouts the rules of polite society; other gentlemen will whisper in horrified tones that he is even rumored to ''[[FelonyMisdemeanor cheat at cards!]]''[[/note]] |
| 110 | %%* Robert, in ''Film/VacationFromMarriage'', tries to be one before the war, hoping it will make him look older and get the raise he wants for his job. |
| 111 | * In ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' has Sir Patrick Morgan, the ReasonableAuthorityFigure among the British High Command, with his cane, suit, and flustered politeness. [[spoiler:This becomes somewhat dissonant when he's revealed to be Ares but keeps looking like that, including in the flashback to Ancient Greece. Even when he reshapes molten metal into armor so he looks like the classic comic book version of Ares, his huge mustache is still visible beneath the helm.]] |
| 112 | %% * Sir Michael Caine's character in ''Film/{{Zulu}}''. |
| 113 | [[/folder]] |
| 114 | |
| 115 | %% |
| 116 | %%Film folder and above are cleaned up. |
| 117 | %% |
| 118 | |
| 119 | [[folder:Jokes]] |
| 120 | * Sometimes modern American and British forum posters poke fun at [[UsefulNotes/TheWestCountry the more conservative]] [[UsefulNotes/TheMidlands parts]] of the Isles by making them [[FishOutOfTemporalWater exaggeratedly conservative]], like in the following joke: |
| 121 | --> '''Things to do after buying yourself a classic Triumph:''' |
| 122 | -->''Grow and wax a mustache.'' |
| 123 | -->''Drive the Triumph to a poorly lit, dark-wood-paneled private club in Kensingtonworthshire or North Haddockbrooktonworth.'' |
| 124 | -->''At the private club, sit in a deep leather chair and make pithy conversation with the other club members while using some kind of obscure tobacco product and sipping either tea or scotch.'' |
| 125 | -->''Hold forth on a variety of topics, including the day's hunt, the newest radical in Parliament, hand-tooled shotguns, the laughably gauche Americans, the state of the Empire, and the relative merits of the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire.'' |
| 126 | * Or the following: |
| 127 | -->''Do you want to buy yourself a Rover? It comes with a flat cap, pipe, and a whippet.'' |
| 128 | [[/folder]] |
| 129 | |
| 130 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 131 | * Captain Cameron of ''Literature/TheAliceNetwork'' is a Scotsman who habitually wears tweed and smokes pipes. Eve even lampshades this, calling him a Quintessential British Gentleman. He's also a gold-star [[OfficerAndAGentleman gentleman]]: He's honorable, kind, and wouldn't take advantage of Eve unless she tried really, really hard... |
| 132 | * Granted, he's only around college age, but Arthur Deering in ''Literature/AlongTheWindingRoad'' is even described as "too British for [his] own good." |
| 133 | * Phileas Fogg, the protagonist of Creator/JulesVerne's ''Literature/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays'', of course. His favourite hangout is a gentlemen's club in London. |
| 134 | * In ''Literature/BarberBlackSheep'', Lord Issac Harrington is portrayed as such. |
| 135 | * Literature/SirHenryMerrivale, from the [[Creator/JohnDicksonCarr Carter Dickson]] books which spoof Lord Peter Wimsey by creating an aristocrat who is ''nothing'' like Lord Peter, except for the 'brilliant detective' part. |
| 136 | * Sir Leigh Teabing from ''Literature/TheDaVinciCode''. [[spoiler:Not that it stopped him from being evil]] ''Tea''bing? "Teabing" is an anagram of "Baigent." The Authors of ''Holy Blood, Holy Grail'', Michael Baigent and Richard Liegh (notice anything?) sued Dan Brown for ripping off a theory presented in the afore-mentioned book by them for use in ''The Da Vinci Code.'' They lost. |
| 137 | * Warden Chandler of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles,'' in addition to being a bonafide badass (he single-handedly guards a door usually protected by five people), is an English SharpDressedMan and DeadpanSnarker [[BritsLoveTea fond of tea]] and wields a ClassyCane rather than the usual staff. He once wrote Harry (an American wizard) a letter and [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments randomly capitalized several letters, stating in a postscript, "The language is English. I am English. Therefore, I can do with it what I want, colonial heathen."]] |
| 138 | * Creator/KarlMay lived at a time when wealthy British globetrotters were a common trope, so some characters of this type appear in his works. The most well-known examples are Englishman Sir David Lindsay in the Literature/OrientCycle and Scotsman Lord Castlepool in ''Film/DerSchatzImSilbersee''. Lord Castlepool is obsessed with making wagers and travels through the Wild West in search of adventure, paying his guides 50 Dollars per adventure. |
| 139 | * The be-monocled Ronald (or Rupert) Literature/{{Psmith}} is a recurring character in the comedies of Creator/PGWodehouse. A refined gent of wit and eloquence: an eccentric of the first water. ([[MyNaymeIs The 'p' is silent]], as in 'pshrimp'.) In fact, just about any of the older male characters in Wodehouse's work fit this trope. Bertie Wooster, while still rather young in the books, is a perfect example. |
| 140 | * In the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' series, some hares fall underneath this classification, especially the ''Long Patrol.'' The author is British though, so this isn't as {{Flanderized}} as some other examples. |
| 141 | * Literature/LordPeterWimsey from the Creator/DorothyLSayers books about him. |
| 142 | * Although Literature/SherlockHolmes himself does not really fit this trope, a few of the supporting characters from his stories do, particularly the clients he takes among the upper classes (such as the Duke in "The Adventure of the Priory School"). |
| 143 | * Captain Isambard Smith of the ''Literature/SpaceCaptainSmith'' series of books by Toby Frost is placed neatly between this trope and Richard Literature/{{Sharpe}}, with a healthy dose of buffoonery thrown in for good measure. |
| 144 | [[/folder]] |
| 145 | |
| 146 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 147 | * ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSlimGoodbody'': Inspector Thiamin qualifies: polite, speaking with a British accent--even his haircut screams "British gentleman". |
| 148 | * Giles and Wesley from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', and any number of visiting English Watchers. Giles lampshades it right away: |
| 149 | -->'''Giles''': ...I'm a bit fuzzy, however, on the details. It may be that you can wrest some information from that dread machine. |
| 150 | -->[Everyone stares at him.] |
| 151 | -->'''Giles''': That was a bit... British, wasn't it? |
| 152 | -->'''Buffy''': Welcome to the New World. |
| 153 | * John Oliver (himself British) from the ''Series/TheDailyShow'' finds one in Britain [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyNorj5SMTE&t=2m02s while covering the royal wedding.]] |
| 154 | -->'''John Oliver:''' You are the most English ''thing'' I have ever seen. \ |
| 155 | '''Gentleman:''' What a curious thing to say... |
| 156 | * [[Series/DoctorWho The Doctor]] was always noticeably British (or at least Anglophile) in his tastes and attitudes, but it's arguably the Eighth Doctor from the (American-made) MadeForTVMovie who comes closest to this trope ("He's... British." "Yes, I suppose I am!"). The Third Doctor, especially when his exile was lifted, also reveled in the trope. |
| 157 | ** Creator/PeterDavison described the Doctor as being alien, but also an honorary Englishman, which is one of the reasons he settled on a cricket sweater as part of his attire; what could be more English than cricket? |
| 158 | * Bernard Fox also did this very well: |
| 159 | ** Col. Rodney Crittendon on ''Series/HogansHeroes'' |
| 160 | ** Major Ross in the episode "Tea and Empathy" of ''Series/{{MASH}}'' |
| 161 | ** Major Bently Royce on ''Series/FTroop'' |
| 162 | ** Sub-Lieutenant Clivedon on ''Series/McHalesNavy'' |
| 163 | * Version from the UK itself: John Steed from ''Series/{{The Avengers|1960s}}'', though only after the series was tweaked in an attempt to make it more appealing to American audiences. |
| 164 | * This was done quite a bit on ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''. For example, in one episode where Geoffrey's long-lost comes to visit (who claims that he has plans to attend Butler School) Carlton becomes fascinated to the point where he begins to imitate the British Gentleman stereotype, bowler hat, pip pips, and all. |
| 165 | * Jonathan Quayle Higgins in ''Series/MagnumPI'', played by the very ''Texan'' John Hillerman. |
| 166 | * Many sketches from ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' parodied the stuffy British stereotype that their parents' generation more closely embodied. |
| 167 | * ''Series/OurMissBrooks'': A Quintessential British public school principal visits Madison High in the episode "Hello Mr. Chips." Miss Brooks uses him to make [[ObliviousToLove Mr. Boynton]] [[OperationJealousy jealous.]] |
| 168 | * ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy2019'': Sir Reginald Hargreeves looked and sounded the part. He wore a monocle and formal wear, had dignified facial hair, was titled ''Sir'', spoke in a posh British accent, and had a StiffUpperLip that extended to emotional distance from his children. He was also a wealthy GentlemanAdventurer, inventor, and philanthropist who enjoyed the finer things in life. [[spoiler:So naturally it's eventually revealed that he's an alien.]] |
| 169 | [[/folder]] |
| 170 | |
| 171 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 172 | * Music/ProfessorElemental evokes one of these, with a mix of upper-crust British accent, adventurer's outfit, Literature/SherlockHolmes pipe and raps about tea and mad science experiments. Sometimes he plays the trope straight for humor, but on "I'm British" he both evokes and subverts it in pride of his culture and country. |
| 173 | ** And mustn't forget his frenemy Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer, though he dresses in a more 1920's version of the trope. The two used to have a "beef" in the form of a few dis songs ("A Piece of My Mind" and "Fighting Trousers"), but they seem to get along now. |
| 174 | * The Wayfarers: "Deck the Sheds" is based on the idea that an audience of these is being treated to [[LandDownUnder an Australian version]] of "Deck the Halls". At first they're enthusiastic about it, with lines like "Spiffing!" After it turns out the song has "Rip a bloody hugey, bonza mate!" instead of the traditional fa-la-la, they're...less wowed. |
| 175 | * Music/{{Sting}}'s song "Englishman in New York" is basically this trope: the musical. With lyrics like "I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear", "A walking cane here at my side, I take it everywhere I walk" and "Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety". (Although the song was based on Quentin Crisp, who in RealLife was a ''touch'' more of the British eccentric than this trope usually covers.) |
| 176 | [[/folder]] |
| 177 | |
| 178 | [[folder: Professional Wrestling]] |
| 179 | * [[Wrestling/WilliamRegal Lord Steven Regal/William Regal]]. While in WCW as Lord Steven, he had a manager/valet in 1995-1996 who was even named ''[[TheJeeves Jeeves]]''. |
| 180 | * Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} has featured Jervis Cottonbelly, who wears a derby, walks with a cane, and is very polite and elegant. He also has a mustache, though in his case it's drawn on his mask. |
| 181 | * Averted by, of all people, Wrestling/ChrisAdams since, although he ''was'' British and ''did'' use "Gentleman" as his RedBaron, he did not affect any of the mannerisms associated with this trope. |
| 182 | [[/folder]] |
| 183 | |
| 184 | [[folder:Radio]] |
| 185 | * One and Two from ''Radio/TheMenFromTheMinistry'' fit this trope to a T, with their bowler hats, pinstripe trousers, umbrellas, and [[BritsLoveTea love for tea.]] |
| 186 | [[/folder]] |
| 187 | |
| 188 | [[folder:TabletopGames]] |
| 189 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Spelljammer}}'': As the giff (a race of large, humanoid hippopotamuses]] are routinely depicted dressed in 19th Century British military uniforms, monocle and pipe included, they're regularly portrayed as psuedo-British gentlemen in personality as well. Particularly their officers. |
| 190 | [[/folder]] |
| 191 | |
| 192 | [[folder:Theatre]] |
| 193 | * ''Theatre/AnythingGoes'''s Evelyn Oakleigh. Or ''Sir'' Evelyn Oakleigh, in the 1962 version. Or LORD Evelyn Oakleigh in the 1987 version. |
| 194 | * The ''Theatre/MrsHawking'' play series has Nathaniel, and of course his uncle Reginald upon whom he's modeling himself, though the latter is in many ways a {{Deconstruction}} of the trope. |
| 195 | [[/folder]] |
| 196 | |
| 197 | [[folder:VideoGames]] |
| 198 | * ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'' (set in a FantasyCounterpartCulture to Victorian-era England) has some characters played up as this to various extent. Franklin Payne is a GentlemanAdventurer with a monocle; Perriman Smythe is a young GentlemanWizard using a bit of StockBritishPhrases, and [[spoiler:Garfield Thelonius Remington III, a.k.a. Gar the World's Smartest "Orc"]] is a CulturedBadass. All three have a fondness of the Earl Grey tea. |
| 199 | * ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'' has Sir Hammerlock, a comically anachronistic GentlemanAdventurer. |
| 200 | * ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2'' gives us Lord General Castor, an OfficerAndAGentleman who hunts Tyranids for sport, wages bloody wars that end in the death of thousands of Guardsmen, and has a mustache that could conquer a subcontinent. |
| 201 | * ''VideoGame/FossilFighters: Champions'' has Professor Scatterly, who seems determined to out-British anyone who tries to British his way. (He even sneaks in a few [[DidNotDoTheBloodyResearch naughty British words.]]) There's also Rupert, who, while preteen, is on his way to being this. |
| 202 | * ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'': Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom the Magnificent Bastard is here to educate all of you heathens in the proper manner of wearing trousers, drinking tea, debating, and shooting off overpowered flintlock rifles. His clothing and armor, however, are more Spanish in style. |
| 203 | * Sidney Nettleson from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance''. His bio in ''Jagged Alliance 2'' reads: "Whether [[BritsLoveTea sharing a tea with English bluebloods]] or putting a .38 slug into an unwanted nuisance, Sidney does everything with poise and dignity. Sidney combines the mannerisms of the upper crust with the lightning quickness of a Wild West gunslinger. Years of avid cricket-playing have also given him a much-feared throwing-arm." |
| 204 | ** Scope Sterling from the sequel is his DistaffCounterpart. While Scope is less of a walking stereotype, she scatters her speech with Britishisms, speaks with an outrageously plummy RP accent, and displays a relentlessly StiffUpperLip. |
| 205 | * Arlon the Serene from ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'', complete with mustache and monocle. |
| 206 | * ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has the champion Cho'Gath, The Terror of the Void. This horrific monstrosity has a skin that turns him into this. Gentleman Cho'Gath has a top hat, monocle, and a high-class British accent. |
| 207 | * Major Zero in the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series is a slightly less blatant example, only hitting a few of the above traits. [[spoiler:Subverted, ironically, when he becomes the leader of the Patriots.]] |
| 208 | * ''VideoGame/NosferatuTheWrathOfMalachi'': Uncle Andrew and Grandfather Frank both dress and talk like this. |
| 209 | * Kolorado, the AdventurerArchaeologist in ''VideoGame/PaperMario.'' |
| 210 | * VideoGame/ProfessorLayton: |
| 211 | ** Layton is actually fairly tame... but he ''is'' very polite and smart, and he ''does'' love his tea. He also stresses -- frequently -- the correct behavior expected of a gentleman. |
| 212 | ** Luke covers the areas of Britishness that Layton can't as well. |
| 213 | * ''VideoGame/HenryHatsworthInThePuzzlingAdventure'': |
| 214 | ** Taken to comical extremes with monocle-wearing, mustache-bearing, tea-guzzling AdventurerArchaeologist protagonist. When he drinks tea, he summons a giant robot to help him as the background briefly changes to an enormous British flag. Yep, this is a QuirkyWork, all right... The SpeakingSimlish voice natter that accompanies his dialogue is literally ''nothing but'' an endless series of 'pip-pip, cheerio'-style sounds. No words, just raw unadulterated Britishness. The rest of the cast encompasses the various variations on this trope; his archnemesis, for instance, is a {{Steampunk}} Willy Wonka lookalike who uses a giant mechanical top hat as his vehicle. |
| 215 | ** Henry's sidekick has three legible words in his voice natter. ''The words are "guv'na", "righto" and "jimeney".'' The game doesn't just embrace the trope, it dances a waltz with it. |
| 216 | * In ''VideoGame/PotionPermit'', Myer, the mayor of Moonbury, has the appearance of a kindly British upperclassman. He has gray hair and a mustache, wears a top hat, monocle, and tuxedo, and walks around with a cane. He's a hardworking leader who ensures that his town runs smoothly. |
| 217 | * In ''VideoGame/Slipstream5000'', Eddy Royce is (or presents himself) as this. Unlike most of the other drivers, he's supposed to be a firm believer in etiquette and civility (although that isn't the same thing as never attacking anyone -- that's just part of the game). |
| 218 | * The ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series has two (of its three male British characters in the series; Birdie is more of a stereotypical British punk): Eagle from the original ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI'', some ports of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha 3'' and ''[[VideoGame/CapcomVsSNK2MarkOfTheMillennium Capcom vs. SNK 2]]'' is a man wearing a dress shirt and suspenders with a moustache who attacks with two clubs. Dudley from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' wears a similar costume except with a bow tie and boxing gloves. He is very much like a mixture of Eagle and Balrog in that he is a gentlemanly Brit, but is also a black boxer. With his curly moustache and neat hair, he is definitely the more stereotypical of the two...and he can also somehow [[BritsLoveTea drink tea]] while wearing boxing gloves. |
| 219 | * The last boss, Sir Richard Rose, in the 1991 side-scrolling action game ''VideoGame/SunsetRiders''. His two lines of dialogue are "Cheerio, old chap!" and "I say, bit of bad luck." |
| 220 | * ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' has all of the hat spirits populating the Cap Kingdom, including [[FairyCompanion Cappy]], speak like upper-class Britons and use quintessentially British turns of phrase (an NPC in Bonneton remarks that "you've got to keep a [[StiffUpperLip stiff upper brim]]"). Even Cappy's VoiceGrunting has an "eh wot?" tone to it, and he sits down with Mario for a [[BritsLoveTea cuppa]] when traveling between worlds. As an added bonus, male hat spirits are shaped like top hats and females are shaped like derbies (except for Cappy's sister Tiara, who's shaped like... well, [[CaptainObvious a tiara]]). |
| 221 | * Captain Ash, from the ''VideoGame/{{Timesplitters}}'' series. |
| 222 | [[/folder]] |
| 223 | |
| 224 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 225 | * Twisp in the ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' strips. A version that only says one word at a time. |
| 226 | * RidiculouslyHumanRobot Pintsize from ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=412 behaves like this]] when he changes his locale configuration to British. |
| 227 | * Leo's father seems to be one of these in Webcomic/VGCats. BOLLY! |
| 228 | * England from Webcomic/ScandinaviaAndTheWorld. [[SarcasmMode BIG suprise]]. He's a bit more silly than this trope usually goes, but he's proud of his children. |
| 229 | * The Englishman from [[http://www.wigu.com/overcompensating/2005/06/englishman.html "Overcompensating"]] is a parody in this vein of the creator of ''Webcomic/ScaryGoRound'', John Allison. |
| 230 | * Sir Reginald Vladimir Gregory Maximilian Postumus Augustus Alexander Nicholas Derby III, known to his friends as Smic, from [[http://www.jaydenandcrusader.com Jayden and Crusader]] fits the bill. He's a Quintessential British Gentleman if crossed with [[http://www.jaydenandcrusader.com/2007/11/23/2007-11-23/ The Doctor]] and a [[http://www.jaydenandcrusader.com/2008/10/06/kill-anteaters/ Mad Scientist]] |
| 231 | [[/folder]] |
| 232 | |
| 233 | [[folder:Web Originals]] |
| 234 | * National Cynical Network's "Chap in the Hood" series. A toned-down example, possibly because it was recorded around 4:20. |
| 235 | * Parodied/deconstructed with ''Literature/{{Englishman}}'', who is in some ways the stereotypical British gentleman as imagined by Americans (he lives in the USA, and fights crime), but the series is written by two Britons. Also, he embodies the darker side of the British upper classes as well, cheerfully trading in slaves, shooting foreigners, and so on. |
| 236 | * [[http://www.thechap.net/ "The Chap"]] Magazine is dedicated to these people. |
| 237 | * The Dark Id's LetsPlay of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' [[http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/RE4/chapter14.html makes El Gigante]] (a mindless giant) into one of these, complete with a photoshopped monocle. |
| 238 | ** Also done with the [[http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/RECV/chapter20.html zombie]] of [[spoiler:Alexander Ashford]] in the LetsPlay of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica''. |
| 239 | * [[https://www.youtube.com/adamzonetopmarks "GameChap and Bertie"]] of Website/YouTube fame play off this trope. |
| 240 | * [=NTom64=] of LetsPlay/HellfireCommentaries, as described in the page quote above, is basically MADE of this trope. |
| 241 | * Mr. Green online casino has a series of videos dedicated to this. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2IAQEgJ_tI Here's the first one.]] |
| 242 | * WebVideo/{{Retsupurae}}'s take on LetsPlay/ElectricalBeast whose accent is so exaggerated it seems fake. "Even ''British'' people are saying 'I can't believe how British this guy sounds'." |
| 243 | * The personality of [[Literature/TransformersShatteredGlass Shattered Glass Grimlock]] is based on this trope; it was originally a one-shot April Fool's joke, but ended up so popular that it was {{Defictionalized}} in-universe, wot. |
| 244 | * WebVideo/TheSpiffingBrit invokes this trope often, inviting his viewers to have a nice cup of tea while watching and even mentioning the Empire at several moments. |
| 245 | * Literature/WhateleyUniverse example: Fey's magic tutor Sir Wallace Westmont, who's virtually a ShoutOut to John Steed, down to the bowler and accent. He even has an ActionGirl accompanying him to [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]]. |
| 246 | * Played with in the bizarre [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWQoK506xkQ "Leg Peeing"]] sketch by The Whitest Kids You Know. |
| 247 | [[/folder]] |
| 248 | |
| 249 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 250 | * The titular star of ''WesternAnimation/AroundTheWorldWithWillyFog''. |
| 251 | ** Prior to him, there was Phileas Fogg from 1972’s WesternAnimation/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays. |
| 252 | * Anti-Cosmo from ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' speaks in a UsefulNotes/{{British Accent|s}}, is intellectual, wears a monocle and derby hat, and loves sipping tea. Of course, being an anti-fairy, he's not British. Plus he's doing things ForTheEvulz. |
| 253 | * Every non-real-life-celebrity British character on ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Props for also depicting their very real pervy side, though. Notably taken up a notch with ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' employees in "Brian Goes Back To College" through covering pretty much every variety of this trope in a matter of seconds: |
| 254 | -->'''Wellesley Shepherdson:''' ...and this is our writer's lounge where you'll meet some of our contributors: Fielding Wellingtonsworth. |
| 255 | -->'''Wellingtonsworth:''' ''[sipping tea from teacup and saucer]'' Hello. |
| 256 | -->'''Shepherdson:''' Livingston Winstofford. |
| 257 | -->'''Winstofford:''' ''[lights a cigar, wears a monocle, has a large mustache]'' Yes? |
| 258 | -->'''Shepherdson:''' Amelia Bedford-Furthington-Chesterhill. |
| 259 | -->'''Chesterhill:''' ''[smoking a cigarette in a long holder, swills brandy in snifter]'' Good day. |
| 260 | -->'''Shepherdson:''' And James William Bottomtooth. |
| 261 | -->'''Bottomtooth:''' ''[has comical underbite, terrible teeth, speaks unintelligibly]'' |
| 262 | * Mr. Herriman from ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' has a top hat, monocle, AND a mustache. However, being imaginary, he's not really British. |
| 263 | * The Scotland Yard police captain in ''WesternAnimation/TheInspector'' "London Derriere" cartoon: |
| 264 | -->'''Captain''': We'll be delighted to assist you in apprehending your jewel thief, Inspector, but I say, old boy, do put away that gun; we police don't use them here in England. It's against the law and all that, you know! |
| 265 | ** Lampooned ruthlessly by the episode, in which the Captain lets his clothes be shot off by a hail of bullets, but when the Inspector fires his own gun, the Captain [[RunningGag strikes him over the head with an umbrella]] and reminds him "No shooting, please." He even takes a punctual 5 o'clock tea break before breaking down the door. |
| 266 | * Lord Monty Fisk from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' fits the trope to a T in his first appearance before his FaceHeelTurn. |
| 267 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': The character Fancypants in the episode [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E9SweetAndElite "Sweet and Elite"]]. While all of the other upper-class ponies in Canterlot appear to be snobby and elitist, he is revealed to be a very kind, and polite gentleman. He even appreciates Rarity's less-than-fancy friends and the simplistic dress that she made for Twilight Sparkle. |
| 268 | * Ferb's grandpa on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', albeit with that show, it's more like a parody of the stereotype than anything else. He has this to say on the trope in the episode "Just Desserts" (while exaggerating his accent): |
| 269 | -->"Oh yes, and I'm British, so you think I'm supposed to like bird-watching. Ooh, I'm British, so I'll be in the conservatory with a cup of tea and a crumpet! I'm saying that, ironically, but actually, that sounds quite good. So, I'm going to do that. Ta!" |
| 270 | * Lord Chumley in the ''Franchise/TransformersGenerationOne'' episode "Prime Target". He even has his own [[TheJeeves Butler]]. |
| 271 | -->"I say, Dinsmore, may I have some tea?" |
| 272 | [[/folder]] |
| 273 | |
| 274 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 275 | * Creator/StephenFry is often placed in this trope in people's minds, something he admits to willingly going along with: |
| 276 | -->'''Fry:''' ...it fits my self-image, or at least that image others have of me that I have rather weak-mindedly allowed to become my self-image. |
| 277 | [[/folder]] |
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