tech
February 17, 2026
‘The rallying cry of the rich and horrible’: the song that TV villains love to sing
From The West Wing to The Simpsons, House and now Industry, TV baddies have made a tongue-in-cheek Gilbert and Sullivan show tune their own
TL;DR
- Kit Harington’s character Henry Muck in Industry and Hugh Laurie’s character Richard Roper in The Night Manager have recently sung ‘For He is an Englishman’.
- The song is a satirical piece on faux-patriotism and blind nationalism, suggesting exceptionalism based solely on birthplace.
- Previous uses of the song on television, such as in The West Wing and House, have not always been to denote villainy.
- The Simpsons's episode ‘Cape Feare’ is cited as the best example of the song's use, effectively capturing its pomposity, villainy, and satirical elements.
- The recent trend of villains singing the song may reflect current perceptions of the UK as isolated and out of touch but still self-important.
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