“He’s the only rock star who’s never done anything to be embarrassed about. He’s never put a foot wrong”: Why Peter Gabriel was the ideal inspiration for fictional prog icon Brian Pern

Peter Gabriel poses with Brian Pern actors and writers Rhys Thomas and Simon Day in a park.

Some renowned artists would erupt in fury at the thought of being parodied in a TV show. But Peter Gabriel embraced the clear parallels with Brian Pern, created by comedians Simon Day and Rhys Thomas.

In 2014 Gabriel told Prog: “The series made me laugh a lot, and it didn’t really feel malicious, even though there are a lot of laughs at my expense. It’s possibly in danger of doing for me what Ab Fab did for Lynne Franks.”