Gilbert and Sullivan well, and on 13 May 1883, at a party to celebrate the composer's 41st birthday, the guests, including the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), heard a direct relay of parts of "Iolanthe" from the Savoy. This was probably the first live "broadcast" of an opera. During the run of "Iolanthe", in 1883, Sullivan was knighted by Queen Victoria. Although it was the operas with Gilbert that had earned him the broadest fame, the honour was conferred for his services to serious music. The musical establishment, and many critics, believed that this should put an end to his career as
Cultural influence of Gilbert and Sullivan and Kate Jackson are a happy G&S-loving couple until he leaves her for another man (Harry Hamlin). Gilbert and Sullivan, and songs from the operas, have been included in numerous TV series, including "The Simpsons" in several episodes, including "Cape Feare", "Deep Space Homer", and "Bart's Inner Child"; numerous "Frasier" episodes; "Kavanagh QC", in the episode "Briefs Trooping Gaily", "Angel" in the fifth season episode "Conviction", where Charles Gunn becomes a good lawyer, and learns a lot of G&S, because it's "great for elocution"; numerous references in Animaniacs; the episode "The Cold Open" (1x02) of "Studio 60 on the Sunset