Seriously Silly: The Life Of Terry Jones to be published this winter
- The late Terry Jones is to be celebrated in a new biography, penned by his friend Robert Ross
- Featuring a foreword by Michael Palin, Seriously Silly: The Life Of Terry Jones has been written with the cooperation of Jones's family and peers
- The book is described as an "intimate portrait" of the "Python, actor, director, popular historian, national treasure [and] purveyor of sincere silliness"
Terry Jones is to be the subject of a new authorised biography, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
Seriously Silly: The Life Of Terry Jones includes a foreword by Michael Palin and was written with the cooperation of Jones's family and peers by comedy historian Robert Ross, who co-wrote Hi-De-Hi! star Jeffrey Holland's memoir published earlier this month, and has previously penned biographies of Peter Sellers, Sid James, Marty Feldman and Benny Hill.
it is now available to pre-order in hardback, audiobook and eBook formats.
Described as an "intimate portrait" of the "Python, actor, director, popular historian, national treasure [and] purveyor of sincere silliness", who died in 2020 from complications arising from dementia, Seriously Silly is out on 6th November, published by Hodder & Stoughton imprint Coronet, which previously issued Tom Allen's memoir Too Much and Matthew Holness's Garth Marenghi's TerrorTome.
Pledging to take in his "major successes as well as his personal battles", Seriously Silly traces Jones's life from growing up as a war baby in the picturesque coastal town of Colwyn Bay, to meeting his lifelong friend Palin at Oxford and "the journey that took him on a convoluted pathway through revue sketches, anarchic children's shows, Monty Python, TV presenting and beyond.
"It reveals the fiery debates and creative genius of the Pythons, as well as Terry's extraordinary determination and resilience - even in his final years as he battled with the dementia."
Earlier this month it emerged that a campaign to erect a statue of Jones in Colwyn Bay had succeeded in reaching its £120,000 fundraising target in less than six months, with a donation of £6,000 from avowed Python fan Suzy Eddie Izzard pushing the drive beyond its goal.
Sally Jones, the comedian's daughter, who is leading the A Python On The Prom fundraiser with her brother Bill, said: "I am absolutely stunned that we've hit our target and want to thank everyone who has made a donation or bought a campaign T-shirt. We have had donations from all over the world and everyone has been so overwhelmingly positive about having a statue of my old Dad.
"Just like me I am sure he would have been blown away by the response."
The campaign, which was launched by Palin and Terry Gilliam in September, attracted more than 1,400 donations.
But Sally Jones added: "We have more than enough to pay for all aspects of raising a statue of Dad but we don't want to stop there, we would really love people to carry on giving and from this point on all donations will be split between the Conwy Arts Trust and The National Brain Appeal. Both of these UK registered charities were dear to Dad's heart."
Donations can still be made at at gofundme.com/terryjonesstatue. Official t-shirts and tote bags are available from a-python-on-the-prom.teemill.com.
Robert Ross - Seriously Silly: The Life Of Terry Jones - The Authorised Biography
Python, actor, director, popular historian, national treasure, purveyor of sincere silliness - this is the story of the one and only Terry Jones.
In an intimate portrait penned by the close friend and comedy historian Terry chose to write his memoir, Seriously Silly is the story of one our greatest comedy legends. Taking in his major successes as well as his personal battles, it is the whole story, from his start as a war baby in the picturesque coastal town of Colwyn Bay, to meeting his lifelong friend Michael Palin at Oxford and the journey that took him on a convoluted pathway through revue sketches, anarchic children's shows, Monty Python, TV presenting and beyond. It reveals the fiery debates and creative genius of the Pythons, as well as Terry's extraordinary determination and resilience - even in his final years as he battled with the dementia.
Written by his close friend and with the blessing and cooperation of his family and the peers who knew him best, Seriously Silly is the definitive celebration of a true pioneer of comedy, as well a personal and loving portrait of the man behind the laughter.
First published: Thursday 6th November 2025
- Publisher: Coronet
- Pages: 320
- Catalogue: 9781399742917
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- Publisher: Coronet
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.
- Publisher: Coronet
- Minutes: 600
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