The Complete And Utter History Of Britain
- TV sketch show
- ITV1
- 1969
- 6 episodes (1 series)
Terry Jones and Michael Palin's first TV show alone. Sketch series telling the 'complete and utter' history of Britain. Also features Colin Gordon, Roddy Maude-Roxby, Wallas Eaton, Melinda May, Diana Quick and more.
Streaming rank this week: 7,248
The New (Incomplete) Complete And Utter History Of Britain
Written by and starring Michael Palin and Terry Jones, The Complete And Utter History Of Britain was among a handful of series that formed a template for Monty Python's Flying Circus.
This series offered a typically Pythonesque look at British history - as if television had been around to cover events as they unfolded. Thus we find Richard the Lionheart relating his exploits in the Crusades in the manner of a laddish holidaymaker and William the Conquerer engaging in post-match analysis (following an unspectacular scuffle in which King Harold is finally felled by a baguette). Studio sketches and filmed inserts are interspersed with the meandering insights of historian Professor Weaver (Roddy Maude-Roxby), with links by faintly bemused continuity presenter Colin Gordon.
For the first time in any format, the two existing episodes can be seen as recorded and as transmitted, plus a new 50-minute feature with brand new linking material by Palin and Jones, and previously unseen series footage from Terry Jones's personal archives.
The set includes:
50-minute feature containing new linking material by Palin and Jones
Interview with producer Humphrey Barclay
The first two episodes as transmitted (the only ones still to exist)
The first two episodes as recorded (includes some different sketches to those that were transmitted)
All existing film insert material used throughout the series, kept safe by Terry Jones for over 40 years
Brand new booklet by archive television historian Andrew Pixley
Extensive image gallery
Script and production paperwork PDFs
Only existing incompletely in the archive, Palin and Jones revisited this series in 2013 and recorded new material to link the best of the existing material into a completely new feature: The New (In)Complete Complete and Utter History of Britain 2013!
The set comprises of three discs: one Blu-ray, containing the entirety of the content, and for non-HD viewers, the content also spread over two standard DVDs.
First released: Monday 7th April 2014
Blu-ray- Distributor: Network
- Region: B
- Discs: 3
- Catalogue: 7953814
Buy and sell old and new items
Search for this product on eBay
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.
Not in the UK?
Fear not! Many items can still be ordered. Amazon in the UK delivers to many international territories, whilst their Australia, USA and Canada stores also supply many equivalent or imported items.
If you are in the North America, look out for US/Canadian flag icons on popular product listings for direct links.
If you order from a UK store, please note that the UK is in Region 2 and B, respectively, for DVDs and Blu-rays - check your player's compatibility, or look for multi-region products if you are located in another region.
If you are in Australia or New Zealand (DVD Region 4), note that almost all DVDs distributed in the UK by the BBC and 2entertain are encoded for both Region 2 and Region 4. The UK and Australasia are in the same Blu-ray region (B).