British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
Monty Python's Flying Circus. Image shows from L to R: Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam. Copyright: BBC
Monty Python's Flying Circus

Monty Python's Flying Circus

  • TV sketch show
  • BBC Two / BBC One
  • 1969 - 1974
  • 45 episodes (4 series)

Highly influential off-the-wall 1970s sketch series, starring John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman and Terry Jones. Also features Terry Gilliam and Carol Cleveland.

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See also

Monty Python

A guide to the film and TV work of Monty Python.

Monty Python And The Holy Grail Film

Monty Python And The Holy Grail

The Monty Python team put their own spin on the Arthurian legends.

Monty Python's Life Of Brian. Copyright: Hand Made Films Film

Monty Python's Life Of Brian

Biblical movie satire focusing on the life of Brian Cohen, a man born into Roman-occupied Judea who reluctantly finds himself mistaken for the Messiah.

Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life Film

Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life

The Monty Python team present a series of outrageous vignettes in this film which takes an irreverent look at the various stages of human life.

And Now For Something Completely Different Film

And Now For Something Completely Different

Big screen version of the Monty Python TV series in which the team re-perform some of their most famous sketches.

Q. Spike Milligan. Copyright: BBC TV

Q

Highly surreal, subversive and offbeat sketch show written by and starring Spike Milligan.

Fawlty Towers. Image shows from L to R: Manuel (Andrew Sachs), Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), Sybil Fawlty (Prunella Scales), Polly (Connie Booth). Copyright: BBC TV

Fawlty Towers

Comedy about a hotel and its owner, a man of infinite rudeness with a rabid dislike of almost all guests.

Ripping Yarns. Michael Palin. Copyright: BBC TV

Ripping Yarns

Series of comic plays written by Pythons Terry Jones and Michael Palin.

Rutland Weekend Television. Copyright: BBC TV

Rutland Weekend Television

Sketch and satire show starring Eric Idle and Neil Innes.

The Frost Report. Image shows left to right: Nicholas Smith, Julie Felix, Tom Lehrer, Ronnie Barker, John Cleese, Ronnie Corbett, Nicky Henson, David Frost. Credit: BBC TV

The Frost Report

Seminal comedy show featuring sketch, music, and monologues on a set topic each week.

The Complete And Utter History Of Britain. Image shows from L to R: Terry Jones, Michael Palin. Copyright: London Weekend Television TV

The Complete And Utter History Of Britain

Terry Jones and Michael Palin's first TV show alone. Sketch series telling the 'complete and utter' history of Britain.

The Goon Show. Image shows from L to R: Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe. Copyright: BBC Radio

The Goon Show

Highly surreal radio adventures that helped take British comedy into a new age. Starring Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe.

Monty Python's Wonderful World Of Sound. Image shows from L to R: Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding. Copyright: Wise Buddah Radio

Monty Python's Wonderful World Of Sound

Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt meet Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam to talk about Monty Python's classic comedy albums.

At Last The 1948 Show. Image shows from L to R: Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, Aimi MacDonald, Graham Chapman, Marty Feldman. Copyright: Rediffusion London TV

At Last The 1948 Show

Sketch show starring John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Marty Feldman, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Aimi MacDonald.

Do Not Adjust Your Set. Image shows from L to R: Terry Jones, Denise Coffey, Michael Palin, David Jason, Eric Idle TV

Do Not Adjust Your Set

Children's sketch show starring David Jason and Pythons Idle, Jones, and Palin.

I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again Radio

I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again

A long-running radio sketch show combining anarchic comedy with awful puns, silly songs and indulgent self-mocking.

He's Not The Messiah, He's A Very Naughty Boy. Copyright: BBC Radio

He's Not The Messiah, He's A Very Naughty Boy

Radio 2 documentary presented by Sanjeev Bhaskar looking at the success of Monty Python's Life Of Brian.

A Fish Called Wanda. Image shows from L to R: Otto West (Kevin Kline), Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis), Archie Leach (John Cleese), Ken Pile (Michael Palin) Film

A Fish Called Wanda

A black comedy starring John Cleese and Michael Palin. A con artist uses her female charms to steal a stash of jewels.

Fierce Creatures. Image shows from L to R: Adrian (Michael Palin), Rollo Lee (John Cleese), Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis), Vince McCain (Kevin Kline) Film

Fierce Creatures

John Cleese leads the staff (and animals) of an English zoo under threat from a heartless global corporation.

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus Radio

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus!

Henning Wehn looks at the story behind Monty Python's attempt to make their sketch show in Germany.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC TV

Black And Blue

A series of six seperate dark and disturbing comedy stories.

Holy Flying Circus. Image shows from L to R: Terry Gilliam (Phil Nichol), Graham Chapman (Tom Fisher), Michael Palin (Charles Edwards), John Cleese (Darren Boyd), Terry Jones (Rufus Jones), Eric Idle (Steve Punt). Copyright: Hillbilly Productions / TalkbackThames TV

Holy Flying Circus

Dramatisation of the blasphemy row that surrounded the film Monty Python's Life Of Brian.

John Howard Davies: A Life In Comedy. John Howard Davies. Copyright: BBC TV

John Howard Davies: A Life In Comedy

A tribute to prolific BBC comedy producer John Howard Davies, whose credits range from Fawlty Towers to The Good Life, Steptoe & Son and Monty Python.

Monty Python: Almost The Truth. Copyright: Bill And Ben Productions / Eagle Rock Film Productions TV

Monty Python: Almost The Truth

40th anniversary documentary celebrating and exploring the story of the Monty Python comedy troupe "from start to finish".

A Liar's Autobiography. Copyright: Bill And Ben Productions Film

A Liar's Autobiography

Suitably psychedelic animated film of Graham Chapman's fictionalised autobiography.

The Two Ronnies Spectacle. Image shows from L to R: Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett. Copyright: North One Television TV

The Two Ronnies Spectacle

A three part documentary series about the TV work of double-act The Two Ronnies.

Imagine... Monty Python: And Now For Something Rather Similar. Image shows from L to R: John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam. Copyright: BBC TV

Imagine... Monty Python: And Now For Something Rather Similar

Alan Yentob meets with the surviving Pythons as they prepare for their reunion show at the O2 arena.

Monty Python Live (Mostly). Image shows from L to R: John Cleese, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle. Copyright: Phil McIntyre Entertainment / Hipgnosis TV

Monty Python Live (Mostly)

A live broadcast of the world's most influential sketch troupe on the final night of their reunion shows at the O2 Arena.

Radio Five. Eric Idle. Copyright: BBC Radio

Radio Five

Eric Idle parodies BBC radio with his own station, presenting shows on the (then non-existant) Radio Five.

Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly). Copyright: Phil McIntyre Entertainment TV

Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)

Five-part series celebrating the best of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Hugh Bonneville hosts.

Monty Python's Personal Best. Image shows from L to R: John Cleese, Neil Innes, Michael Palin, Eric Idle TV

Monty Python's Personal Best

Documentary series focusing on each of the Monty Python stars in turn, with new footage and original clips. Filmed in 2006 for American TV.

Parrot Sketch Not Included: 20 Years Of Monty Python TV

Parrot Sketch Not Included: 20 Years Of Monty Python

Compilation special, celebrating 20 years of the Monty Python comedy group.

Monty Python: Before The Flying Circus TV

Monty Python: Before The Flying Circus

Documentary about the Pythons before Python and the group's formation.

Monty Python At 50: The Self-Abasement Tapes. Image shows from L to R: Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam. Copyright: BBC Radio

Monty Python At 50: The Self-Abasement Tapes

Michael Palin celebrates Monty Python's 50th anniversary with never-before heard sketches.

Monty Python's Flying Circus. Image shows from L to R: Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam. Copyright: BBC TV

Python At 50: Silly Talks And Holy Grails

Rare Monty Python-related clips from the BBC archives.

BBC Two TV

All You Need Is Cash

TV film special from Eric Idle and Neil Innes, spoofing the world of pop music.

Alexei Sayle's Stuff. Credit: BBC TV

Alexei Sayle's Stuff

Anarchic and often satirical sketch show starring then-Marxist stand-up comedian Alexei Sayle.

The Burkiss Way. Copyright: BBC Radio

The Burkiss Way

Radio sketch show with Jo Kendall, Nigel Rees, Chris Emmett and Fred Harris.

And Now For Something Completely Different Film

And Now For Something Completely Different

Big screen version of the Monty Python TV series in which the team re-perform some of their most famous sketches.

The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine. Marty Feldman. Credit: Associated Television TV

The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine

Sketch series starring Marty Feldman.

BBC Two TV

Out Of The Trees

Sketch show pilot starring and written by Graham Chapman.

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