Review: Monty Python's Flying Circus, series 1 Blu-Ray

The 50th anniversary of Monty Python's Flying Circus is celebrated with the release of the first series on high-definition Blu-ray, restored by Network Distributing...

Do Not Adjust Your Set / At Last The 1948 Show review

Reviews of pre-Monty Python sketch series Do Not Adjust Your Set (*****) and At Last The 1948 Show. (***)

BBC archive release celebrate Python's 50th anniversary

A new archive of photos and documents has been uncovered which illustrates rarely seen moments from the making of Monty Python, as the ground-breaking comedy show celebrates its 50th anniversary.

It's... Genome's Monty Python 50th anniversary quiz

To celebrate half a century of Monty Python's Flying Circus, Genome indulges in a little light quizzing - how well do you know your Pythons?

Monty Python at 50

In this rare glimpse inside the BBC archives, we reveal the exasperated internal memos, the furious letters from wing commanders - and David Frost's bid to bring them down.

Hairy moments for Harry H Corbett filming Jabberwocky

I went to a one-off screening of Terry Gilliam's 1977 movie Jabberwocky. Before the screening, Terry Gilliam mentioned what it was like working with Harry H Corbett.

Monty Python at 50: The Self-Abasement Tapes is made up of excised sketches from the television show, presented for the first time by Python member Michael Palin. Television now is a lot swearier and shoutier than it was 50 years ago, but I bet it still wouldn't start a Python tribute with the sketch that opened this one: a report from the annual conference of the Fat Ignorant Bastards Party of the USA, whose leader has just become president. "The cult is certainly booming," Eric Idle said in classic old-style Panorama manner.

There followed a court sketch and a school sketch, both subjects dear to Python hearts, as well as the fine country parody song I'm So Worried, exquisitely performed by Terry Jones, with worries that ranged from the Middle East to Heathrow's baggage delivery system and the state of current TV. Palin's linking device, as if he were excavating the material from sewers beneath the Edgware Road while being ironic about that road, its shops and owners, was apt and ingenious.

"Sick, surreal or just plain silly": Doon Mackichan narrates this lovely little celebration - a collection of BBC archive clips, including Graham Chapman frankly telling Parky about being gay and an alcoholic, and an elfin Terry Gilliam gleefully putting animations together in his flat.

Attempt at world record for Gumby gathering

This event forms part of the official 50th Anniversary celebrations of Monty Python and will take place at the Roundhouse in north London, on Saturday 5 October 2019 from 10.30am, 50 years to the day since Monty Python's Flying Circus was first broadcast on the BBC.

Python at 50: Silly Talks And Holy Grails, review

A rich collage of chat show appearances, location shoots, guest slots and one-offs worked best when it caught the Pythons in serious mode.