Monty Python Round Up 2018
Firstly, a huge congratulations to Mr. Palin who has been listed for a knighthood in this year's honours. From Sir Galahad to Sir Palin...
And now for the rest of the 2018 round-up:
Dead Parrot Sketch Voted One Of The Greatest TV Moments Of All Time
The Dead Parrot Sketch first aired 49 years ago, on December 7, 1969 but the love for the sketch still very much lives on… and we even have the award to prove it! A huge thank you to ITV viewers for voting the sketch one of the Greatest TV Moments of All Time, for the 1960s.
New Flying Circus – A Very Silly IPA Beer Launched
After the success of Holy Grail Ale and Brian - A Very Naughty Pale Ale, we were delighted for Flying Circus - A Very Silly IPA to launch back in March. It’s our third collaborative brew with our good friends at Black Sheep Brewery.
Flying Circus - A Very Silly IPA beer is available on cask throughout the country and now in 500ml bottle exclusively at Morrisons (U.K.). Be sure to let us know via Twitter or Facebook if you spot it out-and-about.
Monty Python Now Available On Netflix*
This year, the Monty Python catalogue was made available on Netflix. Fans old and new, can now enjoy nearly all of the Monty Python back catalogue from the comfort of their own home. So, if you’re looking to settle down for a Monty-Python-binge-a-thon this winter, Netflix has you covered.
*Check your local Netflix listings for full details.
Monty Python’s Collective Noun Competition
In May, Eric Idle set Twitter users the hilarious challenge of coming up with a collective noun for Monty Python. Thousands of brilliant suggestions flooded in and we asked the Pythons to choose their top 5. After asking you to vote from the shortlist, the firm favourite was… “A SPLUNGE OF PYTHONS”. Thank you to everyone who took part!
Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
After 29 years in the making, Terry Gilliam finally celebrated the release of his long-awaited feature film, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, starring Jonathan Pryce and Adam Driver, and produced by Amy Gilliam & Alacran Pictures. It premiered as the closing night film of this year's Cannes Film Festival, and was subsequently released across Europe, Russia and beyond, with a North America release slated for March 2019.
John Cleese Live On Stage
John Cleese returned to North America this year to continue his live tour. Audiences across the country were treated to an evening which saw John sharing stories of his life and career, answering questions live on stage and all this followed by a special screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. John Cleese fans on this side of the Atlantic were also in luck this year as John’s European Tour saw him perform 32 nights in Norway, Austria and everywhere in between. He'll be back on the road in 2019.
Michael Palin's Archive On Display at the British Library, London
In August, The British Library unveiled a display of Michael Palin’s private archives, in their Treasures Gallery. Michael Palin: Writer, Actor, Comedian ran for 4 months and showcased his work between 1965-1987, from his early days with The Frost Report and Monty Python’s Flying Circus, to his successes across fiction, stage and screen. The display included Michael’s Python notebooks, his personal diaries kept during this period, and some never-before-seen typed sketches from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python’s Life of Brian.
Eric Idle’s Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: A Sortabiography
In October, Eric Idle’s memoir, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: A Sortabiography, was published and was an instant New York Times bestseller.
Eric went on to tour his memoir throughout the U.S., U.K. and Australia giving fans an opportunity to see him in conversation with comedians including David Hyde Pierce, Ryan Stiles and Rachel Parris.
Official Silly Walks Crossing Unveiled
On 18 October, the people of Spijkenisse near Rotterdam unveiled a new road crossing sign replacing the usual crossing sign by the town hall with one of a man with a bowler hat and briefcase flinging his leg high in the air, in emulation of John Cleese's performance in the Ministry of Silly Walks sketch.
Towns and cities from Ottawa in Canada to Orje in Norway have indulged joke 'silly walks' signs before, but this is the first time a council has put one up itself.
Monty Python’s Edukational Show Launched in North America
After over a year in development, we were delighted to launch Monty Python’s Edukational Show in partnership with Theatrical Rights Worldwide, in November. Currently available in North America only, this 80-minute musical revue has been written for performance by actors in Grades 8 through to college years. Featuring iconic sketches and songs from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the show is the perfect way to introduce young actors to comedy writing and performance.
In the words of Monty Python themselves, “We think corrupting the next generation is essential.”
To celebrate this exciting launch, we have also created a show t-shirt which will be available on our Online Store in January.
New & Improved Monty Python's Online StoreOn 4 December, just in time for the Christmas shopping season, we launched our shiny new
Online Store which now features our new Evergreen Range and exclusive merchandise offerings. There's something silly for everyone.
Spamalot The Movie
The secret is out… the Tony Award-winning hit musical, Spamalot, is coming to the big screen with 20th Century Fox Studios. The movie adaptation will be penned by Eric and directed by Casey Nicholaw, with filming due to start next year.
In Other News ... Were You A Facebook Competition Winner In 2018?
This year was filled with Facebook competitions, testing your knowledge of all things Monty Python and giving you the chance to win some Monty Python goodies. In total, 60 of you won prizes this year, and we thought we’d share some of your lovely messages here:
“Well the postman did bring something very special today I can tell you... I’ve been a totally huge, big, massive in fact, Python fan since well I was a baby and I will treasure these wonderful gifts. They are in fact now under armed guard. Even my dead parrot loves them.” (Paul - Devon, UK)
“The package arrived safe and sound here in Nova Scotia today. Thanks for the prize and thanks to the guys for decades of fun...” (Marcel - Nova Scotia, Canada)
“This is such a great surprise! I've been a fan since 1975 and have seen Holy Grail over 40 times. That's when I quit counting...” (Debra - Texas, USA)
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Don't forget, the countdown to the 50th Anniversary of Monty Python's Flying Circus has begun. We’ve got a number of big events lined up to mark the occasion which we'll be announcing early in the new year, so stay tuned!
Next year also happens to be
40 years since Monty Python’s Life of Brian, often credited as one of the funniest British comedies of all time, was released. We’ll be celebrating this milestone with themed cinema screenings across the world, with our partners Trafalgar Releasing.
Keep up to date on all things Python at
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