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List of Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes
List of Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes
from Wikipedia

Monty Python's Flying Circus is a British surreal sketch comedy series created by and starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, who became known as "Monty Python", for BBC1. The series stands out for its use of absurd situations, mixed with risqué and innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines. Live action segments were broken up with animations by Gilliam, often merging with the live action to form segues. It premiered on 5 October 1969 and ended on 5 December 1974, with a total of 45 episodes over the course of 4 series.

Series overview

[edit]
SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1135 October 196911 January 1970
21315 September 197022 December 1970
31319 October 197218 January 1973
Specials23 January 197218 December 1972
4631 October 19745 December 1974

Episodes

[edit]

Series 1 (1969–70)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal release date
11"Whither Canada?"5 October 1969 (1969-10-05)
22"Sex and Violence"12 October 1969 (1969-10-12)
33"How to Recognise Different Types of Trees from Quite a Long Way Away"19 October 1969 (1969-10-19)
44"Owl-Stretching Time"26 October 1969 (1969-10-26)

Note: Many sketches in this episode are ended prematurely by Chapman's army character ("The Colonel"), who protests rip-offs of the British Army's slogan, "It's a Man's Life in the Modern Army"

Note: Owl Stretching Time was a proposed name for the series itself.

55"Man's Crisis of Identity in the Latter Half of the 20th Century"16 November 1969 (1969-11-16)

Note: BBC1 officially began broadcasting in colour on 15 November 1969; but for the previous two months, they had been broadcasting colour programmes "unofficially", so while the whole of the first series was broadcast in colour, this episode was the first to be advertised as being in colour (source: notes taken from BBC videotape operators and transmission managers made at the time). This was also the first episode where Cleese says the title in a silly voice rather than calmly in his normal voice.

66"It's the Arts"
"The BBC Entry for the Zinc Stoat of Budapest"
23 November 1969 (1969-11-23)
77"You're No Fun Anymore"30 November 1969 (1969-11-30)
88"Full Frontal Nudity"7 December 1969 (1969-12-07)

Note: This episode repeats several running gags from Episode 4: a female cast member delivers a terrible joke, and upon protest from fellow cast members, wails 'But it's my only line!'; the use of the song "Jerusalem", and the Colonel preempting sketches–this time protesting that they are 'too silly'.

99"The Ant, An Introduction"14 December 1969 (1969-12-14)
1010"Untitled"21 December 1969 (1969-12-21)

Note: This is the first episode not to show an episode title at the beginning of the closing credits.

1111"The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Goes to the Bathroom"28 December 1969 (1969-12-28)
1212"The Naked Ant"4 January 1970 (1970-01-04)
1313"Intermission"11 January 1970 (1970-01-11)

Series 2 (1970)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal release date
141"Face the Press"
"Dinsdale!"
15 September 1970 (1970-09-15)

Note: The introductory music of Ethel the Frog/Piranha Brothers: from the Karelia Suite by Jean Sibelius

152"The Spanish Inquisition"22 September 1970 (1970-09-22)

The Spanish Inquisitors (Palin, Jones, and Gilliam) appear seven times throughout this episode.

163"Déjà Vu"
"Show 5"
29 September 1970 (1970-09-29)

This episode introduces a running gag that is used for the next two episodes: a character says, 'Walk this way.' The character told this responds, 'If I could walk that way...' only to be stopped when the first character warns them about finishing the punchline, by raising a finger.

174"The Buzz Aldrin Show"20 October 1970 (1970-10-20)
185"Live from the Grill-O-Mat Snack Bar, Paignton"27 October 1970 (1970-10-27)

Note: The 'walk this way' gag is used for the last time, except the words 'I' and 'walk' are replaced with 'we' (since it is a group of people) and 'run', respectively.

196"It's a Living"
"School Prizes"
3 November 1970 (1970-11-03)
207"The Attila the Hun Show"10 November 1970 (1970-11-10)
218"Archaeology Today"17 November 1970 (1970-11-17)
229"How to Recognise Different Parts of the Body"24 November 1970 (1970-11-24)

Note: The Title Card has the word "Recognise" spelled the American way (with a "z"), most probably because it was created by the American Terry Gilliam.

2310"Scott of the Antarctic"1 December 1970 (1970-12-01)
2411"How Not to Be Seen"8 December 1970 (1970-12-08)
2512"Spam"15 December 1970 (1970-12-15)
2613"Royal Episode Thirteen"22 December 1970 (1970-12-22)

Note: Features an uncredited cameo by News at Ten presenter Reginald Bosanquet, recorded at the studios of ITN

Series 3 (1972–73)

[edit]

In this series only, the opening sequence begins with a nude organist (played by Jones), Cleese saying 'and now', and the 'It's' Man.

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal release date
271"Whicker's World"
"Njorl's Saga"
19 October 1972 (1972-10-19)
282"Mr. and Mrs. Brian Norris' Ford Popular"26 October 1972 (1972-10-26)

Note: Shown after the closing credits. Lulu and Ringo Starr appear as themselves. This is one of the few times you can hear the man say something besides 'It's'.

293"The Money Programme"2 November 1972 (1972-11-02)
304"Blood, Devastation, Death, War and Horror"9 November 1972 (1972-11-09)

Note: Anagrams appear throughout this episode: 'Tony M. Nyphot's Flying Risccu' for the programme itself; 'Chamran Knebt' for Merchant Bank, and 'Mary Recruitment Office' for Army Recruitment Office. The end credits are all in anagrams.

Note: Richard Baker also does gestures to indicate pauses in the news.

315"The All-England Summarize Proust Competition"16 November 1972 (1972-11-16)

Note: A running gag throughout this episode is that whenever anyone answers the phone, they take off their shoe as if the person on the other end had asked their shoe size.

326"The War Against Pornography"23 November 1972 (1972-11-23)
337"Salad Days"30 November 1972 (1972-11-30)
348"The Cycling Tour"7 December 1972 (1972-12-07)

Note: This episode is the first Flying Circus to feature a full-length story. It is also the first that does not have a formal opening sequence; instead, a simple caption ("The Cycling Tour") appears at the beginning.

Note: Chapman's adopted son, John Tomiczek, makes a brief non-speaking appearance as an autograph seeker.

Note: The episode was written by Palin and Jones with the exception of the last third which was re-written by Cleese and Chapman.[10] Palin and Jones play only one character each throughout the whole episode (although Jones, suffering from amnesia, imagines himself as Clodagh Rogers, Leon Trotsky, Eartha Kitt and Edward Heath).

Note: The music to which Mr. Pither cycles is the Waltz from Act II of Faust by Charles Gounod.

359"The Nude Organist"
"The Nude Man"
14 December 1972 (1972-12-14)

Note: Most sketches are interrupted by Mr. Badger (Idle) right from the first sketch onwards. In addition, Palin's Compère and Gilliam's Knight both made one-time reappearances since Series 1 in this episode (there is also a reference to Episode 3 in this scene, in which there are two people carrying a donkey).

3610"E. Henry Thripshaw's Disease"21 December 1972 (1972-12-21)

Note: The BBC censored this episode probably more than any other, cutting three sketches (Big Nosed Sculptor, Revolting Cocktails, Wee-Wee Wine Cellar) as well as much of Gilliam's animation.

3711"Dennis Moore"4 January 1973 (1973-01-04)
3812"A Book at Bedtime"11 January 1973 (1973-01-11)

Note: "Party Political Broadcast (Choreographed)" and "Dad's Doctors, Dad's Pooves and Other Interesting Stories" have been cut from many versions of this episode.[31] A clip of "Party Political Broadcast (Choreographed)" has surfaced on YouTube,[32] while "Dad's Doctors" has been restored to the iTunes and the Blu-ray versions of the series, as well as added to the Netflix streaming video version.

3913"Grandstand"
"The British Showbiz Awards"
18 January 1973 (1973-01-18)

Note: During the Light Entertainment Awards, Richard Baker briefly re-appears, saying 'Lemon Curry?'

Note: This is the second episode without a formal opening sequence.

Note: Cleese does not appear in the awards ceremony or in any sketch made afterward.

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (1972)

[edit]

Special episodes of Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

TitleOriginal release date
episode 1 Blödeln für Deutschland (Fooling around for Germany)3 January 1972 (1972-01-03)

Note: Edited versions of the "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Silly Olympics" sketches were dubbed into English for use in the Python stage shows. The "Flashers' Love Story" animated segment was also used.[33] The Stake Your Claim sketch was included on the English language record Another Monty Python Record.

episode 2 Blödeln auf die feine Englische Art (Fooling around in the fine English way)18 December 1972 (1972-12-18)

Note: Both parts of "The Philosophers' Football Match" were included in the Python stage shows.[33] An abridged version of "The Tale of Happy Valley" was recorded for the English language record Monty Python's Previous Record. "Colin 'Bomber' Harris vs Colin 'Bomber' Harris" and "I Want a Hearing Aid" were both originally performed on At Last the 1948 Show, which predated Monty Python.

Series 4 (1974)

[edit]

Cleese did not return for the final series. The series was broadcast under the simple banner Monty Python (although the old full title, Monty Python's Flying Circus, is displayed at the beginning of the opening sequence).[citation needed] Cleese did receive writing credits on some episodes that featured material he had written for the first draft of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (particularly in "Michael Ellis").

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal release date
401"The Golden Age of Ballooning"31 October 1974 (1974-10-31)

This is the third episode without a formal opening sequence. Almost the entire episode was written by Palin himself.

412"Michael Ellis"7 November 1974 (1974-11-07)

Note: This is the second episode to feature a full-length story (the other being "The Cycling Tour" from Series 3). It was mainly written by Cleese and Chapman with some help from Palin and Neil Innes.[10]

Note: The end credits appear immediately after the opening sequence.

423"The Light Entertainment War"14 November 1974 (1974-11-14)

Note: The Nude Organist and the 'It's Man' appear for the last time, in footage taken from the episode with "Dennis Moore".

Note: Most of the sketches of the episode have a shared theme (World War II) yet no apparent narrative.

434"Hamlet"21 November 1974 (1974-11-21)
445"Mr. Neutron"28 November 1974 (1974-11-28)

Note: This is the third episode to feature a full-length story ("The Cycling Tour" and "Michael Ellis" being the earlier two).

Note: With the exception of "Post-Box Ceremony", nearly the entire episode was co-written by Palin and Jones.

456"Party Political Broadcast"5 December 1974 (1974-12-05)

Note: A sketch "Ursula Hitler" was intended to be included after the 'BBC News (handovers)" sketch, but was cut from the episode.

Note: As the episode opens and closes, there are announcements relating to the "Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Liberal Party".

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The list of episodes enumerates the 45 installments of the British surreal television series, broadcast on and from 5 October 1969 to 5 December 1974. Created and performed by the six-member troupe of , , , , , and , the programme featured discontinuous, absurd sketches linked by non-sequiturs and animations, satirizing social conventions, authority figures, and existential themes without relying on conventional punchlines. Structured across four series—the first three with 13 episodes each and the fourth with six—the episodes reflect the group's experimental rejection of standard variety-show formats, incorporating Gilliam's cutout animations and evolving from live-audience sketches to more cinematic productions amid scheduling disruptions and creative tensions. This format defied norms, contributing to the series' cult status for pioneering postmodern comedy techniques that influenced subsequent television humour.

Overview

Episode format and recurring elements

Episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus comprised loosely connected, standalone sketches presented in a non-linear format, eschewing conventional plot arcs or thematic cohesion in favor of abrupt, surreal juxtapositions. Sketches were typically bridged by 's cut-out animations—collage-style sequences featuring Victorian-era imagery, historical figures, and grotesque transformations that provided visual punctuation and thematic disruption between segments. Voice-over announcements, frequently voiced by as an omniscient announcer, facilitated transitions with deadpan introductions like "and now for something completely different," underscoring the deliberate rejection of smooth narrative flow. Recurring structural elements included occasional character spillovers, where performers or motifs from one sketch intruded into the subsequent one, creating a sense of chaotic continuity amid otherwise unrelated content. Full credits often rolled at the outset, superimposed over animations or initial sketches, rather than reserved for the conclusion, which contributed to the program's disorienting, anti-formulaic rhythm. The lack of commercial breaks, inherent to programming, allowed for seamless, uninterrupted progression across the approximately 30-minute runtime, enabling extended absurdities without imposed segmentation. Early episodes were filmed in black and white, shifting to color production in later series to align with advancing broadcast technology, while the deliberate omission of a laugh track preserved the straight-faced, deadpan delivery critical to the humor's impact—allowing surreal premises to unfold without external cues for audience response. This format prioritized observational satire, sight gags, and risqué absurdity over punchline-driven sketches, with minimal recurring characters to maintain freshness across episodes.

Series production and episode counts

Monty Python's Flying Circus produced 45 episodes in total across four series, with the first three each comprising 13 episodes and the fourth limited to 6. The BBC commissioned the initial 13-episode run for series 1 in May 1969, following proposals from the writing team of , , , , , and . Scripts were developed collaboratively by these six members, often through intensive group sessions that emphasized surreal and non-sequential sketches. Principal filming occurred at Centre in London's area, supplemented by location shoots for specific sketches. The reduction in series 4's episode count stemmed from Cleese's decision to withdraw after series 3, citing creative repetition and exhaustion in generating fresh material, which contributed to overall group fatigue. This shift marked a transition toward cinematic projects, including the 1975 feature film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, as the troupe prioritized longer-form work over additional television commitments.
SeriesEpisode CountKey Production Note
113Commissioned 1969
213Full collaborative scripting
313Preceded Cleese's exit
46Shortened due to member departure and fatigue

Broadcast history and preservation challenges

Monty Python's Flying Circus premiered on on 5 October 1969 at 10:55 p.m., with the first episode subtitled "Whither ?" airing in a late-night slot amid expectations of experimental content. The series experienced irregular scheduling across its run, including significant gaps such as the hiatus before Series 3 in late 1972, influenced by BBC programming priorities and production delays. Episodes typically drew viewership in the range of appeal rather than mass dominance, reflecting the show's boundary-pushing style that initially divided audiences, with early reactions noting a mix of amusement and dismissal as "rubbish." Censorship incidents arose particularly during Series 3, where BBC executives excised material deemed inappropriate, including references to , , and explicit language such as the word "masturbate" in episode sketches, in line with the era's regulatory standards cautious toward challenging authority and social norms. These cuts highlighted institutional tensions over the troupe's irreverent content, though the show persisted without halting production. Preservation faced acute risks from the BBC's policy of tape wiping to reuse expensive videotape, which nearly erased early episodes until interventions by cast members like , who acquired and safeguarded copies to prevent bulk erasure. This averted total loss, as licensing to for international broadcast also prompted retention of some masters. Subsequent efforts recovered excised footage and enabled remastering from original film negatives and video sources, culminating in comprehensive HD restorations released in the late , confirming all 45 episodes intact with reinstated content where possible.

Episode listings

Series 1 (1969–70)

The first series of Monty Python's Flying Circus comprised 13 episodes aired on , spanning from 5 October 1969 to 11 January 1970, establishing the core format of surreal, interconnected sketches without conventional continuity or punchlines. This initial outing featured a comparatively unpolished production, with looser transitions and experimental elements that laid the groundwork for the troupe's humour, though initial viewership remained low, with the attracting roughly 3% of the audience. Episodes occasionally underwent minor alterations for broadcast standards, such as toning down explicit content, reflecting the era's regulatory oversight on late-night programming. The series progressed from standalone, vignette-heavy instalments in the opening weeks to more fluid linkages by mid-run, incorporating Terry Gilliam's distinctive animations as bridges, while introducing enduring motifs like authority satire. Notable among the sketches was the "Dead Parrot" routine in episode 8, depicting a pet shop dispute over a deceased , which exemplified the group's repetitive verbal escalation for comedic effect.
No.TitleOriginal air date
1Whither ?5 October 1969
2Sex and Violence12 October 1969
3How to Recognise Different Types of Trees from Quite a Long Way Away19 October 1969
4Owl-Stretching Time26 October 1969
5Man's Crisis of Identity in the Latter Half of the Twentieth Century16 November 1969
6It's (or )23 November 1969
7You're No Fun Anymore30 November 1969
8Full Frontal Nudity7 December 1969
9The , an Introduction14 December 1969
10Untitled21 December 1969
11The Royal Philharmonic Goes to the 28 December 1969
12The Naked 4 January 1970
1311 January 1970

Series 2 (1970)

The second series of consisted of 13 episodes, broadcast on primarily on Tuesday evenings from 15 September to 22 December 1970. This run featured refined production techniques, including consistent color videotaping on 2-inch quadruplex format for studio segments combined with 16mm for location inserts, marking a step up from the inaugural series' technical inconsistencies. The episodes showcased evolving sketch structures with occasional thematic linkages across segments, such as recurring motifs in or visual callbacks, exemplified by the "Spam" sketch in the twelfth episode, where a scene satirizes menu repetition amid Viking interruptions. Broadcast scheduling included minor gaps, such as between the third and fourth episodes, but maintained momentum without significant interruptions from , as the had adapted to the troupe's irreverent style following the debut series. The series aired amid prime-time competition from American imports on ITV, yet cultivated a dedicated viewership through word-of-mouth, solidifying its niche appeal without the premiere buzz of Series 1 or the later controversies.
No. in
series
Overall
no.
TitleOriginal air date
114Face the Press15 1970
21522 1970
31629 1970
41720 October 1970
518Live from the Grill-O-Mat27 October 1970
6193 November 1970
720The Attractive Singing Sword10 November 1970
821Your ... For Real?17 November 1970
922 Centre for Irresponsible Journalism24 November 1970
1023The Money Song1 December 1970
1124Scott of the Antarctic8 December 1970
1225Spam15 December 1970
1326Royal Episode 1322 December 1970

Series 3 (1972–73)

Series 3 of Monty Python's Flying Circus aired on BBC1 from 19 October 1972 to 18 January 1973, consisting of 13 episodes broadcast weekly on Thursday evenings. The production followed a two-year hiatus after series 2, during which the team prioritized their first feature film, And Now for Something Completely Different, a compilation of reworked sketches from the prior seasons aimed at international distribution and released in September 1971. This break allowed recovery from the intensive television schedule but contributed to internal tensions, including John Cleese's growing disenchantment with repetitive material and collaborative dynamics, resulting in his reduced participation in sketches and writing. The series incorporated heightened satire on institutional bureaucracy and authority, alongside surreal animations by , but faced intensified scrutiny from executives, who imposed cuts on segments considered vulgar or disruptive, such as the "Wee-Wee Sketch" involving bodily functions. Cleese's burnout, exacerbated by Graham Chapman's affecting rehearsals, marked a shift from the collaborative consistency of earlier series, with his exit announced post-production, influencing the shorter series 4.
EpisodeTitleOriginal air date
119 October 1972
226 October 1972
3The Money Programme2 1972
4Blood, Devastation, Death, War and Horror9 1972
5The All-England Summarize Proust Competition16 1972
6E. Henry Thripshaw's Disease23 1972
7Yes, Sir, That's My Baby30 1972
8Michael Ellis7 1972
9The Trading Office14 1972
10The Funeral Sport21 1972
1128 1972
12The Golden Age of Ballooning11 January 1973
1318 January 1973

Series 4 (1974)

The fourth series of Monty Python's Flying Circus comprised six episodes, aired weekly on BBC Two from 31 October to 5 December 1974, marking the conclusion of the television programme as the troupe shifted focus to cinematic projects such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This shortened production, decided upon by the remaining members after filming the film's exteriors, stemmed from creative exhaustion and John Cleese's exit following series 3, as he pursued Fawlty Towers amid perceptions of repetitiveness in the sketch format. Cleese contributed scripts to some episodes but appeared on screen only from episode 4 onward, with Terry Gilliam's animations featuring more prominently to fill gaps. The series retained the non-sequential sketch structure but incorporated meta-elements, particularly in the finale, reflecting on the show's demise through self-referential segments like the "It's..." man interrupting sketches. Unlike prior series with 13 episodes, the reduced output was a deliberate choice rather than imposition, allowing the group to experiment amid internal strains including Graham Chapman's , which affected scripting. All episodes survived intact, avoiding the tape-wiping practices that threatened earlier broadcasts, thanks to growing archival awareness by 1974. Notable sketches included historical parodies and absurdities, such as the in episode 1 and a fragmented "" adaptation in episode 4, underscoring the troupe's satirical edge on British institutions.
EpisodeTitleOriginal air date
1The Golden Age of Ballooning31 1974
2Michael Ellis7 November 1974
3The Light Entertainment War14 November 1974
421 November 1974
5Mr. Neutron28 November 1974
6The Sketch5 1974

Special productions

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (1972)

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus comprises two 45-minute specials commissioned by for West German television, marking the troupe's initial foray into non-English production to expand their internationally. Unlike the BBC Flying Circus episodes, these were filmed entirely on in using live-action sequences without studio audiences, animations, or traditional linking devices, adopting a looser, revue-style format incorporating musical numbers and adapted sketches. Scripts originated in English before translation, with the first special featuring the Pythons performing in phonetic German—despite limited fluency—to authentically engage local viewers, while the second was filmed in English for dubbing into German and potential global sales. The first special, titled Blödeln für Deutschland and broadcast on ARD on January 3, 1972, emphasized translated staples like alongside originals such as a parody documentary on interrupted by absurd interruptions and a high-wire nutter sequence, blending with verbal in the troupe's halting German delivery. This 45-minute program omitted the "Bavarian " sketch in some ARD airings but retained a concert-like flow with songs, prioritizing visual gags suited to over the series' rapid-cut style. The second special, aired on December 18, 1972, shifted to English-language filming per WDR's request to facilitate and exports, incorporating sketches like "The German Wedding Party"—with as the bride in a chaotic Bavarian folk ceremony—"," "Euro Sex Maniacs," and "The Philosopher's ," culminating in animated segments such as Heinrich Bonner's fleabuster despite the overall animation-free intent. Musical elements persisted, including "" with Austrian border police, but the format's experimental nature yielded limited immediate international traction beyond a UK broadcast, with preservation relying on later video exports rather than widespread reruns.

References

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