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List of recurring Monty Python's Flying Circus characters
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List of recurring Monty Python's Flying Circus characters
Very few characters of the BBC television series Monty Python's Flying Circus appeared in more than one episode, and when they did, it was usually to link sketches together. A few well-known characters are described below.
Played by Michael Palin. Dressed in rags, and sporting a long beard, much like an island castaway, this character would start most of the early shows by struggling to cross a landscape of dangers until he got close enough to the camera to say "It's—", immediately followed by the opening credits and musical theme. In one episode, the character had his own talk show, featuring Ringo Starr and Lulu as guests, but was unable to get past his single word catch phrase before being interrupted by Monty Python's opening theme music. At the end of the programme he is usually forced to go back across the same dangerous landscape.
Played by John Cleese. Often found in a farmer's field, or the back of a moving truck, this character was a BBC Announcer who usually said only the "And now for something completely different" tagline as a way of linking unrelated sketches, or to introduce the show in the cold open. In later episodes the Announcer tagline was delivered by Michael Palin. The Announcer was intended to mock the formal style of BBC announcers of the time. He appeared in a pond, while wearing a bikini, in a pig pen, and many other odd places. As well as the opening scenes, Cleese played the Announcer character in a number of sketches including "The Time on BBC 1" in episode 19 which examines the Announcer's confidence problems and "Take your pick" in episode 20 in which the Announcer pontificates about "Bergsonian comedy". Henri Bergson's theory of comedy apparently had some real influence on Cleese and the other Pythons.
Initially played by Terry Gilliam in the Blackmail sketch in episode eighteen, "Live from the Grill-O-Mat", the organist was made famous by Terry Jones during the third season, as he would appear in the opening sequence immediately followed by the two aforementioned characters, the "It's" man and the Announcer. Jones would appear naked in front of an organ, often placed in bizarre locations. The organist never had any true spoken lines but was considered a staple of the third series. In "Njorl's Saga" in episode 27 the organist is used to bring what appears to be an epic historical production to a swift end just before the opening credits roll and the audience realises they have been misled on the nature of the programme they are watching.
The introductory naked organist sketch ("A Naked Man") for episode 35 was shot in Jersey along with the "It's" Man and other pre-credits scenes.
Played by Eric Idle, Mr. Badger's usual method is to interrupt sketches without warning ("I'll not interrupt this sketch for a pound"). He speaks with a slight Scottish accent. Mr Badger first appeared in episode 32 (The War Against Pornography), but first demonstrated his trademark "badgering" in episode 35 in the "Bomb on Plane" sketch.
The term "Pepperpots" refers to any of the middle-aged, matronly type women played by the men of Monty Python, first appearing in the "Whizzo Butter" sketch in episode 2 (written as episode 1 but broadcast later). The sketch was a parody of Stork margarine advertising, well known at the time, in which members of the public claim they cannot tell the difference between Stork and butter. The Pepperpots when interviewed claim they cannot tell the difference between Whizzo butter and dead crab. A pepperpot is usually somewhat overweight and wears a rather unflattering ensemble often topped off by a small, old-fashioned hat. She holds a small purse in her gloved hands, and is very often seen out and about, apparently running errands while her husband is at work. She usually speaks in a high voice that sounds very much like that of a man imitating a woman. The Pepperpots are given different names in various sketches: Mrs. Premise, Mrs. Conclusion, Mrs. Nesbitt, Mrs. Smoker, Mrs. Non-Smoker, Mrs. Thing, Mrs. Entity, Mrs. Cutout etc.
The main influence for the Pepperpots was the character Mrs. Pepperpot from the children's stories of author Alf Prøysen. Another influence may have been playwright Terence Rattigan who is played by Cleese in episode 30. Rattigan describes a character, Aunt Edna, with similar characteristics to the Pepperpots. Rattigan is condescending about the intellectual abilities of the Aunt Edna types, but the Pythons repeatedly give the Pepperpots a surprising depth of knowledge, possibly as a critique of Rattigan. This particular feature of Pepperpots has been played to humorous effect, such as two Pepperpots sailing to France to visit Jean-Paul Sartre to ask him about his work, or one complaining about kids having their heads filled with Cartesian dualism. Lady Violet Bonham Carter is also suggested as an influence.
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List of recurring Monty Python's Flying Circus characters
Very few characters of the BBC television series Monty Python's Flying Circus appeared in more than one episode, and when they did, it was usually to link sketches together. A few well-known characters are described below.
Played by Michael Palin. Dressed in rags, and sporting a long beard, much like an island castaway, this character would start most of the early shows by struggling to cross a landscape of dangers until he got close enough to the camera to say "It's—", immediately followed by the opening credits and musical theme. In one episode, the character had his own talk show, featuring Ringo Starr and Lulu as guests, but was unable to get past his single word catch phrase before being interrupted by Monty Python's opening theme music. At the end of the programme he is usually forced to go back across the same dangerous landscape.
Played by John Cleese. Often found in a farmer's field, or the back of a moving truck, this character was a BBC Announcer who usually said only the "And now for something completely different" tagline as a way of linking unrelated sketches, or to introduce the show in the cold open. In later episodes the Announcer tagline was delivered by Michael Palin. The Announcer was intended to mock the formal style of BBC announcers of the time. He appeared in a pond, while wearing a bikini, in a pig pen, and many other odd places. As well as the opening scenes, Cleese played the Announcer character in a number of sketches including "The Time on BBC 1" in episode 19 which examines the Announcer's confidence problems and "Take your pick" in episode 20 in which the Announcer pontificates about "Bergsonian comedy". Henri Bergson's theory of comedy apparently had some real influence on Cleese and the other Pythons.
Initially played by Terry Gilliam in the Blackmail sketch in episode eighteen, "Live from the Grill-O-Mat", the organist was made famous by Terry Jones during the third season, as he would appear in the opening sequence immediately followed by the two aforementioned characters, the "It's" man and the Announcer. Jones would appear naked in front of an organ, often placed in bizarre locations. The organist never had any true spoken lines but was considered a staple of the third series. In "Njorl's Saga" in episode 27 the organist is used to bring what appears to be an epic historical production to a swift end just before the opening credits roll and the audience realises they have been misled on the nature of the programme they are watching.
The introductory naked organist sketch ("A Naked Man") for episode 35 was shot in Jersey along with the "It's" Man and other pre-credits scenes.
Played by Eric Idle, Mr. Badger's usual method is to interrupt sketches without warning ("I'll not interrupt this sketch for a pound"). He speaks with a slight Scottish accent. Mr Badger first appeared in episode 32 (The War Against Pornography), but first demonstrated his trademark "badgering" in episode 35 in the "Bomb on Plane" sketch.
The term "Pepperpots" refers to any of the middle-aged, matronly type women played by the men of Monty Python, first appearing in the "Whizzo Butter" sketch in episode 2 (written as episode 1 but broadcast later). The sketch was a parody of Stork margarine advertising, well known at the time, in which members of the public claim they cannot tell the difference between Stork and butter. The Pepperpots when interviewed claim they cannot tell the difference between Whizzo butter and dead crab. A pepperpot is usually somewhat overweight and wears a rather unflattering ensemble often topped off by a small, old-fashioned hat. She holds a small purse in her gloved hands, and is very often seen out and about, apparently running errands while her husband is at work. She usually speaks in a high voice that sounds very much like that of a man imitating a woman. The Pepperpots are given different names in various sketches: Mrs. Premise, Mrs. Conclusion, Mrs. Nesbitt, Mrs. Smoker, Mrs. Non-Smoker, Mrs. Thing, Mrs. Entity, Mrs. Cutout etc.
The main influence for the Pepperpots was the character Mrs. Pepperpot from the children's stories of author Alf Prøysen. Another influence may have been playwright Terence Rattigan who is played by Cleese in episode 30. Rattigan describes a character, Aunt Edna, with similar characteristics to the Pepperpots. Rattigan is condescending about the intellectual abilities of the Aunt Edna types, but the Pythons repeatedly give the Pepperpots a surprising depth of knowledge, possibly as a critique of Rattigan. This particular feature of Pepperpots has been played to humorous effect, such as two Pepperpots sailing to France to visit Jean-Paul Sartre to ask him about his work, or one complaining about kids having their heads filled with Cartesian dualism. Lady Violet Bonham Carter is also suggested as an influence.