Complete and Utter History of Britain (1969– )

A forerunner to 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', this sketch show looked at famous events in British history from a quirky perspective. Only one series was made, by the commercial channel ... See full summary »

Stars:

Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Wallas Eaton

Cast

Series cast summary:
Terry Jones	...	Various (6 episodes, 1969)
Michael Palin	...	Various (6 episodes, 1969)
Wallas Eaton	...	Bishop of Filey (6 episodes, 1969)
Colin Gordon	...	Narrator (6 episodes, 1969)
Diana Quick	...	Various (6 episodes, 1969)
Roddy Maude-Roxby	...	Professor Weaver (6 episodes, 1969)
Ted Carson	...	Various (6 episodes, 1969)
Colin Cunningham	...	Various (6 episodes, 1969)
John Hughman	...	Various (6 episodes, 1969)
Melinda Mays	...	Various (6 episodes, 1969)
Johnny Vyvyan	...	Various (6 episodes, 1969)

Storyline

A forerunner to 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', this sketch show looked at famous events in British history from a quirky perspective. Only one series was made, by the commercial channel London Weekend Television.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 1969 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (6 episodes)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Life of Python (1990)

User Reviews

When history was hysterical!

Soon after the transmission of 'The Complete & Utter History Of Britain', John Cleese rang Michael Palin and said: "You won't be doing any more of those, will you?". The show he was unimpressed by came from London Weekend Television, and went out just before the second - and final - run of Thames' 'Do Not Adjust Your Set' ( with these shows and Marty Feldman's to write, Palin and Terry Jones were certainly kept busy ) commenced in early 1969. The idea came from a sketch they'd done previously in 'Twice A Fortnight' ( a late night B.B.C. show from 1967 ). What if television had existed during Britain's past? You could show say the participants in the Battle of Hastings interviewed in their dressing rooms immediately afterwards, diarist Samuel Pepys hosting a chat-show, Robin Hood as the very first social worker, Norman conquerors wearing berets, striped shirts, and riding onion-covered bikes or a damsel in distress failing to be rescued because her knight in shining armour insists she first sign a form confirming its legality. Another sketch had an estate agent showing a young couple round Stonehenge as though it were a council house.

Each episode covered a particular period of history. It was produced by Humphrey Barclay and directed by Australian Maurice Murphy ( later to work on L.W.T.'s 'Doctor' series ). Palin and Jones, as you would expect, took many of the best roles, but were not happy overall with the finished product. To give an example, they had written a battle in the style of a Western gun fight, but the way it looked on screen was not what was intended, just a few blokes larking about with swords. They were also unhappy with the casting of performers they felt were out of step with the humour. Colin Gordon's stuffy presenter linked the sketches, which featured amongst others Diana Quick ( later to play Graham Chapman's wife in the film of 'The Odd Job' ), Johnny Vyyvan ( a diminutive comedian best remembered for his appearances on the Des O'Connor show ), and Wallas Eaton ( 'Ludricrus Sextus' from the second season of 'Up Pompeii' ). According to Roger Wilmut in his excellent book 'From Fringe To Flying Circus', the major weak point was Roddy Maude-Roxby's 'Professor Weaver', a forgetful historian unable to concentrate on the subject at hand. He is right. Palin or Jones would have been far better.

The show was not well received - I.T.V. did not network it for some strange reason - and it was quickly forgotten, overshadowed later in the year by the arrival of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. Originally seven editions were made, but the suits insisted the first two be combined as they were not deemed strong enough to go out separately. To add insult to injury, it was wiped soon after broadcast. Some film inserts survive though, along with the first two episodes ( as broadcast and as produced ). Fragments are currently to be found on 'You Tube'. Hit and miss it may be, but it is a stepping stone on the road to Python ( the 'Dennis Moore' sketch from Season 3 could have fitted neatly into 'Complete & Utter' ). How nice it would be if what is left could be put on D.V.D. ( with the scripts to the missing bits included as extras ).

In 1972, a B.B.C. children's programme tried to mine the same vein of historical humour as 'Complete'. It was called 'Cabbages & Kings', and starred Julie Stevens, Derek Griffiths, and Johnny Ball ( who also wrote it ).