List of Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes

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

Series	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
1	13		5 October 1969	11 January 1970
2	13		15 September 1970	22 December 1970
3	13		19 October 1972	18 January 1973
Specials	2		3 January 1972	18 December 1972
4	6		31 October 1974	5 December 1974

Episodes

Series 1 (1969–70)

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Original air date
1	1	"Whither Canada?"	5 October 1969 (1969-10-05)
It's Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Famous Deaths Italian Lesson – written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones Whizzo Butter a parody of the commercials for Stork SB Margarine; the word 'Whizzo' would be used throughout the series as the title of various companies and products, such as 'The Whizzo Quality Assortment' produced by the 'Whizzo Chocolate Company' (within the Crunchy Frog sketch of Episode 6). It's the Arts Arthur 'Two Sheds' Jackson – written by John Cleese and Graham Chapman[1] Picasso / Cycling Race The Funniest Joke in the World first appearance of The Colonel
2	2	"Sex and Violence"	12 October 1969 (1969-10-12)
Flying Sheep – written by Cleese and Chapman[2] French Lecture on Sheep-Aircraft A Man with Three Buttocks first appearance of the phrase 'And now for something completely different'. A Man with Two Noses Musical Mice Marriage Guidance Counsellor – written by Eric Idle The Wacky Queen Working-Class Playwright The Wrestling Epilogue (written by Eric Idle)[3] real professional wrestlers portrayed a monsignor and a college professor who debate the existence of God by wrestling. The Mouse Problem (written by Cleese and Chapman)[4][5][6][7]
3	3	"How to Recognise Different Types of Trees from Quite a Long Way Away"	19 October 1969 (1969-10-19)
The Larch Court Scene with Cardinal Richelieu – written by Cleese and Chapman[1] The Larch – Part 2 Bicycle Repair Man – written by Palin and Jones[1][7] in a town full of people with the persona of Superman, a man has the secret identity of "Bicycle Repair Man" with the impressive superpower of being able to repair a bicycle with his own hands. Children's Stories Idle starts reading children's stories that become increasingly sexual. Restaurant Sketch Seduced Milkmen the woman seen is often said to be Carol Cleveland, but it is actually Thelma Taylor,[8] who is uncredited. Cleveland does appear in a version of this sketch, made for the film And Now for Something Completely Different. Stolen Newsreader The Horse Chestnut Children's Interview Candid Photography (better known as "Nudge Nudge") – written by Idle[7]
4	4	"Owl-Stretching Time"	26 October 1969 (1969-10-26)
Song: "Jerusalem (And did those feet)" (with Katya Wyeth) Art Gallery Art Critic It's a Dog's Life in the Modern Army Undressing in Public – written by Palin and Jones[1] Self-Defence Against Fresh Fruit – written by Cleese and Chapman[9] first appearance of the 16-Ton Weight; this would appear in several further episodes including "The BBC Entry to the Zinc Stoat of Budapest", "Intermission", and "Blood, Devastation, Death, War, and Horror". Secret Service Dentists 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.
5	5	"Man's Crisis of Identity in the Latter Half of the 20th Century"	16 November 1969 (1969-11-16)
Confuse-a-Cat – written by Cleese and Chapman[7][1] The Smuggler A Duck, A Cat and A Lizard (discussion) Vox Pops on Smuggling Police Raid Letters and Vox Pops Newsreader Arrested Erotic Film Silly Job Interview first appeared in How to Irritate People. Careers Advisory Board Burglar/Encyclopedia Salesman 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.
6	6	"It's the Arts" "The BBC Entry for the Zinc Stoat of Budapest"	23 November 1969 (1969-11-23)
Johann Gambolputty Non-Illegal Robbery Vox Pops on Burglary Crunchy Frog (Whizzo Chocolate Company) – written by Cleese and Chapman[1] The Dull Life of a City Stockbroker – written by Chapman and Idle[5][7][10] Red Indian in Theatre Policemen Make Wonderful Friends A Scotsman on A Horse 20th Century Vole – written by Cleese and Chapman[7] a parody of the Hollywood movie industry.
7	7	"You're No Fun Anymore"	30 November 1969 (1969-11-30)
Camel Spotting You're No Fun Anymore The Audit Science Fiction Sketch (with Donna Reading) Man Turns into Scotsman Police station Blancmanges Playing Tennis
8	8	"Full Frontal Nudity"	7 December 1969 (1969-12-07)
Army Protection Racket – written by Cleese and Palin[1] Vox Pops on Full Frontal Nudity Art Critic: The Place of the Nude Buying a Bed Hermits Dead Parrot – written by Cleese and Chapman[2][7] The Flasher Hell's Grannies The theme song from the James Bond film Thunderball is heard. 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'.
9	9	"The Ant, An Introduction"	14 December 1969 (1969-12-14)
Scene Card: Part 2 Llamas (in Spanish with English Subtitles) A Man with a Tape Recorder Up His Nose Kilimanjaro Expedition (Double Vision) – written by Cleese and Idle[11] A Man with a Tape Recorder Up His Brother's Nose Homicidal Barber – written by Palin and Jones[12][1] The Lumberjack Song – written by Palin, Jones and Fred Tomlinson[7] Letter / Britain's Joke for the Rubber Mac of Zurich Award Gumby Crooner First Gumby sketch The Refreshment Room at Bletchley Ken Buddha and His Inflatable Knees Brian Islam and Brucie (animation) the music is "Banjoreno" by the Dixieland Jug Blowers. Hunting Film – written by Palin and Jones[2] the music to this is "Waltzing trumpets" by Harry Mortimer. The Visitors concludes with "Ding Dong Merrily on High" (possibly due to the episode being broadcast on the 45th anniversary of its publication as a Christmas carol)
10	10	"Untitled "	21 December 1969 (1969-12-21)
Walk-on Part in Sketch Bank Robber in a Lingerie Shop Trailer It's A Tree Vocational Guidance Counsellor "The Larch" (from Episode 3) reappears. Ron Obvious Ron Obvious[13] is played by Terry Jones. In his sketch, the extremely naïve Obvious, encouraged by his unscrupulous manager Luigi Vercotti (Michael Palin), undertakes several impossible tasks for publicity:[13] The First Man to Jump the Channel[14][15] Eating Chichester Cathedral[15] as the announcer mentions that Obvious is about to attempt to become the first man to eat an entire Anglican Cathedral, Obvious is shown brushing his teeth, putting on a bib and flexing his jaws, before biting into the corner of an old stone building and breaking his jaw. Tunneling to Java:[14] Tunneling from Godalming to Java Splitting a Railway Carriage with his Nose Running to Mercury[14] Most Time Being Underground Pet Conversions – written by Chapman[1] Gorilla Librarian Letters to Daily Mirror Strangers in the Night Biggles and Algy appear on the show for the first time. Note: This is the first episode not to show an episode title at the beginning of the closing credits.
11	11	"The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Goes to the Bathroom"	28 December 1969 (1969-12-28)
Lavatorial Humour The RPO performs the opening of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in the bathroom. Interruptions Agatha Christie (Inspector Tiger) Literary Football Discussion Interesting People features a version of All Through The Night (misidentified as Men of Harlech) by the Rachel Toovey Bicycle Choir Undertakers Film Eighteenth-Century Social Legislation The Battle of Trafalgar Batley Townswomen's Guild Presents the Battle of Pearl Harbor – written by Idle[10] Undertakers Film
12	12	"The Naked Ant"	4 January 1970 (1970-01-04)
Falling From Building Spectrum – Talking About Things Visitors From Coventry Mr. Hilter and the Minehead by-election – written by Cleese and Palin[7][16][1] Silly Voices at the Police station Upper Class Twit of the Year – written by Cleese and Chapman[5][7][1] Ken Shabby – sketch includes Connie Booth How Far Can a Minister Fall? Nobody Has Anything Else to Say
13	13	"Intermission"	11 January 1970 (1970-01-11)
short intermission (music: Theme from A Summer Place) Restaurant Abuse / Cannibalism Advertisements Albatross Come Back to My Place – written by Chapman[10] Me Doctor What Gumbys Would Like Historical Impersonations featuring Cardinal Richelieu as Petula Clark; Julius Caesar as Eddie Waring; Florence Nightingale as Brian London; Ivan the Terrible as a sales assistant at Freeman, Hardy and Willis; W. G. Grace as a music box; Napoleon as the R101 disaster; and John the Baptist as Graham Hill Quiz Programme: "Wishes" Probe-Around on Crime Stonehenge and Mr. Attila the Hun Psychiatry – written by Cleese and Chapman[9] features "Going to the Zoo" by Tom Paxton, with vocals by Julie Felix. Operating Theatre

Series 2 (1970)

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Original air date
14	1	"Face the Press" "Dinsdale!"	15 September 1970 (1970-09-15)
Face the Press New Cooker Sketch Tobacconist's (Prostitute Advert) The Ministry of Silly Walks – written by Palin and Jones[5][7] La March Futile Ethel the Frog / Piranha Brothers – written by Cleese and Chapman[17] Note: The introductory music of Ethel the Frog/Piranha Brothers: from the Karelia Suite by Jean Sibelius
15	2	"The Spanish Inquisition"	22 September 1970 (1970-09-22)
Man-Powered Flight The Spanish Inquisition – written by Palin and Jones[7] Jokes and Novelties Salesman Tax on Thingy Vox Pops on Taxation (including a rare piece of meaningful dialogue from the 'It's Man') Photos of Uncle Ted The Spanish Inquisition (continued) The Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights Julius Caesar on an Aldis lamp Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Morse Code Smoke signal version of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Court Charades Race Against the Credits (music: Devil's Galop by Charles Williams) The Spanish Inquisitors (Palin, Jones, and Gilliam) appear seven times throughout this episode.
16	3	"Déjà Vu" "Show 5"	29 September 1970 (1970-09-29)
A Bishop Rehearsing Flying Lessons – written by Cleese and Chapman[18] Hijacked Plane The Poet Ewan McTeagle Hand Trees (Animation) Psychiatrist Milkman Chapman's character's name changes from Mrs. Ratbag to Mrs. Pim. Complaints Déjà Vu 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.
17	4	"The Buzz Aldrin Show"	20 October 1970 (1970-10-20)
Metamorphosis (animation) this is the first episode to begin with a piece of animation. An Apology Gumby announcement Architects Sketch – written by Cleese and Chapman[19] How to Recognize a Mason An Apology / Another Gumby announcement Motor Insurance Sketch The Bishop Parody of The Saint, and the Peter Gunn Theme by Henry Mancini is prominent. Living Room on Pavement Poets A Choice of Viewing An Interview with a Nude Man The Bishop...Again?! An Apology Gumby Frog Curse / Another Another Gumby Announcement Chemist Sketch An Apology/Words Not to be Used Again the words shown on the slides are (in the following order): 'B*M', 'B*TTY', 'P*X', 'KN*CKERS' (twice consecutively, for 'knickers' and 'knockers'), 'W**-W**' and 'SEMPRINI'. A Less Naughty Chemist's the 'walk this way' gag is used again, but this time the punchline is said completely, resulting in the character who says it being taken away by a police constable. A Not at All Naughty Chemist's Vox Pops on After-shave Cardinal Ximénez (from Episode 15) makes a cameo appearance in this episode. Police Constable Pan-Am the chemist says 'I didn't expect a Spanish Inquisition', but, being played by Palin (as is Cardinal Ximénez), is told to shut up. Another Apology End Credits Last Gumby Announcement (The end)
18	5	"Live from the Grill-O-Mat Snack Bar, Paignton"	27 October 1970 (1970-10-27)
Live From the Grill-o-Mat Snack Bar, Paignton The First Item... Blackmail – written by Palin and Jones first appearance of the Nude Organist, played in this season by Gilliam Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things Escape from Film The Next Item (or dish)... Current Affairs Continued from "Escape from Film" The Next Item (...Prawn Salad...?)... Accidents Sketch (Prawn Salad Ltd.) Interruption Seven Brides for Seven Brothers The Butcher Who is Alternately Rude and Polite The Last Item (coffee)... Ken Clean-Air System On the Bus (end credits) 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.
19	6	"It's a Living" "School Prizes"	3 November 1970 (1970-11-03)
"It's A Living" The Time on BBC 1 School Prize-Giving "If....": a film by Mr. Dibley "Rear Window": a film by Mr Dibley "Finian's Rainbow" (starring the man from the off-licence) The Foreign Secretary and Other News Free Dung from the "Book of the Month" Club Dead Indian Timmy Williams interview (a parody of David Frost) Raymond Luxury Yacht (Throat Wobbler Mangrove) interview Marriage Registry office Election Night Special
20	7	"The Attila the Hun Show"	10 November 1970 (1970-11-10)
"The Attila the Hun Show" parody of The Debbie Reynolds Show (1969), recreating the opening credits shot for shot and using a knock-off of the theme "With A Little Love" by Mike LeRoy. the opening sequence appears after this sketch. Attila the Nun Secretary of State Striptease Vox Pops on Political Groupies Rat-catcher Wainscotting Killer Sheep The News for Parrots The News for Gibbons Today in Parliament The News for Wombats Attila the Bun The Idiot in the Rural Society Test Match Against Iceland The Epsom Furniture Race "Spot The Braincell" a parody of the game show Take Your Pick!, which had been cancelled roughly two years earlier.
21	8	"Archaeology Today"	17 November 1970 (1970-11-17)
Trailer the opening credits appear here: the foot at the end of the credits stays on screen for an unusually long time and then crumbles into the ground, leading into the next animation. "Archaeology Today" Silly Vicar and Leapy Lee Registrar (wife swap) Silly Doctor Sketch (immediately abandoned) Mr. and Mrs. Git Roy and Hank Spim: Mosquito Hunters Poofy Judges Mrs. Thing and Mrs. Entity Beethoven's Mynah Bird Shakespeare Michelangelo Colin "Chopper" Mozart (rat-catcher) Judges (end credits)
22	9	"How to Recognise Different Parts of the Body"	24 November 1970 (1970-11-24)
"How to Recognise Different Parts of the Body" Bruces sketch – written by Cleese and Idle[11][19] Naughty Bits The Man Who Contradicts People Cosmetic Surgery Camp Square-Bashing Killer Cars (Animation) Batley Townswomen's Guild Presents the First Heart Transplant – written by Idle The First Underwater Production of Measure for Measure The Death of Mary Queen of Scots Exploding Penguin on the TV Set – written by Cleese and Chapman[10][20] There's Been A Murder Sgt. Duckie's Song – Police entry for Eurovision Song Contest "Bing Tiddle Tiddle Bong" (song): Contest Winner from Monaco – written by Chapman and Fred Tomlinson[10][21]
23	10	"Scott of the Antarctic"	1 December 1970 (1970-12-01)
French Subtitled Film Scott of the Antarctic Scott of the Sahara the opening sequence appears after this sketch, seventeen-and-a-half minutes (out of thirty) into the episode. Conrad Poohs and His Dancing Teeth (Animation) music is Under the Double Eagle by Josef Wagner Fish Licence / The Ten-Feet Tall Mayor Derby Council v. All Blacks Rugby Match (including the tall Mayor) Long John Silver Impersonators v. Bournemouth Gynaecologists
24	11	"How Not to Be Seen"	8 December 1970 (1970-12-08)
Conquistador Coffee Campaign Repeating Groove Cleese's 'And now for something completely different' and the opening sequence have a repeating groove. opening sequence appears here. Ramsay MacDonald Striptease Job Hunter International Chinese Communist Conspiracy (animation) Crelm Toothpaste / Shrill Petrol (animation) Agatha Christie Sketch (railway timetables) Mr Neville Shunte-Railroad Playwright Gavin Millarrrrrrrrr Writes Film Director / Dentist Martin Curry (teeth) City Gents Vox Pops Crackpot Religions Ltd. this sketch contains a religious parody of the game show Sale of the Century, which had just been pitched to British television. a scene at the end, with crosses that are actually telegraph poles, was cut out but can be seen at the end of the episode when the whole programme is repeated on fast-forward. this sketch featured many famous characters from previous episodes including Arthur Name (Nudge Nudge), Ken Shabby and Mr. Gumby. Terry Gilliam also reprised his role as the nude organist (Blackmail), a character that would be taken over by Terry Jones in And Now for Something Completely Different and from the third series onwards. How Not to Be Seen – written by Palin and Jones[7] Crossing the Atlantic on a Tricycle Interview in Filing Cabinet "Yummy Yummy Yummy, I've Got Love in My Tummy" / Music Time the end credits appear here. Monty Python's Flying Circus Again in Thirty Seconds a recap of the episode.
25	12	"Spam"	15 December 1970 (1970-12-15)
"The Black Eagle" Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook – written by Cleese[16] Court (phrasebook) includes another reference to Take Your Pick!, where the prosecutor gongs Alexander Yalt (Michael Palin) for answering 'yes' after a series of questions. World Forum – Communist Quiz "Ypres 1914" (abandoned) – written by Palin and Jones[22] Art Gallery Strikes "Ypres 1914" – written by Palin and Jones[22] Hospital for Over-Actors includes a Richard III Ward, due in part to many exaggerations on the character over the years. Gumby Flower Arranging Spam – written by Palin and Jones[23]
26	13	"Royal Episode Thirteen"	22 December 1970 (1970-12-22)
The Queen Will Be Watching in honour of Her Majesty the Queen, a shortened and very regal animated opening sequence plays "Pomp and Circumstance" in place of "The Liberty Bell". Coal Mine in Llanddarog Carmarthen The Toad-Elevating Moment Commercials How to Feed a Goldfish The Man Who Collects Birdwatcher's Eggs Insurance Sketch Hospital Run by RSM Mountaineer Exploding Version of "The Blue Danube" Girls Boarding School Submarine A Man with a Stoat Through His Head Lifeboat (cannibalism) Undertakers sketch – written by Cleese and Chapman[7][24] Note: Features an uncredited cameo by News at Ten presenter Reginald Bosanquet, recorded at the studios of ITN

Series 3 (1972–73)

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	Title	Original air date
27	1	"Whicker's World" "Njorl's Saga"	19 October 1972 (1972-10-19)
Njorl's Saga / Opening Credits Multiple Murderer Court Scene Investigating the Body (animation) Njorl's Saga – Part II A Terrible Mess Njorl's Saga – Part II: North Malden? Starting Over Njorl's Saga – Part II: Invest in Malden? Phone Conversation About the Word 'Malden' in the Saga Eric Njorl Court Scene (Njorl's Saga – Part III) Stock Exchange Report Mrs. Premise and Mrs. Conclusion at the Launderette – written by Cleese and Chapman[25] Mrs. Premise and Mrs. Conclusion at North Malden – written by Cleese and Chapman[25] Back to the Saga... Njorl's Saga – part IV: Mrs. Premise and Mrs. Conclusion visit Sartre in Paris – written by Cleese and Chapman[25] Whicker's World
28	2	"Mr. and Mrs. Brian Norris' Ford Popular"	26 October 1972 (1972-10-26)
Emigration from Surbiton to Hounslow the opening sequence follows this sketch. Schoolboys' Life Assurance Company How to Do It a parody of Blue Peter (which was about to celebrate its 14th anniversary at the time this episode was transmitted) Mrs. Niggerbaiter Explodes Vicar / Salesman Farming Club "Life of Tschaikowsky" Trim-Jeans Theatre The Fish-Slapping Dance – written by Palin and Jones[26] World War II (animation) Titanic Sinking The BBC is Short of Money SS Mother Goose It's Man Show 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'.
29	3	"The Money Programme"	2 November 1972 (1972-11-02)
The Money Programme Money Song – written by Idle and John Gould[7] Erizabeth L Fraud Film Director Squad[27] Hands Up (animation) Dead Bishop, a.k.a. Church Police or Salvation Fuzz Jungle Restaurant Apology for Violence and Nudity Ken Russell's "Gardening Club" The Lost World of Roiurama the end credits appear here. Six More Minutes of Monty Python's Flying Circus Argument Clinic – written by Cleese and Chapman[28] Hitting on the Head Lessons Inspector Flying Fox of the Yard One More Minute of Monty Python's Flying Circus
30	4	"Blood, Devastation, Death, War and Horror"	9 November 1972 (1972-11-09)
Blood, Devastation, Death, War and Horror The Man Who Speaks in Anagrams – written by Idle[12] the opening sequence follows this sketch. Anagram Quiz Merchant Banker – written by Cleese and Chapman[7][29] Pantomime Horses Life and Death Struggles House-hunters Mary Recruitment Office Bus Conductor Sketch The Man Who Makes People Laugh Uncontrollably Army Captain as Clown Gestures to Indicate Pauses in a Televised Talk Neurotic Announcers The News with Richard Baker (vision only) The Pantomime Horse is a Secret Agent 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.
31	5	"The All-England Summarize Proust Competition"	16 November 1972 (1972-11-16)
Summarize Proust Competition – written by Palin and Jones[1] Hairdressers Climb Up Mount Everest A Magnificent Festering Fire Brigade Our Eamonn "Party Hints" with Veronica Smalls Language Laboratory Travel Agent – written by Cleese and Chapman[7][1] Watney's Red Barrel – written by Idle[7][1] Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses – written by Cleese and Chapman[30] 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.
32	6	"The War Against Pornography"	23 November 1972 (1972-11-23)
Tory Housewives Clean-up Campaign (a parody of Mary Whitehouse) Gumby Brain Specialist the catchphrase, 'My brain hurts!' is born. Molluscs – "Live" TV Documentary Report on the Minister Reports Tuesday Documentary Children's Story Match of the Day An Apology Expedition to Lake Pahoe The Silliest Interview We've Ever Had The Silliest Sketch We've Ever Done
33	7	"Salad Days"	30 November 1972 (1972-11-30)
Biggles Dictates a Letter in some video editions, a technical glitch cuts some of the dialogue; but the complete original does exist. Climbing the North Face of the Uxbridge Road Lifeboat Old Lady Snoopers Storage Jars TV is Bad For Your Eyes (animation) The Show so Far Cheese Shop sketch – written by Cleese and Chapman[5][7] Philip Jenkinson on Cheese Westerns Sam Peckinpah's "Salad Days" Apology The News with Richard Baker Seashore Interlude Film
34	8	"The Cycling Tour"	7 December 1972 (1972-12-07)
Mr. Pither Mr. Gulliver (who thinks he is Clodagh Rodgers) Trotsky Smolensk Bingo-Crazed Chinese Not Secret Police Trotsky / Eartha Kitt Firing Squad Eartha Kitt / Edward Heath Narrow Escape/Credits Monsters Dance to "Jack in the Box" 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.
35	9	"The Nude Organist" "The Nude Man"	14 December 1972 (1972-12-14)
Bomb on Plane A Naked Man the opening sequence appears after this sketch. Ten Seconds of Sex Housing Project Built by Characters from Nineteenth-century English Literature M1 Interchange Built by Characters from Paradise Lost Mystico and Janet – Flats Built by Hypnosis Mortuary Hour The Olympic Hide-and-Seek Final The Cheap-Laughs Bull-Fighting The British Well-Basically Club Prices on the Planet Algon – written by Palin and Jones[1] Mr. Badger Reads the Credits 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).
36	10	"E. Henry Thripshaw's Disease"	21 December 1972 (1972-12-21)
Tudor Jobs Agency Pornographic Bookshop Elizabethan Pornography Smugglers vs. Sir Philip Sidney Silly Disturbances The Free Repetition of Doubtful Words Sketch 'Is There?'... Life after Death? The Man Who Says Words in the Wrong Order Thripshaw's Disease the footage representing the movie version of Thripshaw's Disease was taken from the Polish movie Knights of the Teutonic Order, made in 1960. Silly Noises Sherry-Drinking Vicar 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.
37	11	"Dennis Moore"	4 January 1973 (1973-01-04)
"Boxing Tonight" – Jack Bodell v. Sir Kenneth Clark Dennis Moore – written by Cleese and Chapman,[5] obsessed with stealing lupins for the rural poor What the Stars Foretell – written by Palin and Jones (as a parody of the Cleese/Chapman writing style)[5][7] Doctor TV4 or Not TV4 – Discussion Lupins – written by Cleese and Chapman[5] Ideal Loon Exhibition Off-Licence Dennis Moore Rides Again – written by Cleese and Chapman[5] Prejudice Redistribution of Wealth – written by Cleese and Chapman[5]
38	12	"A Book at Bedtime"	11 January 1973 (1973-01-11)
Party Political Broadcast (Choreographed) A Book at Bedtime – "Redgauntlet" Kamikaze Scotsmen No Time to Lose Frontiers of Medicine – Penguins BBC programme planners Unexploded Scotsmen Spot the Looney Rival Documentaries Dad's Doctors, Dad's Pooves and Other Interesting Stories 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.
39	13	"Grandstand" "The British Showbiz Awards"	18 January 1973 (1973-01-18)
Thames TV Introduction, with (the real) David Hamilton "Light Entertainment Awards" with Dickie Attenborough Dickie Attenborough The Oscar Wilde Sketch Charwoman (Animation) David Niven's Fridge Pasolini's Film "The Third Test Match" New Brain from Curry's Blood Donor International Wife-Swapping Credits of the Year the moment when the two men are discovered in bed together is John Cleese's last appearance in the series. The Dirty Vicar Sketch 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 only appears in sketches already made prior to the main filming the awards ceremony, which he was absent from.

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (1972)

Special episodes of Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

Title	Original air date
episode 1 Blödeln für Deutschland (Fooling around for Germany)	3 January 1972 (1972-01-03)
An Introduction to Monty Python By Frau Newsreader Claudia Doren The Journey of The Olympic Flame Monty Python's Guide to Albrecht Dürer Anita Ekberg Sings Albrecht Dürer "The Merchant of Venice" as performed by a herd of cows Doctor Breeder Flashers' Love Story (animated) Little Red Riding Hood Silly Olympics Stake Your Claim The Lumberjack Song with The Austrian Border Police The Bavarian Restaurant 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)
William Tell Euro Sex Maniacs The Sycophancy Show Mouse Reserve/Fish Park Chicken Mining Heinrich Bonner, Fleabuster (animated) The Philosophers' Football Match – Greeks vs Germans, First Half Colin "Bomber" Harris vs Colin "Bomber" Harris The Philosophers' Football Match – Greeks vs Germans, Second Half 10 Seconds of Sex I Want A Hearing Aid The Tale of Happy Valley (The Princess with The Wooden Teeth) 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)

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	Title	Original air date
40	1	"The Golden Age of Ballooning"	31 October 1974 (1974-10-31)
The Montgolfier Brothers Montgolfier Brothers in Love (Not with each other, obviously) Louis XVI The Court of George III Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Norwegian Party (subtitled) Zeppelin The Golden Age of Colonic Irrigation This is the third episode without a formal opening sequence. Almost the entire episode was written by Palin himself.
41	2	"Michael Ellis"	7 November 1974 (1974-11-07)
Department Store Buying an Ant – written by Cleese and Chapman[1] At Home with The Ant and Other Pets Documentary on Ants Ant Complaints Ant Poetry Reading Toupee Department Different Endings 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.
42	3	"The Light Entertainment War"	14 November 1974 (1974-11-14)
Up Your Pavement (the title and announcer call it "Up Your Sidewalk") the theme music heard is a variant of "When Does A Dream Begin?" and based very much on the theme tune to Steptoe and Son, a popular BBC sitcom of the time. A little later in this sequence, the theme tune for Blue Peter can be heard very briefly. Douglas Adams, who previously wrote for the series, makes a brief appearance as a doctor treating a man suffering from lumbago during a small portion of this skit. RAF Banter – written by Palin and Jones sketch opens with Jones climbing out of a Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, L1592, now on display at the Science Museum, London. Trivializing the War Court-martial Basingstoke in Westphalia "Anything Goes" (song) Film Trailer The Public Are Idiots Programme Titles Conference The Last Five Miles (8 km) of the M4 Woody and Tinny Words Show-Jumping features Olympic silver medal-winning showjumper Marion Mould (see also Stroller). Newsflash with Peter Woods "When Does a Dream Begin?" (song) written and performed by Neil Innes, singing to Maggie Weston, the Python make-up girl and future wife of Terry Gilliam. 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.
43	4	"Hamlet"	21 November 1974 (1974-11-21)
Bogus Psychiatrists Nationwide Police Helmets Father-in-Law Hamlet and Ophelia Boxing Match Aftermath Boxing Commentary Piston Engine (A Bargain) A Room in Polonius's House Dentists Live from Epsom – Jockey Interviews Queen Victoria Handicap And Then...
44	5	"Mr. Neutron"	28 November 1974 (1974-11-28)
Post-Box Ceremony Mr. Neutron F.E.A.R. / Mr. Neutron Is Missing! Teddy Salad Secretary of State and Prime Minister Bombing Mrs. Scum Teddy Salad Explodes Mr. Neutron Escapes Conjuring Today 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.
45	6	"Party Political Broadcast"	5 December 1974 (1974-12-05)
Most Awful Family in Britain – written by Chapman and Neil Innes[1] Icelandic Honey Week Patient Abuse – written by Chapman and Douglas Adams[34] Brigadier and Bishop Appeal on Behalf of Extremely Rich People – written by Chapman and Innes[1] The Man Who Finishes Other People's Sentences David Attenborough The Walking Trees of Dahomey Batsmen of the Kalahari Cricket Match (assegais) BBC News (handovers) As the episode opens and closes, there are announcements relating to the "Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Liberal Party".

References

1. Johnson, Kim "Howard" (1989). The First 200 Years of Monty Python. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 9780312033095.
2. Cleese, John (2014). So, Anyway... Crown Archetype. pp. 310, 340, 345. ISBN 9780385348249.
3. "John Cleese's Personal Best". youtube.com. [Cleese before the sketch:]"There was a sketch young Eric Rutle [Idle] wrote I liked, about theology."
4. Summers, Claude J. (2005). The Queer Encyclopedia of Film & Television. Cleis Press. p. 68. ISBN 9781573442091.
5. "Monty Python Special". Britcomedy Digest. November 1994.^{[permanent dead link]}
6. Rapp, Linda (2004). "Chapman, Graham (1941–1989)" (PDF). glbtqarchive.com.
7. McCall, Douglas (2013). Monty Python: A Chronology, 1969–2012, 2d ed. McFarland & Company. pp. 325–1E599C. ISBN 9780786478118.
8. Larsen, Darl, 1963– (2008). Monty Python's flying circus : an utterly complete, thoroughly unillustrated, absolutely unauthorized guide to possibly all the references : from Arthur "Two-Sheds" Jackson to Zambesi. Lanham, Md. ISBN 9780810861312. OCLC 187417654.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
9. Larsen, Darl (2008). Monty Python's Flying Circus: An Utterly Complete, Thoroughly Unillustrated, Absolutely Unauthorized Guide to Possibly All the References : from Arthur "Two-Sheds" Jackson to Zambesi. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 57, 185. ISBN 9780810861312.
10. Yoakum, Jim (1997). Graham Crackers: Fuzzy Memories, Silly Bits, and Outright Lies. Career Pr Inc. pp. 42, 45–46, 48, 92. ISBN 9781564143341.
11. "Monty Python Talks About... Writing". youtube.com.
12. Morgan, David (2005). Monty Python Speaks. Dey Street Books. ISBN 9780380804795.
13. Ross, Robert (1999). Monty Python Encyclopedia. London, England: Batsford Books. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-57500-036-7.
14. Hardcastle, Gary L.; Reisch, George A. (2006). Monty Python and philosophy: nudge nudge, think think!. Chicago, illinois: Open Court Publishing. p. 144. ISBN 9780812695939.
15. Chapman, Graham (1989). The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words. New York City: Pantheon Books. p. 127. ISBN 9780679726470.
16. Palin, Michael (2008). Diaries 1969–1979: The Python Years (Michael Palin Diaries). St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 27, 53. ISBN 9780312384883.
17. Cleese, John (1984). Golden Skits of Wing-commander Muriel Volestrangler, F.R.H.S. and Bar. Methuen Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9780413567901.
18. "John Cleese Picks the Most Gut-Busting Monty Python Sketches". esquire.com. 15 December 2015.
19. "Interview: John Cleese and Eric Idle, founding members of Monty Python". ABC – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 February 2016. TONY JONES: (…) And that particular skit from which those lines came, the revolving knives, Architect – you were both in that. Who wrote it? Who writes this sort of stuff? JOHN CLEESE: Chapman and I wrote it. Yeah, yes. (...) TONY JONES: But I think I'll go to Eric here 'cause I think you actually probably wrote the Bruce skit or were chiefly ... ERIC IDLE: We wrote the Bruces sketch together.
20. "Penguin on the Telly by Monty Python". madmusic.com.
21. Monty Python (1994). The Fairly Incomplete & Rather Badly Illustrated Monty Python Song Book. Methuen. ISBN 0-413-69000-8.
22. Wilmut, Roger (1990). From Fringe to Flying Circus. Heinemann. p. 212. ISBN 9780413507709.
23. Topping, Richard (2008). Monty Python: From The Flying Circus to Spamalot. Virgin Books. p. 32. ISBN 9780753513156.
24. "Graham Chapman's Eulogy Presented by John Cleese". funeralwise.com.
25. "Monty Python's Best Philosophy Sketches". openculture.com.
26. "Monty Python's Personal Best (2006)".
27. Chapman, Graham; Cleese, John; Gilliam, Terry; Idle, Eric; Jones, Terry; Palin, Michael (1990) [1989]. "Twenty-nine". Monty Python's Flying Circus: Just the Words. Vol. Two. London: Mandarin. p. 78. ISBN 0-7493-0226-7. I am Inspector Leopard of Scotland Yard, Special Fraud Film Director Squad.
28. "Top Ten Monty Python Sketches". Rafferty's Rules. 3 November 2015.
29. "Utterly Utterly Live Comic Relief". qsulis.org.uk. WEA.
30. "Miss Anne Elk by Monty Python". madmusic.com.
31. "EDIT NEWS: Monty Python's Flying Circus – Intro". Archived from the original on 21 August 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
32. WTTW Channel 11 – Monty Python's Flying Circus – "Missing Political Choreographer Opening" (1980) – YouTube
33. Johnson, Kim "Howard", The First 20 Years of Monty Python, p.190, Plexus
34. Shircore, Ian. "Douglas Adams: The First and Last Tapes". darkmatter.com.

External links

• Official website
• Monty Python’s Flying Circus at IMDb
• "The complete unexpurgated scripts of the original TV series" at www.ibras.dk