Pythons collaborate on archive show

The surviving members of Monty Python are writing new material for a six-part series celebrating the success of the troupe.

John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones will each write and present their own hour-long special about their glory days.

And they will collaborate on a sixth episode to honour Graham Chapman, who died in 1989.

The shows – called Monty Python’s Personal Best - are being made for America’s PBS public service broadcaster, the station that first brought the Pythons to the US public.

PBS commissioned the specials to air in the spring to coincide with its screening of all 47 original episodes of Flying Circus.

There is no news yet on whether the new programmes – to be made by Python (Monty) Pictures –  will be screened in Britain.

PBS’s John Wilson added: ‘We jumped at the chance to be the exclusive home to six new Monty Python specials.

‘American audiences first discovered the Pythons' upper class twits, the Lumberjack Song and Dead Parrot on public television and we're looking forward to introducing more persistently silly antics from these beloved characters."

A spokesman added: ‘They have all chosen their favourite bits from old Python films and the television series and linked them together in their own crazy way.’

Published: 20 Jul 2005