Monty Python
Monty Python was a comedy troupe from 20th century Earth. They were most famous for their television program Monty Python's Flying Circus.
The Doctor claimed to have been the one who suggested the name Monty Python's Flying Circus to the troupe. The Sixth Doctor once showed an episode of the program to Mathew Sharpe, who did not find it funny, claiming that he did not understand 20th century humor and was concerned for the wellbeing of the parrot from the famous "Dead Parrot Sketch." It's later revealed that his reason for not understanding the sketch is because not only is he not human, but he's not even from this universe. The "Dead Parrot Sketch" turned out to still be well-known and beloved even in the 32nd century, and Eric Drazen called Mathew a monster for not laughing at it. (AUDIO: The Lure of the Nomad)
Charlotte Willis once considered watching it. (AUDIO: The Foe from the Future)
Adric watched recordings of the series in the TARDIS' television lounge and often quoted from it. (PROSE: Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life)
It had a comedy sketch involving a chemist's shop, from which Guy Adams thought his boss Mike got the Italian name "Semprini." Fitz Kreiner didn't understand the specific reference but laughed when Guy said that Mike thought that he and John Cleese had been separated at birth. (PROSE: Timeless)
Monty Python's Big Red Book was one of the many volumes stored on the planet known as the Library. (TV: Silence in the Library)
Cosplayers dressed Sir Galahad the Pure and King Arthur from Monty Python and the Holy Grail at San Diego Comic-Con. (COMIC: Selfie)
Behind the scenes
- Douglas Adams, who served as writer and script editor for Doctor Who in the late 1970s was also a contributor and occasional bit player in the original series.
- Monty Python star John Cleese also had a cameo in TV: City of Death. Michael Palin, another star, was also referenced within the DWU by Sylvia Noble.
- At various times almost all of the Monty Python stars were rumoured to be in consideration to play the Doctor.
- "The Chemist Sketch" (referenced in Timeless) involved an apology from the BBC with a list of words that were not to be used again on the programme, including "bum" and "Semprini".
- The spin-off film Monty Python and the Holy Grail is referenced in PROSE: Heart of TARDIS: A list of objects that had magical abilities ends with "...and swords of invincibility lobbed at passing knights by a samite-wearing woman in a pond." This appears to be a reference to the discussion of Excalibur from the film.
- At Monty Python's reunion in July 2014, the group arrived the stage in the "Retardis", parodying the Doctor's TARDIS.
