BBC reveals plans for Monty Python's 50th anniversary
The birthday of Monty Python's Flying Circus will be celebrated with a "BBC takeover" and a world record attempt.
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Hide AdRemaining Pythons John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Sir Michael Palin said: "Python has survived because we live in an increasingly Pythonesque world.
"Extreme silliness seems more relevant now than it ever was."
BBC Radio 4 will air new radio specials, executive produced by Sir Michael, featuring "never-before-released material from the Monty Python sound archives."
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Hide AdThe "first official Monty Python Guinness World Record attempt" will take place on the anniversary date itself, with the "Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Gumbys" - a recurring character in Python sketches.
It is not known whether any members of the much-loved troupe will take part.
BBC Two will show "defining career pieces from the archives".
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Hide AdSurreal series Monty Python's Flying Circus altered the tone of British TV comedy when it first aired on BBC One on October 5 1969.
It ran for four series and spawned four original films including The Holy Grail and Life Of Brian, live shows and albums.
Anniversary events will begin on September 1 with a month-long season at BFI Southbank.
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Hide AdIt's... Monty Python At 50 will feature the feature films, the entire Flying Circus series, "oddities" from the BFI National Archive, post-Python TV and films such as Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda, and an exhibition of Python material, including from The Monty Python Archive.
In 2014, the remaining members of the troupe - Graham Chapman died of cancer in 1989 - took part in a live stage show.
In 2016, it was announced that Jones had been diagnosed with dementia.
Information on the world record attempt can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/gumbyworldrecord