The Complete and Utter History of Britain, 1969
The Complete and Utter History of Britain. Some people saw this, almost forgotten, show as a forerunner to Monty Python. It was created and written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones between the two series of Do Not Adjust Your Set.
Although it was produced for and broadcast by London Weekend Television it was not shown in other ITV regions.
The series ran for just six episodes in 1969. Co-creator Terry Jones was not happy with the show, complaining after a showing of surviving episodes that the pacing was off and the soundtrack all wrong.
Summary
Each episode was a replay of history as if television had been around at the time.
Sketches included interviews with the vital characters in the dressing-room after the Battle of Hastings, Samuel Pepys presenting a TV chat-show and an estate agent trying to sell Stonehenge to a young couple looking for their first home (“It’s got character, charm and a slab in the middle”).
Clips
Cast
Wallas Eaton
Colin Gordon
Terry Jones
Roddy Maude-Roxby
Melinda May
Michael Palin
Diana Quick
Details
Channel: ITV (LWT area only)
Executive Producer: Humphrey Barclay
Original Transmission Dates: 12th January 1969 – 16th February 1969
Where To Watch
The full series is available to stream on BritBox UK