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Monty Python


The Great Bear

"The Great Bear" is an artwork by Simon Patterson from 1992. It's the London Underground Tube map, but the artist has used each line to represent groups of people, from saints to explorers, so each station is a famous person. The comedian Spike Milligan is included – he had a cameo role in "Monty Python's Life Of Brian".

Michael Palin

Monty Python member Michael Palin’s grandfather was the High Sheriff of Nottingham!

Revues

All of the British members of Monty Python began their comedy careers at the revue shows of their universities. Eric Idle, John Cleese and Graham Chapman found their feet at Cambridge’s Footlights, and Michael Palin and Terry Jones in satirical revues at Oxford University.

Famous fan

The Beatles' guitarist George Harrison was a fan of the Monty Python team and provided financial backing for their film "The Life Of Brian".

Hymn

“Jerusalem” is used in many episodes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. In one, the hymn must be sung to get a salesman to remove a bag from over his head (obviously!) and in another a man is arrested for murder, and they conclude his arrest with a hymn which is, of course, “Jerusalem”.

Silly Walks

In one of the most famous Monty Python sketches 'The Ministry of Silly Walks', John Cleese wears a bowler hat.

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My favourite Icon of England has to be the Cornish Pasty.

Ian Baldry

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