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Monty Python at 50 - gallery

Our image gallery gives you a rare glimpse of some of the many images taken by the BBC originally to publicise the series. Some haven’t been seen since 1969.

The images were restored by BBC Archives photographic team, and held by BBC Archives.

Images copyright: Python (Monty) Pictures Limited.

Terry Jones and Graham Chapman sit shirtless in regency wigs eating from wooden bowls. Two women look on disapprovingly — Wigs meet wooden bowls. Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Jones and Michael Palin in their ‘Full Frontal Nudity’ sketch. BBC One, Sunday 7 December, 1969

John Cleese as a parachutist is confronted in a field by Michael Palin as an Edwardian country gentleman with shotgun — A surreal scene from the country. John Cleese and Michael Palin in a sketch from series one of Monty Python, Sunday 5 October, 1969

Graham Chapman is dressed as an Victorian old lady by a costumier. He is smoking a pipe — Graham Chapman is Mrs Jupp with a pipe! 'Something completely different’ was on offer for the 1972 series which returned to BBC One in Autumn of that year.

Terry Jones dressed as the Dickensian character Mr Bumble in large 'Nelson' hat. On a building site, he appears to be chewing a brick. — That hurts! Terry Jones as Mr Bumble the Beadle, on a not so Dickensian building site. Another unlikely situation from an edition of Monty Python's Flying Circus, shown on BBC One, Thursday 7 December, 1972.

Graham Chapman dressed as a woman, sat on a floral sofa reading a tabloid newspaper. He is wearing very 1960s horn-rimmed glasses. — Note the Rio-Rita glasses! Graham Chapman as Mrs Trepidacius, shown on BBC One, Thursday 14 December, 1972.

Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Terry Jones on a pebbly beach. All but Cleese are in Tudor minstrel outfits, Cleese is in black tie. — A different take on beach ware. Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Terry Jones in costume for a sketch in series 2, 1970

John Cleese, in full evening dress, sat at a news announcer's desk on a beach. The tide is coming in — John Cleese, behind his news announcer's desk, about to declare 'and now for something completely different'. 15 September, 1970

A Terry Gilliam collage animation of a man's head hinged open, eating a fish. The head is emerging from a bird's nest — Fish, head, and nest - of course! A classic Terry Gilliam animation, from Series 2. Gilliam’s animations were used throughout the Flying Circus programmes, whilst he starred in the series

Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Graham Chapman are fitted with outlandish medieval warrior costumes on location — Preparing for battle. Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Graham Chapman with Monty Python costume assistants preparing for 'The Attila the Hun Show' sketch, series 2 episode 7, 1970

Michael Palin, dressed in suit and bowler hat, watches Carol Cleveland and John Cleese embracing passionately on a desk. A pair of legs in sportswear are dangling from the ceiling. — It’s amazing what goes on in the stockbroker belt. Michael Palin is the stockbroker, and Carol Cleveland and John Cleese, the amorous couple in 'The Dull Life of a city Stockbroker', a sketch broadcast on 23 November 1969

Eric Idle in a full suit looking sheepish between Carol Cleveland and Terry Jones in a bed, with the other two in a state of sultry undress. — Carol Cleveland as Dora, Eric Idle as the newsreader, with Terry Jones as Bevis in the 'Newsreader Arrested - Romantic Film' sketch, chosen as the BBC’s entry to the Golden Rose of Montreux Festival, 1971. Originally broadcast, BBC One 16 November 1969

Terry Jones in drag with bri-nylon cardigan and hair in curlers sits with legs wide open on the yard wall of a row of terrace houses. — Suitably attired in blue Bri-nylon, Terry Jones rehearses for 'The New Cooker Sketch' originally broadcast on BBC One, 16 April 1971. Along with ‘The Ministry of Silly Walks’ sketch and others, this was chosen to be part of the BBC’s entry to The Golden Rose of Montreux festival, 1971

Terry Jones as Joseph Montgolfier and Carol Cleveland as his fiancee, Antoinette, who is dangling from a strap on the ceiling. Both are in 18th century French aristocrat costumes. — Health and safety, 1974 style. Terry Jones as Joseph Montgolfier and Carol Cleveland as his fiancee, Antoinette, from the sketch 'The Montgolfier Brothers' from series 4, episode 1, 31 October 1974

Eric Idle as Chris Quinn and Graham Chapman as a shop assistant, who is wearing a large face and tongue extension. — Ever more bizarre. Eric Idle as Chris Quinn and Graham Chapman as the shop assistant, in 'The Department Store - Buying an Ant' sketch. Broadcast on BBC One, 7 November, 1974

An over saturated photograph of a face with pencil moustache grimaces at the viewer, with the bared teeth showing gaps where they 'dance'. — Conrad Poohs and His Dancing Teeth - Terry Gilliam provided the wacky artwork used in all of the Flying Circus series from 1969 to 1974

A blobby cartoon man prods a spot on his face as he looks into a hand mirror — 'The Prince and the Black Spot' from October 1969, by Terry Gilliam

Carol Cleveland in Edwardian dress, has a tennis racket lodged bloodily into her abdomen. A costume assistant makes adjustments. Michael Palin and Eric Idle in straw boaters and stripy blazers look on. — Eric Idle, Carol Cleveland, and Michael Palin prepare for a gory scene in the 'Sam Peckinpah’s Salad Days' sketch. November, 1972

Eric Idle has a prosthetic severed arm attached by a member of the props department — Eric Idle without his arm! Another gory scene in the 'Sam Peckinpah’s Salad Days' sketch. November, 1972

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