The Complete and Utter History of Britain

The Complete and Utter History of Britain

  • 1969
  • 1 Seasons
  • 6 Episodes
  •  7.571  (7)
  •   Ended

The Complete And Utter History Of Britain was a 1969 television comedy sketch show. It was created and written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones between the two series of Do Not Adjust Your Set. It was produced for and broadcast by London Weekend Television but was not shown in other ITV regions. The idea was to replay 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. Seven programmes were written and produced, but LWT amalgamated the first two episodes into a single "stronger" episode, resulting in a six-part series. For many years the entire series was believed to have been wiped. However, copies of the first two episodes have now been found, as have the complete first two episodes as produced. As of June 2008, none are known to have been repeated on television or released on DVD. Terry Jones has expressed dissatisfaction with the show, complaining after a showing of surviving episodes that the pacing was off and the soundtrack all wrong.

The Complete and Utter History of Britain
Seasons
James the McFirst to Oliver Cromwell
6. James the McFirst to Oliver Cromwell
February 16, 1969
Satirical newscast highlights events from 1603 to about 1658.
The Great and Glorious Age of Elizabeth
5. The Great and Glorious Age of Elizabeth
February 09, 1969
The late 16th Century is sent up in this fake newscast.
Perkin Warbeck to Bloody Mary
4. Perkin Warbeck to Bloody Mary
February 02, 1969
The early Tudor period is satirized.
Edward the First to Richard the Last
3. Edward the First to Richard the Last
January 26, 1969
Satirical newscast covers major events from 1272 to 1485.
Richard the Lionheart to Robin the Hood
2. Richard the Lionheart to Robin the Hood
January 19, 1969
The late twelfth century is sent up.
From the Dawn of History to the Norman Conquest
1. From the Dawn of History to the Norman Conquest
January 12, 1969
Satirical newscasts involve everything chronolocigally correct, from cavemen to the Battle of Hastings.
Description
The Complete And Utter History Of Britain was a 1969 television comedy sketch show. It was created and written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones between the two series of Do Not Adjust Your Set. It was produced for and broadcast by London Weekend Television but was not shown in other ITV regions. The idea was to replay 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. Seven programmes were written and produced, but LWT amalgamated the first two episodes into a single "stronger" episode, resulting in a six-part series. For many years the entire series was believed to have been wiped. However, copies of the first two episodes have now been found, as have the complete first two episodes as produced. As of June 2008, none are known to have been repeated on television or released on DVD. Terry Jones has expressed dissatisfaction with the show, complaining after a showing of surviving episodes that the pacing was off and the soundtrack all wrong.
  • Premiere Date
    January 12, 1969
  • Rating
    7.571  (7)
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