You wouldn't think that a comedy troupe behind such silly nonsense as the Lumberjack Song, the Spanish Inquisition bursting in whenever they didn't know how to end a sketch and the fish-slapping dance had the potential to complete erode all sense of moral decency in society. And you would be right in thinking that. You're not an idiot. Well, presumably not, anyway. Still, that didn't stop the Monty Python gang getting into all sorts of hot water, first with their Flying Circus TV show but even more so when they made the leap to the silver screen. Their Meaning Of Life was banned in Ireland after being deemed blasphemous, but the real trouble came in their previous film. Monty Python's Life Of Brian is a brilliant. A little messy and rough around the edges, but endlessly entertaining, inventive and subversive. Never actually blasphemous, however, what with Jesus not actually appearing in this satire of organised religion. Still, the film was controversial around the world, and was also banned in Ireland (and Norway, Bhutan, Oman, South Africa...) What much more is there to say, really, than to watch John Cleese and Michael Palin attempting to debate the issue with with Malcolm Muggeridge and Mervyn Stockwood, the Bishop of Southwark, and realising they created a bigger farce than the Pythons ever could?
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
