91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Fiction    From 7/12/1969 

Dead Parrot Sketch

Dead Parrot Sketch

One of the most famous of the sketches in the television comedy series 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. Written by Graham Chapman and John Cleese, and performed by Cleese and Michael Palin. Initially performed in the 8th episode of the 1st series, first aired 7 December 1969.

An angry customer complains to a pet shop owner that he has been sold a parrot that: ''is no more", "has ceased to be", "bereft of life, it rests in peace" etc. Wait for the ads to go away and you can watch it .

Margaret Thatcher (who was not known for her sense of humour) was reportedly mystified when quotes from it were included in one of her speeches. She had never heard of the television show, let alone seen the sketch. After finally being shown it, she was even more bewildered, and is supposed to have asked: 'This Monty Python, is he one of us?'. To avoid further confusion she was told he was a big Thatcher fan.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Dead Parrot Sketch

Commemorated ati

Dead Parrot monument

Created by artist John Reardon, in homage to the Monty Python's Flying Circus...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Other Subjects

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Founded by Mary Tealby in 1860 as the Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs. She established a place where people could send lost dogs from the streets and where their owners could retrieve th...

Group, Animals

1 memorial
Sir Michael Sobell

Sir Michael Sobell

A businessman, major philanthropist, and prominent owner/breeder of thoroughbred racehorses. Born in Galicia, now part of Poland. The family moved to London in 1903 to escape antisemitism and sett...

Person, Animals, Philanthropy, TV & Radio, Poland

1 memorial
Trump

Trump

The Picture source, Tate, says, about this William Hogarth self-portrait: "Hogarth’s pug dog, Trump, serves as an emblem of the artist’s own pugnacious character." The sculptor Roubiliac who create...

Animal, Animals

2 memorials
Wilfrid Scawen Blunt

Wilfrid Scawen Blunt

Diplomat, poet, hedonist and traveller. Born Petworth House, Sussex. Advocated anti-Imperialism, and supported Irish nationalism. Legendary womaniser, one being William Morris's wife, Jane. Married...

Person, Animals, Exploring, Poetry

1 memorial
Crabbet Park Arabian Stud

Crabbet Park Arabian Stud

Founded by Wilfrid Blunt and his wife. From 1917 run by their daughter, Lady Wentworth until her death in 1957.

Place, Animals

1 memorial