This made me cry with laughter. 

That is the honest truth about Ripping Yarns, and it still does nearly 50 years later.

Michael Palin and Terry Jones, the creative minds behind Monty Python, took the classic British adventure stories I grew up reading and gave them a brilliant, absurdist twist. Between 1976 and 1979, they created nine episodes that understood their subject so well they could deconstruct it with precision and humour.

In this episode, I explore why Ripping Yarns remains one of the most underrated comedy dramas of the 1970s. From "Tomkinson's Schooldays" where new boys fight grizzly bears, to "Golden Gordon" with its legendary football drama, to "Roger of the Raj" which turns the British Imperial dream on its head, each episode is a masterpiece.

The cast included Ian Ogilvy, Liz Smith, Roy Kinnear, Frank Middlemass, Denholm Elliott, and Joan Sanderson. These were top British actors who clearly relished the material. The historical setting, the brilliant writing, and the exceptional performances ensure these episodes remain genuinely funny after nearly 50 years.

What to Expect:

🎬 Why this show still makes me laugh today

📚 The classic British adventure stories that inspired the series

🎭 Highlights from key episodes

🎪 The brilliant casting and performances

💭 Why British humour at its finest is self-deprecating and unafraid to question our own absurdities

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It helps us grow and keeps the spirit of 70s television alive.

Take care, 

Oliver

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