Some of Monty Python’s most famous sketches, including the ‘Black Knight’, were almost lost to the cutting room floor because the stars thought they were “too silly, too dull, or too offensive”, the films’ editor has revealed in a story by Palamedes PR that went national today.

Julian Doyle, who worked on Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life, and The Holy Grail either as editor or special effects designer, said several of the films’ signature scenes were nearly canned over concerns they were not funny.

The stars were “sticklers for perfection” and feared certain gags could damage the films by falling flat with audiences.

The Pythons thought the sword fight between King Arthur and the Black Knight should be removed from The Holy Grail because it was “so bloody that it was killing the rest of the film”.

And with Life of Brian, John Cleese believed the famed ‘Biggus Dickus’ scene, in which he co-stars with Michael Palin and Chapman, became “too silly” and wanted to cut the end section. from the film.

Many precious moments of comedy gold were saved thanks to Doyle’s “fanatical persistence” which Michael Palin would later mention in more polite terms: “Julian won’t let anything go unless he thinks its right.”

You can see some of the coverage on The Daily Telegraph.

For all media enquiries, including interviews with Julian Doyle or review copies of his new book The Jericho Manuscript, contact publicist Anthony Harvison.