Watch Ripping Yarns

Ripping Yarns is a British television comedy series that aired on BBC from 1976 to 1979. The show was created and written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones, both of whom were members of the famous comedy group Monty Python. The series consists of nine episodes, each of which tells a different story that spoofs the adventure and melodrama genres that were popular in the early 20th century. Palin played the lead character in every episode, displaying his great talent for comedy and his ability to portray a wide variety of characters.

The episodes are set in a number of different locations, including the mountains of Switzerland, the deserts of Africa, and the wilds of the Amazon jungle. Each episode features a different story, but all of them are linked by their shared sense of absurdity and exaggerated silliness.

One of the standout episodes of Ripping Yarns is "Tomkinson's Schooldays", which is a parody of the classic British school story. Palin plays the titular character, who is sent to a boarding school where the teachers are all incredibly strict and the pupils are all unruly troublemakers. In this episode, Palin pokes fun at the outdated and rigid practices that were still prevalent in British boarding schools at the time, while also highlighting the absurdity of the whole system.

Another memorable episode is "Escape from Stalag Luft 112B", which chronicles the attempts of a group of British prisoners of war to escape from a German prison camp during World War II. Palin plays Squadron Leader Crichton, who devises a number of increasingly bizarre plans to escape from the camp, all of which ultimately fail. This episode uses a war setting to parody the theme of loyalty and heroism that was common in adventure stories of the time.

Ripping Yarns is a unique and highly entertaining show that stands out among the vast array of British comedies that were produced in the 1970s. Its blend of satire, absurdity, and pure silliness has resonated with audiences for decades, and the show remains a beloved classic of British television. Whether you're a fan of Monty Python or just enjoy a good laugh, Ripping Yarns is definitely worth a watch.

Ripping Yarns is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (9 episodes). The series first aired on January 7, 1976.