List of recurring Monty Python's Flying Circus characters

Very few characters of the BBC television series Monty Python's Flying Circus appeared in more than one episode, and when they did, it was usually to link sketches together.

Dressed in rags, and sporting a long beard, much like an island castaway, this character would start most of the early shows by struggling to cross a landscape of dangers until he got close enough to the camera to say "It's—", immediately followed by the opening credits and musical theme.

[1] In one episode, the character had his own talk show, featuring Ringo Starr and Lulu as guests, but was unable to get past his single word catch phrase before being interrupted by Monty Python's opening theme music.

Often found in a farmer's field, or the back of a moving truck, this character was a BBC Announcer who usually said only the "And now for something completely different" tagline as a way of linking unrelated sketches, or to introduce the show in the cold open.

[8] In "Njorl's Saga" in episode 27 the organist is used to bring what appears to be an epic historical production to a swift end just before the opening credits roll and the audience realises they have been misled on the nature of the programme they are watching.

Gumbys stand stoop-shouldered, with their hands permanently clenched in front of them, elbows slightly bent, and their feet turned to the outside.

They wear folded white handkerchiefs knotted at the corners on their heads, which supposedly is what gives them their limited intelligence (as it sometimes has happened that they are more normal until they put them on), and have toothbrush moustaches.

[23] The Gumbys were part of the Pythons' satirical view of 1970s television condescendingly encouraging more involvement from the "man on the street".

[27][28] Described in one of the scripts as "excruciatingly public school", the Colonel, played by Graham Chapman, is an officer of the British Army with an authoritative bearing.

[30] In real life, Chapman attended a charity football match, "Monty Python Versus the Rest of the World", dressed as the Colonel.

However, he was out-sillied when Keith Moon (playing for the Rest of the World) brought a car onto the pitch and used it to score several goals.

[32] His face is never seen, as he is wearing a helmet and full armour, and he never speaks, with the exception of a brief line in the "Johann Gambolputty" sketch, during a montage of people saying the long name of the central character.

[33] Only once does he not hit a victim on the head: during episode five, "Man's Crisis of Identity During the Latter Half of the Twentieth Century", he approaches a Gumby (played by John Cleese) who has finished a rant about foreigners.

[34] In another episode, "The Ant (An introduction)", the Knight appears waiting for his cue to hit somebody, only to be told by a stagehand (Michael Palin) that they don't need him this week.

He is often involved in operations that turn out to be very poorly camouflaged illegal businesses, such as a nightclub "for the gentry" that is in reality a brothel.

[38] He also pops up in a handful of short links, notably hosting a chat show with his flatmate Brooky (Idle) that is pre-empted and cut, although the two return in a later sketch (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) from the same episode.

[43] Terry Jones went on to direct the feature film Erik the Viking after the Pythons went their separate ways.