Election Night Special Explained

"Election Night Special" is a Monty Python sketch parodying the coverage of United Kingdom general elections, specifically the 1970 general election, on the BBC by including hectic (and downright silly) actions by the media and a range of ridiculous candidates.

This sketch was featured in Episode 19 of the Monty Python's Flying Circus TV series, first broadcast on 3 November 1970. A somewhat different version of the sketch (leading into "The Lumberjack Song") was also featured on the Monty Python Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane album.[1] A longer edit of the Drury Lane version also appeared on the promotional flexidisc Monty Python's Tiny Black Round Thing. The sketch also provides the basis for an item in Monty Python's Big Red Book in the form of a mock pamphlet for the Silly Party, which alongside characters from the original sketch, also names both Paul Fox and Ian MacNaughton as Silly Party candidates.

Throughout the sketch, the linkman (John Cleese) and other commentators appear in a fixed sequence, either giving variations on their original statement or simply repeating it, as results are coming in from various constituencies. The election is mainly contested by two major parties, the Sensible Party and the Silly Party, though third-party candidates (a candidate for the Slightly Silly Party and a Very Silly Independent candidate) make appearances.

Candidates and their vote totals

The sketch focuses on election results from the following three constituencies:

PartyCandidateVotes%Swing
LeicesterSilly PartyJethro Q. Walrustitty32,10851.2%HoldSensible PartyArthur J. Smith30,61248.8%Defeat
Total valid votes62,720100.0%
Luton
Silly PartyTarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel12,44157.7%GainSensible PartyAlan Jones9,11242.3%LossSlightly Silly PartyKevin Phillips-Bong00.0%Pathetic Defeat
Total valid votes21,553100.0%
Harpenden South EastSensible PartyJames Walker26,31850.0%GainSilly PartyMr Elsie Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzip26,31750.0%LossVery Silly (Independent)Malcolm Peter Brian Telescope Adrian Umbrella Stand Jasper Wednesday (pops mouth twice) Stoatgobbler John Raw Vegetable (whinnying) Arthur Norman Michael (blows squeaker) Featherstone Smith (whistle) Northcott Edwards Harris (fires pistol, then 'whoop') Mason (chuff-chuff-chuff-chuff) Frampton Jones Fruitbat Gilbert (sings) 'We'll keep a welcome in the' (three shots) Williams If I Could Walk That Way Jenkin (squeaker) Tiger-drawers Pratt Thompson (sings) 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head' Darcy Carter (horn) Pussycat (sings) 'Don't Sleep In The Subway' Barton Mainwaring (hoot, 'whoop') Smith20.0%Spoiler
Total valid votes52,637100.0%

At the end of the sketch, further results are given in short:

The Drury Lane version gives a different set of results:

Cultural references

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Among other changes, the live version at Drury Lane gave a shorter name to the Very Silly candidate in Harpenden and changed some of the first syllables of Tarquin's surname, making it Fin-tim-lim-bim-(brief pause)lim-bim-bim-bim-bim. Sensible Candidate James Walker became Jeannette Walker, and Silly Candidate Jethro Q. Walrustitty was referred to as Jethro Q. Bunn Whackett Buzzard Stubble and Boot Walrustitty ("Bun, Whacket, Buzzard, Stubble and Boot" was an early name considered for what became "Monty Python"; these names were also used by Michael Palin in the Ripping Yarns episode "Golden Gordon"). Elsie Zzzzzzzzzzzzip was also referred to as Mrs rather than Mr.
  2. Web site: Monty Python's Flying Circus: Just the Words - Episode 19. ibras.dk. 19 October 2015.
  3. Web site: Byelections in the 1979-83 Parliament . Boothroyd . David . United Kingdom Election Results . 2010-12-10 . 9 June 2000 . https://web.archive.org/web/20000609021725/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by1979.html . dead .
  4. Web site: 60 years of fighting for the town that tips the country. https://archive.today/20130505073554/http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/60-years-fighting-town-tips-country/story-11988185-detail/story.html%23axzz2QMJbD6ik. dead. 5 May 2013. Sutton. Terry. 23 April 2010. This is Kent. 13 April 2013.