Ripping Yarns is a British television comedy series, shown on BBC 2 from 1976 to 1979. It was written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. Each episode had a different setting and characters, each looking at a different aspect of British culture and parodying pre-World War II literature aimed at schoolboys. The series grew out of a one-off BBC programme called Tomkinson's Schooldays , loosely inspired by Tom Brown's Schooldays, and suggested by BBC director Terry Hughes. Palin and Jones both wrote and starred in multiple roles. Palin thought of the name while driving down... the A15 road and when passing the village of Rippingale in Lincolnshire. The name played in his mind until he turned it to Ripping Yarns. The Manor house used to film "The Curse of the Claw" was Rippingale House near Bourne, and its grounds and Vicarage. Tomkinson's Schooldays was shot on videotape with filmed exterior scenes and has a laugh track. The remaining episodes were all shot on film. They were also originally shown with laugh tracks, but with a couple of exceptions these have been omitted from reruns.
more
| On the air: | January 7, 1976-1979 |
| Network: | BBC One |
| Genre: | Comedy |